Thank you, Kim. That is such a nice reply.
It's so strange how you can read about: shoot in the early hours of the day or in the late hours. But until you *see* it, the penny doesn't drop. At least it didn't for me. When the penny did drop it was like a revelation. I am a bit limited due to health reasons so not all of my bird shots can be stellar, it depends on how I feel, but I do get it right sometimes and then I do see the image quality that I was after and couldn't get before. And when I don't see it, I know why now and somehow that is enough.
I don't think buying the latest, most expensive gear will improve one's images. Some of my all time favourite bird images were shot with the 40D. Of course, in bird photography reach is king as they say and the long telephoto lenses are expensive and all things being equal they will get you better images if alone because you won't have to crop so much, if at all. However, I am quite content with what I have right now and accept the limitations of it just as I accept my own. Which doesn't mean I don't try to improve. I always do. 
