Need help/advice...

Well done my friend! ;)

Of the last two versions, the dark background makes me think the image was captured using a flash because a flash would light only the bird and not the distant background. That's fine if you want to give that impression. Probably not if you don't.

Thanks William. You advice was one of the motivators for the fix. :)

Thanks Mike. I get your point. :)

http://rpcrowe.smugmug.com/photos/i-...-8Fd88ng-L.jpg

I selected the owl using NIK Viveza and then increased the structure (major increase), along with saturation and contrast (just a tiny bit)...

Thanks Richard. Viveza never crossed my mind here though I have it. Hmmmm

Will play around with it.