Great shot and timing...I normally use center focus also but then click the shutter I never tried recompose sorry for the newbie question but if I am getting it right is it like focus on the center than move your camera left or right to recompose is that right....
I used back focus and center focus most of the time but never recompose, I use other focus points if I needed it. I am also in evaluative metering, should I be in spot metering for birds?
Never apologize for newbie questions...we all learn and there is no better way to learn than asking. When you use center point and recompose, you basically put the center dot on your subject where you want the focus, then push the shutter button halfway down, which locks the focus (sometimes it is nice to have the beep sound on for this). Then you recompose my moving the camera and putting the subject where you want it in the frame. Make sure you are on "one shot" for this. If you are in "AI Servo" the focus won't lock when you push it halfway down. Out of all of the focus points, the middle is most sensitive...you can move the focus point around selectively if you are able to.
I mostly use evaluative metering, but here are times when I want to use spot metering. For birds I mostly use evaluative...I think the t2i does a pretty good job. If you shoot in raw format, so much can be done in post, but getting correct in camera is pretty important. There are times when I don't want a bright or dark background to affect the main subject and then I'll use spot metering.
I hope that helps.
