Clay-coloured Sparrow

My visit to Carden Alvar last Saturday was wonderful; though I did not get pics of the Bluebirds or the Bobolinks there were other birds equally photogenic.

While Ken Newcombe was following a Vesper Sparrow, Sam Barone & I followed this little wonder as it moved from bush to bush, it took-off for a distance a couple of times and eventually returned to the same bush. We got a few shots amidst the tangle of bushes and twigs, I would love to have gotten closer but was too afraid that it might take off again and did not want to miss a shot. It was about 5:00pm and I was tired, having been out since 6:30am and a 2 hour drive to Carden; it's such a lovely and beautiful place. I had yet to photograph the Osprey nest in Kirkfield and then head home for the return 2 hour drive.

I cloned out a twig just in front of the bird, any sideways positioning of the camera would have resulted in a white sky BG, so, this was the only position I could shoot from.

Thanks for looking and your comments are most welcome.

1D2, 500 f4 + 1.4x
1/320 @ f8. ISO 200
Cropped to Vertical, about 50 % of the original. Levels to brighten up a bit and USM 50 after downsizing; some may prefer a bit more USM, but, I dislike oversharpening.