Awwww, what's not to like about this gorgeous bird image!
And I mean that, sincerely, from one bird person to another.
(er) But, I'm not sure this met the Challenge, and,while I know this is your first Challenge entry, this is a very important qualification. The image is beautiful, it is composed well, it is sharp. But in most of our viewers' estimation, it Did Not Meet The Challenge. Deadly. Because of all the good things going for it, you still received a respectable score.
You're good. Keep up this caliber work, and try to get a bit closer to the Challenge description. You will go far at DPC.
This is one of the best bird/wildlife shots I've seen in a long time. The clarity and colours are just superb. The depth of field is awesome, I think that's what makes this so strong. But ... this hawk comforts you?