Cackler Up Close

NorthernFocus

This is one of my favorite goose images I've captured so far. This guy landed within a few feet of me. It is a Cackling Goose which is a smaller and distinctly identified sub-species of Canada Geese. According to Cornell:

The newly recognized Cackling Goose is a smaller version of the Canada Goose. Formerly considered the smallest subspecies of one variable species, recent work on genetic differences found the four smallest forms to be very different. These four races are now recognized as a full species: the Cackling Goose. It breeds farther northward and westward than does the Canada Goose.

+0.3EV per Harry's suggestion.(crop ended up slightly different)

Maestro

Love the wing positioning and the slight amber glow to the light.

NorthernFocus

Thanks, Stephen. The background in this photo looks like grey sky but it's actually a hill in the distance covered with leafless aspen and birch trees. The little bit of gold at the bottom of the frame is the tops of some closer birch trees with reddish buds on them (early spring). With the bird so close and the trees so distant, this was the bokeh that the lens produced.

What I liked most about this image was the look on the bird's face. It was quite surprised when I stood up to snap the image. Landed anyway though (free corn)

Harryb

Nice job in low light and at a high ISO. I probably would have done a +0.3 EV adjustment on the capture.

NorthernFocus

Thanks, Harry. I'll give it a try with NX and see what I get. For now I just got back from shooting this AM as I had the day off It was snowing on and off this morning mixed with rain and moments of sun peeking through. Enough to drive you bonkers with the lighting. But managed a couple of capture I think.

NorthernFocus

Harryb wrote:

Nice job in low light and at a high ISO. I probably would have done a +0.3 EV adjustment on the capture.

Modified version as suggested inserted in OP for comparison. The change definately made the detail pop out on the bird. Thanks for the suggestion. Some of the color in the background disappeared with the lightening though But it is an image of a bird, not of an out of focus hillside