Still trying to get better shots of Garden Birds

Your comments or suggestions would be welcome
1/Starling in what I believe to be Winter plumage


2/ Another Starling


3/ Longtail Tit


4/Yet another Longtail Tit

Bird feeders just spoil the pics for me tbh, because they are so unnatural and well, quite ugly. Number 3 works best as it's not so prominent and there's other more interesting stuff to look at (the bird, background).

For bird shots I recommend a bird watching hut in a reserve, set up specially for photographers and bird-watchers

I think the composition is ok, but the critical focusing needs to be a bit sharper ? but what do I know ? I think they look pretty good tbh.

Taking the Long Tail, the ISO is high (800) and also you are at maximum zoom (500mm.) Did you crop also? If so all these factors will produce a noisy image and pretty much what you are seeing. Perhaps you could invest in a remote shutter, that way you can get a bit closer, use a tripod and keep the camera perfectly still, Im sure it will help you.

My first suggestion snapper would be to get rid of the net holding the fat balls, birds can get tangled on them when they become empty and loose (like the 2nd last image shows)
Better to keep the fat balls loose in the cage. I know that won't help your photography but thought I'd mention it anyway

Really just as Azz mentioned, bird feeders really spoil images, try capture the birds away from the feeders. Appart from that, just keep practising

Can't offer much advice Snapper as my bird shots are terrible.

Having 4 cats I'm reluctant to attract them as they will no doubt get into a pickle.

I agree with what everybody has said regarding the feeders. It's far nicer to have a 'natural' shot of a bird on a branch. That said - if you really like taking shots of the birds and the feeder is the only way you can capture them - go for it as you'll learn a lot about about improving your images.

My in-laws have a fab window with all sorts of feeders. I often wish I had my camera with me.

Yes, I asked my OH to remove the nets once I saw the result in the shot, and he has now done so.

Thanks everyone else for the comments. I was using 800 as it was very dark most of the time and light has been my main problem with using this lens and yes it is at full stretch and yes I did crop. Agree I do not like the feeders either but with the present weather I am concerned about putting my equipment outside.

I do have a release thing but the camera shuts it's self down after a short period of time so I need to see if I can override it which I am sure I can.

Can I ask if the light is not very good and the birds being birds are on the move should I concentrate on the shutter speed rather than the ISO, in other words should I use a slower speed and reduce the ISO and hope some will be still enough to be clear in the shot.

The opposite

Higher ISO for moving objects
Slower shutter speed for stationary objects

That is what I have always thought Azz but Dejavu suggested that using 800iso was too high but I had to get it that high to get a reasonable shutter speed.

So I am confused as to what my aim should be, I usually only push the iso to the minimum needed to get the sort of speed I think will be needed to capture the subject still.

Someone rescue me please.

When did I suggest using ISO800 was too high Snapper?
there are no hard and fast rules as to which settings to use snapper, it's a balancing/juggling act and it all depends on how fast your lens is, the light conditions and if you are using a tripod or not, htere are a lot of variables. I would use shutter priority (around 1/1000sec) and if your cam has auto ISO, then use that (or ISO 400) otherwise bump it up to allow you to shoot at that shutter speed.