Bird out of hand.

That's it then.
Bird done. Mount made. Bird on branch. Paint retouched.
The trouble with making 'stuff' is that one knows where the faults, errors etc. all are.
Lets hope the judges are myopic or intoxicated or perhaps even both.
Anyway, that's it for now. Got a few bits to make over the next few weeks then a grandiose plan for the next carving to keep me going through the winter.