Yes, compared to your other bird photos (including "BIF"-photos ), this one leans towards the "bloopers" somewhat, but you are right: you best NOT discard this one as it compensates for every technical flaw by the scene you captured! They sooo seem to be gossiping!
It was this image that convinced me to try auto-ISO. If it had been cranked up a bit further, the shot would have been much better. I find now that auto-ISO is very useful in those early dawn hours when it is almost too dark to shoot handheld with my f/5.6. Anyway, I so loved the expression and the pairing of the birds that I couldn't bring myself to discard it.