P. S. I see you added the color version. Now I'm a bit confused But I believe I like the color version better with its warm tones But then I've never been a B&W fan.
I have come late enough to see both versions and I have to say once again I give a rare for me vote for the B&W version. I think the background colours are just so saturated that they take away from the subject a little bit in the colour version. Either way though a very nice shot.
Though patterns in B&W always seem to help an image I am a fan of your color rendition here Eric. Looks like you were laying on your back when you took this
Thanks to everyone who commented and it's obvious that we all have our particular bent when it comes to wildlife photography and color vs. black and white. And yes, Herb, Jimmie did kiss the sky and as a charter member of the 27 Club kissed it much too early...mine took a wee bit of poetic license.
Eric