Lorikeets in the orchard

[Underload]

Given that it's citrus season, the lorikeets are out and about in the small orchard at home, giving the mandarins a real hiding. As annoying (and noisy!) as they can be - they do present themselves for the camera, every now and again.

I'm pretty happy with these, but not sure what caused the funky ghosting in the leaves. C & C welcome...I'm thinking their heads might be oversharpened?

Both are D50 + Sigma 70-200 @f3.2

[Geoff]

Nice work! They don't look too sharp on my LCD monitor. The siggy 70-200 shows its value again in the right hands, these are great shots.

[Pehpsi]

Awesome shots mate. #1 is my fave. The colour and clarity is great..

[sirhc55]

I see no ghosting - what I do see is reflective light and OOF leaves - lovely pics BTW

[ATJ]

Both excellent photos.

I think I see what you mean about the sharpening. The blue feathers on the head look a little whiter than they probably should - but it doesn't look like over sharpening (if you know what I mean).

[Bluebell]

They look fantastic on my monitor too. That first has a mean look in his eye!

[Old Bob]

They look great on my old monitor as well. Good shooting.

Bob

[crackatoea]

I really like these. The detail in the heads are fantastic. Nice and sharp but not overdone.

[Killakoala]

That's a beautiful burst of colour in the first image. Nice and sharp too which really accentuates the bird from the foreground.

[Underload]

Thanks very much for all the comments. I'm starting to really enjoy photography now, but so much left to learn

The weather over the last few days has been a bit rough, so hopefully they might be back tomorrow, and I can stalk them round the trees again.

If I got too close, they'd fly away, to a set of gum trees not far off. You'd look up and see a heap of these colourful figures screeching away, waiting for me to leave!