Nice pose and I love the crisp winter plumage, Jim. The blacks and whites look good. The brightest part of the cheek patch looks right on the ragged edge of being hot, but that’s where it should be on this species. The sides look paler than I’m used to but I think that’s a regional variation as most birds are a bit darker in the Pacific Northwest.
The weeds add texture to the background, but I’d probably tone them down if this were mine. As you noted, it’s largely a matter of taste. I would remove the small out of focus stick coming into the bottom.
Perfect exposure and the BG has interest without getting gin the way.
At first look I thought you could just take out the left branch but it balances the photo.
A beautiful capture of this little guy, Jim.
Thank you. Shirley, you would have lots of fun at this park. I’ve had redwings, chickadees, titmice, downy and redbellied woodpeckers, and nuthatches land on me or my camera while photographing birds. Even the juncoes come in close…Jim