Glad you like them - thanks. There was a feeding station just out of shot and some of the crops are fairly heavy, but I was really pleased with the way they turned out as I'm only just getting used to the camera. I have a couple of totally different sets that I'm going to post this evening hopefully and I'll be glad of comments on them.

Derek, I've thought about the camera club in the past but have always shied away. I'd be grateful for a few tips as to what goes on and what to turn up with etc just to give me a push. How could I contact you?

Thanks again

Maybe not the best best shots technically, but they appeal to my sense of humour - hope they do to yours too! You might come up with better captions, too!

1 Coming in!
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Tree%20sparrow%20pecking%20order/Comingin.jpg[/IMG]
2 Who do you think you are, then?
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Tree%20sparrow%20pecking%20order/Whoareyouthen.jpg[/IMG]
3 Come on, my turn - clear off!
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Tree%20sparrow%20pecking%20order/Cantstopnow.jpg[/IMG]
4 Oh no, not another!
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Tree%20sparrow%20pecking%20order/OhGawdnotanother.jpg[/IMG]
5 Can't hold on - aaaaargh!
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Tree%20sparrow%20pecking%20order/Aaaaargh.jpg[/IMG]
6 That showed 'em, didn't it!
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Tree%20sparrow%20pecking%20order/IMGP6268crop.jpg[/IMG]

Enjoy!

Hope you like these - goldfinch, greenfinch and bullfinch, all with K-5 and DA* 300
All criticism taken in the spirit it's meant in!
1
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Finches/IMGP6243a.jpg[/IMG]
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[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Finches/IMGP6278crop.jpg[/IMG]
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[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Finches/IMGP6279crop.jpg[/IMG]
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[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Finches/IMGP6283crop.jpg[/IMG]
5
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Finches/IMGP6292crop.jpg[/IMG]
6
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Finches/IMGP6250crop.jpg[/IMG]
7
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Finches/IMGP6275crop.jpg[/IMG]
8
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Finches/IMGP6289crop.jpg[/IMG]
9
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Finches/IMGP6224acrop.jpg[/IMG]
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[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Finches/IMGP6227crop.jpg[/IMG]

And finally, I couldn't resist this one - so nearly perfect! I know, if it's not, it's not so is it worth anything? If only the head had been in focus like the foot is! It was my first shot of the day, so hadn't got warmed up - that's my excuse!
11
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Finches/IMGP6239aresize.jpg[/IMG]

Done very little of this kind of thing so far. I was out on Saturday for a great day's birding at Marshside and never anticipated this kind of shot, so was completely unprepared - no tripod, no real idea about camera settings etc. All comments/advice welcome. All taken hand-held or balanced on one knee with K-7 and 300mm DA*
Thanks,
John

First the kind of thing I went to see:
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%20Marshside%20Jan%202012/black-tailedgodwits2.jpg[/IMG]
f/5.6, 1/1000 sec, ISO-400
Then as the clock ticked on:
1.
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%20Marshside%20Jan%202012/Marshsideroost.jpg[/IMG]
f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO-800

2
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%20Marshside%20Jan%202012/Marshsidesunset2.jpg[/IMG]
f/11, 1/640, ISO-800

3
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%20Marshside%20Jan%202012/Marshsidesunset.jpg[/IMG]
f/11, 1/640, ISO-800

4
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%20Marshside%20Jan%202012/marshside3.jpg[/IMG]
f/11, 1/640, ISO-800

5
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%20Marshside%20Jan%202012/RSPBMarshside2.jpg[/IMG]
f/14, 1/1000, ISO-400

I can see the difference made by Mike's sharpening, but I repeat that I'm a relative novice here and processing photos is a bit hit and miss until I get to know exactly a) what effects are needed and b) how to get them. So Mike, could you tell me just what you did in terms of sharpening, please? I've got access to PS Elements 7 and Corel Paintshop Pro X3. I don't know which is better, but the Corel seems a bit easier to use. If you point me in the right direction, I'll play around and see what I can come up with. Thanks.

Thanks to all for responding! I feel as if I'm beginning to make a little progress at last. For the record, the cropped off wingtips were unintended - the birds were too close to fit in the frame by the time I picked them up in focus.
And to reply to john941, yes, a huge difference! Shots went from focussed but dull to much sharper. There's a post of mine called Birds Eye Delight which has shots with the UV filter in place. The comments and discussion there made me take the filter off - and it was excellent advice!

Went back to Bempton at the weekend to see if I could improve on the first lot now I have removed the UV filter from my lens. The light once the rain stopped was great. If you don't like gannets, this is not for you! All shots undoctored apart from a little noise removal and no. 6 which is cropped. All comments/suggestions for processing improvements welcome as always.
1
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Gannets/IMGP9122.jpg[/IMG]
2
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Gannets/IMGP9304.jpg[/IMG]
3
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Gannets/IMGP9319.jpg[/IMG]
4
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Gannets/IMGP9187.jpg[/IMG]
5
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Gannets/IMGP9357.jpg[/IMG]
6
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Gannets/IMGP9361crop.jpg[/IMG]
7
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Gannets/IMGP9338.jpg[/IMG]
8
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Gannets/IMGP9125a.jpg[/IMG]
9
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Gannets/IMGP9363.jpg[/IMG]
10
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Gannets/IMGP9160-1.jpg[/IMG]

Couldn't get back to the same birds for comparison, so went to Martin Mere for a bit of colour and got so carried away I totally messed up the settings on a lot of shots. Ended up with a lot of noise in shots that should have been fine - shutter too fast, ISO too low for the aperture. Did get some right though, having removed the filter. Most of these are straight from the camera and none are cropped at all. I think the difference without the filter is obvious - what do the experts think, please?
1
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%2022-05-11/IMGP8613.jpg[/IMG]
2
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%2022-05-11/IMGP8942.jpg[/IMG]
3
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%2022-05-11/IMGP8947.jpg[/IMG]
4
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%2022-05-11/IMGP8960a.jpg[/IMG]
5
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%2022-05-11/IMGP9387.jpg[/IMG]
6
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%2022-05-11/IMGP9425.jpg[/IMG]
7
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%2022-05-11/IMGP9454.jpg[/IMG]
8
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%2022-05-11/IMGP9521.jpg[/IMG]

and a couple of the noisy ones - I was so disappointed with these!

9
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%2022-05-11/IMGP9078.jpg[/IMG]
10
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/Martin%20Mere%2022-05-11/IMGP8680a.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks to you both for responding - I'll obviously do that, then see how things look.

Thanks for all the above - much food for thought. All my shots here were hand-held (Farne Islands on "the wedding" day.)Some from a moving boat, too. I have a monopod but find it easier to track flight without it. That clearly brings movement blur into the equation.

I should mention that I have a Kenko UV filter in front of the lens - I've seen some comments that it softens focus, so maybe should try without it, though I do like the lens protection.

I always use afc, Stu, for flight shots, but even so, some of these birds are so fast that focus is hit and miss. What about the AF Point setting - centre or auto for shots like these?

May well be that my processing skills are not good enough too. You've given me lots to think about, for which I'm grateful.

The next batch are all uncropped and unprocessed and I would value your opinions again if these originals give you any better insight into what I'm doing. The composition isn't the best, but some of them seem reasonably sharp.
1
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/IMGP6864.jpg[/IMG]
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[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/IMGP7683.jpg[/IMG]
3
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/IMGP7691.jpg[/IMG]
4
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/IMGP7692.jpg[/IMG]
5
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/IMGP7693.jpg[/IMG]
6
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/IMGP7695.jpg[/IMG]
7
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/IMGP7697.jpg[/IMG]
8
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/IMGP7698.jpg[/IMG]
9
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/IMGP7699.jpg[/IMG]
10
[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/IMGP7700.jpg[/IMG]
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[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/IMGP7708.jpg[/IMG]
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[IMG]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i479/jvs49/IMGP7769.jpg[/IMG]