Stevie Boy Blue

Thank you, Sue Anne. :-)

Thank you, Albert.

Thank you, jlina. Yes, makes me smile, too. :-)

Thanks Manny. Thanks for allowing me to post it. ;-) :-)

Thank you, Barb. Yes, it's surprising just how symmetrically aligned the peacock's display is when both the viewer and subject are completely square on to each other. Ultimately, so much of what we take for granted is pretty wondrous when we look and examine more closely. :-)
Thank you for the congratulations and for hosting these challenges. You do a wonderful job, albeit a thankless one in many cases. Thanks again, :-)

Thank you, Albert. :-)

Thank you.
Yes, Peacocks, which are all male (females are Peahens), can indeed be skittish when we get too close to them. They can also be very aggressive; to the point they may attempt to peck and/or scratch us, especially when they’re in the throes of attracting a mate and are competing with other males for the same hen.
I’d therefore advise a cautionary approach to any photographer unsure of how they’ll be tolerated by the birds, which should soon let you know just how close you can get whilst they’re displaying. The first sign of intolerance should see a Peacock charge toward you, usually stopping short if you stand your ground. It may act in this way 2 or 3 times before it strikes.
Ignore these warnings at your own peril. Where possible, keep around 15ft of space between you and the displaying bird, at least until both you and it feel comfortable enough to move closer, just not too close! Ouch! ;-)
Thanks for the link to your nice example. Well done.
Cheers…

Thank you for your very kind words, Gordon. Lovely of you to post.

But I’m now imagining how long it might take for me to convincingly hide the centre join in any half-flipped composite whilst also ensuring every feather tassel and eye looked slightly different from the one directly opposite, save to mention all other minor intricacies occurring in the amazing plumage.

Overall, that may well be beyond my skill set. So I’m pleased you noticed that in fact, the image is as it was taken on the day, albeit a crop from a larger one that looks even nicer at full size.

I felt lucky and pleased to have got 3 hits from maybe 1200 attempts over 3 or 4 sessions chasing this specific 'head-on' pose. But in only one is the bird’s head and breast centrally aligned with the back feathers; the other two, including this one were slightly off to one side but still fairly symmetrical.

Thank you again for the complements. I really appreciate your input. :-)

Cheers and all the best to ya...

Thank you very much, Paul.
I really appreciate your view of my effort. Nice of you to post.
Cheers and all the best…

Thank you, LauraJ.

I appreciate the time everyone takes to set up, enter and vote in these challenges. I’m also grateful for any votes I receive, especially when my efforts are deemed worthy of top marks by some viewers. It’s very kind of you to have given my shot five stars. :-)

As you may imagine, Peacocks can be quite aggressive, making them tricky subjects to photograph at close range, like here. It’s also a very patience-testing task to obtain shots where the bird’s full-blown display is symmetrically square on to the lens and the head is central, as is almost the case in my example. ;-)

I’d imagined the shot I was after long before I was faced with the opportunity to capture it, and I recall that it took me 3 or 4 sessions and countless attempts before I was eventually rewarded for my perseverance. Some folks think wildlife photography is easy, but that’s usually before they’ve seriously given the genre a try or gained any image that’s truly worthy of keeping. :-)

Cheers

Thank you, Sue Anne.

You’re very kind to have left a comment. I’m very pleased that you liked my photo. :-)

Cheers

A beautiful bird beautifully captured.

A superb image and worthy winner indeed.

Well done you. :-)

Thanks Vandyu and you’re welcome. To be honest I always feel privileged to witness kingfisher behaviour whenever I get the chance. They’re simply beautiful and stunning creatures and my all-time favourite subject. It is every bit my pleasure to have displayed this image for you and anyone else who appreciates it. :-) Cheers

Thank you Ruth. Indeed Mandarin Drakes are photogenic. Can't help but love 'em for it. :-)

Thank you John.

Thank you BarnET.

Thanks Yuki.

Thank you Ruth, and thanks for hosting these challenges. :-)

Thanks a lot Mike. :-) Cheers...

Thank you ysal. Not sure where you're seeing blood though? And of course no-one else has mentioned it. Perhaps you have too much red in your viewing screen? :-) Anyway, I assure you that the cygnet looked okay at the time of photographing. Cheers