TBH Alan the first series is a case of 'close but no cigar' - the IQ is just not there. Too heavily cropped perhaps. Pity. The Barn Owl shot however is IMO better even though a little distant ! More in focus and a little sharper - good capture of a beautiful bird.

Really cute cygnets !

Taken in January I think - pretty early for a family, middle of Winter.

That's nice dear !

Or you can do what I do and use twin LEDs on bendy arms - a very cheap alternative.

And me

Very nice set.

There is, but not through the viewfinder ... and if the bird doesn't stay still for long you haven't a hope : use live-view (I almost never use it but for the most accurate assessment of your DoF it's better), you can zoom into a very small area and confirm if you are in focus.

Actually Smeggy has scored a direct hit as to why I framed it like that - if I remember correctly I wanted context for that shot - the band were stood well back virtually out of the lights - and that shot has hardly been cropped at all, just a touch. I'll try a crop as Cabstar suggested to see what it looks like !

Cabstar - thank you for your comments and suggestion, much appreciated. BTW - of those above there is a virtual 50/50 split between the 17-50 and the 43 Ltd. #1 - Tam, #2 - 43, #3,4 & 5 - Tam, #6 & 7 - 43, #8 - 7D & 24 -105.

Thank you Smeggy - glad you liked them !

Great to get a bird you haven't seen before ... I don't think I've knowingly seen a Waxwing either. Great opportunistic capture of the magpie on the sheep's back.

Looks like you had a fine day out Mark. I like the head shots best.

The 55-300 is a great lense for the money, however to take sharper shots make sure you dial it back from 300 to around 260 (it's just a tiny twist) - at those lengths 40mm is nothing - and if you crop 260 to a 300 perspective the 260 would still be sharper.

.... and I actually like #3 the best despite the softness, as the always say it's not always about sharp, sharp, sharp ! Nice set.