I'm not sure it my technique as much as it is the lens.
Playing with an older camera this morning and came across these birds.
The Gull is a bit fuzzy. Both taken with the same lens.
Thank you,my neighbor has flowers everywhere. There are always bees and butterflys there everyday. Giving me plenty of photo ops.
I used one of those back in the eighties with a 2x tele to shoot pictures of eagles about 500 yards away and the pictures were OK. Of course it was a film camera and on a tripod. However about 2 years ago I put it on A sony a65 and took a few shots just to see if I would get good pictures and the pics were sharp but it is full manual and a bit of a pain. I would still use it in a pinch If I needed too. Today I have a few other lenses to use.
Thank you, I kinda liked that one myself.
Shot in my neighbors yard with a 100MM lens. All hand held.
Yes, They are young Grounds hogs. The picture is heavily cropped. They were taken with a 50 mm lens 20 yards away thru brush.
Pictures from near my home
As taken just cropped. I did add my Initials.
20 years ago when I would travel I would carry a 28-135 and a 100-300 APO and that covered about 98 percent of anything I came across. But in today's digital world. It seems that anytime I go out with one lens usually an 18-250 or a 70-300 a situation arises where I never have the lens I need. Now I carry my camera with a lens attached usually an 18-250 and a small shoulder bag with 2 extra lenses,a 100 macro F2.8 and a 100-400 APO f4 plus a 2xtele. This combo works well for me.
I use this and I never have any problems. It's always handy, it locks in place and is ready with just a quick push on the locking lever and the camera is in your hands. If your strap is long enough you can put it around your neck as a back up safety catch and there won't be any tension on your neck.
https://picclick.com/Capture-Camera-Waist-Belt-Holster-Quick-Strap-Buckle-182460019291.html
I've been calling the hooded merganser a wood duck. Thank you for keen observation.
A few Ducks on a pond near my Home.
Thank you, I thought it reassembled a swallow but wasn't sure which one.