Need help catching wildlife in action. Sample pics inside

I have a drebel and a Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM Autofocus Lens. It just seems if there is any kinda movement at all they come out a tick out of focus. I really don't know alot about the setting on the camera. I have tried turning the iso up and then there is alot of noise in the photos. I have had better luck just setting the camera on landscape mode and taking the pics. I know there has to be a better way to capture the action. Maybe this is the best I can do with this lens. Every once and awhile I will get a great shot. Here are some samples of some eagles that I took today. Thanks for any imput you may have for this newbe
This is 100% cropped
http://nascar6fan.home​.mchsi.com/temp/1.jpg
This one is cropped from same photo
http://nascar6fan.home​.mchsi.com/temp/1crop.​jpg
This is 100% cropped
http://nascar6fan.home​.mchsi.com/temp/2.jpg
This one is cropped from same photo
http://nascar6fan.home​.mchsi.com/temp/2crop.​jpg
This one is 100% cropped
http://nascar6fan.home​.mchsi.com/temp/3.jpg

I'm not familiar with that lens, but from the looks of #1 you should be able to do better with the action shots. Looking at the settings on #2, you only got 1/500th shutter because the aperture was way down at f/14 even though you shot it at ISO 400. Try opening it up a bit, although at f/5.6 it may get a little soft. f/5.6 will give you well over 4 times the amount of light than f/14 (closer to 6 times actually), so you can shoot ISO 200 and still get well over 1/1000th out of it. You have to play around and find the sweet spot for your lens though.

What mode were you shooting in?

Yep, Phil's right on. Go with Av mode and set that aperture to f/5.6 and that will get the shutter speed faster. Don't let the shutter get any lower than 1/500, but 1/750 should be good, and if you can get it to 1/1000 you'll be very happy. I shoot a lot of birds, always in Av mode and almost never at smaller than f/5.6 unless I have a LOT of light - then I might go all the way to f/8. Don't be afraid of ISO 400 when necessary, but I usually like to stay at 200. If you do fall back into the auto modes use Action - it will give you a fast shutter, but may switch ISO on you so I don't like it because of that.

Those are pretty darn good shots. Keep at it!

Sounds like you are shooting in one of the "auto" modes, such as "Landscape". Landscape will give you better depth of field, but not the fast shutter speeds you need to stop action. You need to use "Creative" modes, such as Av (when you want to control depth of field) or Tv (when you want to make sure you have adequate shutter speed for the action you expect). Actually, I'm surprised 1/500 didn't handle the movement of the eagle, but it clearly did not.

Was a tripod used when shooting the eagle?

---Bob Gross---

The first 2 photos where shot in p mode and the last one was shot in landscape mode. I didn't use a tripod either. To hard to catch them in action that way. I haven't tried shooting in av mode. There was probably close to 100 eagles along this river. I took a lot of shots and not to many turned out. I was so disapointed. I am not sure how long they will stick around.

You need more shutter speed!

Check this: http://www.gigatech.co​.nz/Gulls/IMG_2218a.ht​m shot at 300mm, f10, 1/800 sec, ISO 400 with my cheap 75-300 f4-5.6 III.

Shot at 1/800 sec the birds body looks OK, but the wings are blurred. Maybe at 1/1250 sec the wings would be better, maybe faster still.

Don't be afraid to try other settings like Av and set Aperture to f5.6 or f8. Shoot at ISO 800 if necessary. Try these things and see how the pics come out.

The bottom line for most serious bird photographers:

1. You need long glass.
2. You need fast glass.
3. (most of the time) You need faster shutter speeds.
4. (most of the time) You need a stable platform, e.g. tripod.
5. (if possible) You need a sunny day.
6. You need lots of patience.

---Bob Gross---

And for a few of us, we need birds around to photograph. <Dang winter!>

Does the Rebel have AI Servo mode? and where you using it?

Could somebody donate a bald eagle to send to PacAce in Pennsylvania?

Here in Northern California, we get migratory birds spending their winters here, so last week it was Sandhill Cranes. Otherwise, Golden Eagles are OK. Most Americans have a natural affection to the Bald Eagle, since it appears on some of our money, but remember it was Ben Franklin who proposed the Wild Turkey. I've seen a few this winter.

PacAce, how about a zoo bird?

---Bob Gross---

Where are you that you have that many eagles so close to you? I'm in southern New Hampshire and there were 2 for a while about 20 miles away but other than that there are no bald eagles, just a lot of hawks and turkey vultures.

I have played around with it some without alot of luck.

I live in Iowa. I have to drive about an hour to a lake called Red Rock. Below the dam along the river is where they are. I guess they come every year like this.
Here is a photo that shows about 15 or so eagles in just one area.
http://nascar6fan.home​.mchsi.com/temp/4.jpg

Here are a couple more photos that turned out decent
http://nascar6fan.home​.mchsi.com/temp/5.jpg
http://nascar6fan.home​.mchsi.com/temp/6.jpg

This lens is as good as I can afford for now so it will have to do. I have lots of patience because I like to just sit and watch them to. I try to go on sunny days to. I really don't like to use a tripod because I feel like I will miss shots. I may have to give that a try though. And I am going to try the faster shutter speeds next time I am out. I hope those eagles hang around for awhile.