preparing for flight

I like this shot a lot, it has a great feeling to it. The colors are brilliant and the subject is perfect. Although I can't shake the feeling that I'd like the photo to be a stop or two brighter. Although then it would lose the great colors that it has, so I am unsure as to how I like it best.

Although if possible I would try to clone out the log next to the bird, as that is a bit of a distraction. And perhaps move the bird lower in the frame so it is less centered, I think of it as a bird getting ready to fly should have a lot of space to move upwards in a photo. Although, other than those two parts, you did a fantastic job with this image.