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Hey guys, just picked up my first dslr camera (D70 with 18-17mm lens) and this is the first image I'm almost happy with is there anything you guys can suggest to help improve it?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14796057@N02/1528826536/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2302/1528826536_4568c816af.jpg" width="366" height="500" alt="Bird in garden" /></a>

(hope this works)

Lorikeet in lilly pilly, great subject.
I like it but maybe a landscape rather than portrait style orientation would have suited it better. I'd like to see more space in front of the bird and crop some off the top. Lovely colours. Hope you're enjoying your new gear.

So something more like this?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14796057@N02/1528477733/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2016/1528477733_7ec9711b88.jpg" width="406" height="500" alt="Bird in garden different crop" /></a>

Not sure if I got the colours quite as nice on this version though.

I prefer the second crop myself. It's still a portrait orientation, but it seems better balanced.

Yes I agree - the second crop is much better. You could use the dodge tool to bring out some more of the bird's face. Also, the background is very blown out - I'm not sure if this is deliberate in pp or from the original photo (I have PLENTY of shots with blown skies like these from when I was beginning with my dslr). Congratulations on the new camera - keep posting and learning.

Thanks for the comments guys, and the sky is blown out because its been rainy and cloudy all day here, makes learning how to use my camera fairly hard.

I'll have a go with that dodge tool to see if I can bring out the face.

EDIT: Dodge tool seems to have worked pretty well for bringing the face out
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14796057@N02/1532549432/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2070/1532549432_f07b0a588a.jpg" width="406" height="500" alt="Bird in garden different crop dodge tool on face" /></a>

Lovely colours on the Lorikeet Justin, as has been said already the white is well blown which is an unfortunate trade off to grab the vibrant colours of the bird.
Good to see the D70 in action.