If you don't mind Geo, I'd like to make a couple observations about your bird image as well. I certainly can't speak for anyone else but I for one, being more the old fashion Normal Rockwell kinda guy, vs the impressionist artistic type find the birds proportions to be somewhat off kilter. i.e. the shadowing on the birds wings give the impression that they are as deep as they are wide which is a pretty dramatic stretch. Almost taking on a parachute look. It seems to me that if the shading gave the impression that the birds wing thickness was more on the order of 15-20% of the wings width it would be a better look and feel. Another issue (for me anyway) is the underside of the wings being a soft white color when most birds possess more vivid colors everywhere and you have presented that on the rest of the bird. And I agree that the background is terrific. Anyway, that's my two cents. These are my observations not a critique.
Chuck