Mattamuskeet Fox Sparrow

Man, I need a 400mm bad...

you may THINK you need 400mm, but that's a great shot from what you've got! I should be so lucky!

You are at Lake Mattamuskeet?? I live close to there and go photograph birds there!!

Good pic!

Greatshot

Very nice pose with this bird, and good balance with the background and twig horizon line

I don't expect to see a bird fill the frame like this one does when the accompanying photo comment is, "I need a 400mm bad". Taken with a 400, this bird would look like godzilla.

Excellent shot. You seem to be doing a pretty good job with what you have - but I understand the desires.

Thats a beauty. Nice lighting.

nwyman - Thanks. It's the lack of sharpness from a nearly 100% crop that is making me want a 400mm. My litmus test for a sharp bird shot is whether I can see the scales in a birds legs. I can't see it in this photo...

greatshot - My 13-year-old son and I were there on Sunday. It's was a short trip so we only got to hike the 5 miles along the causeway headed to Heron Bay. We did get to see thousands of Northern Pintail and Greenwinged Teal and several hundred Tundra Swans. On the way back to the hotel in Plymouth we saw a bear that was trying to cross Hwy 45. I couldn't get the camera out of the back seat before he turned and ran back into the woods.

Normcar21 - Thanks. The bird had landed on the root ball of a fell-over tree. It was perfect because it put him right at eye-level.

avwh - Godzilla? That's what I'm hoping for...

Titus213 - I'm really having to learn patience and stealth shooting birds with a 200mm. I guess it doesn't matter because every bird shooter wishes his lens was longer.

MDoc - Thanks so much. I find I get the most compliments on birds in the shade but with a bright bokeh.

Thanks again folks.