I just don't understand how Don DesJardin got the plumage colours so sharp, again ... and the contrast is between black and grey ... and I find the outcome astonishing; I mean I have never seen in 67 years such a beautiful contrast between black and grey.

http://www.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/votacio.phtml?idVideo=17411

An adult bird on a bush, looking for a prey and flying away. Ventura County, Southern California, USA (ssp <i>gambeli</i>).

How did you do it, Don?

Brendan,

This is real nice!!

But what I find interesting is how the greys look so smooth and there are no feather edges to be seen on the back coverts!! It looks clear but smoothed!!

Brendan,
Thanks for the compliments, but I don't what to tell you. All I did is take an XL1, vintage 1999, had nice morning light over my shoulder, aim, focus, adjust exposure, and hit the record button. The lens I was using was my Nikon 80-400mm. Shrikes do have very smooth and uniform body feathering, and you really can't see much in the way of any edging, even when observing it through a good spotting scope at close range. I think you can see that the video is fairly sharp by looking at the detail in the weed it's sitting on. I guess I was just lucky on this one.....