Beginner Photographer: first photos of birds

Hi,
Got a 7D as an early Christmas gift, which is my first DSLR. Even though I have had it for a month, I still feel like I really have no clue what I am doing, but birds have caught my attention while out walking the dog. Any comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/johanntang/5320​546774/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/johanntang/5319​351000/

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Welcome to POTN! I am liking the Mallard shot. I love my 7D. Keep the photos coming.

Welcome to forum, nice shots

Not too bad at all, especially for it being your first SLR

I like the killdeer shot in the field; good job getting down low for it.

The only thing I'd recommend is working on getting in closer so that they're larger in the image and watch your highlights under really bright conditions. It's hard to tell at those sizes, but the breast on the woodpecker and head on the Bufflehead appear a bit blown out and lacking detail.

A 7D AND a 500mm lens for Christmas? As a first DSLR? Lucky...

By the way, your camera is date stamping everything 2012.

Oh and nice shots too

Yea, I realize I set the date incorrectly when new year's rolled around and now the camera is set correctly. Is there an easy way to batch edit the dates?

Highlights: Something I have been just learning about, using the highlight alerts, and trying to expose to the right without clipping. Apparently I failed =/ Was trying to capture the iridescence of the bufflehead. The woodpecker was taken before I knew anything at all and was just using the cameras auto exposure.

These shots were pretty much taken as close as I could without scaring the birds away as I always have my corgi with me, and she is a little exuberant.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/johanntang/5229​443768/

welcome to the forum and the addiction. nice shots. heh I have found that my little poopie usually scares off the birds.

I'm not sure there is a way to edit the EXIF data on photos already sent to flickr. I haven't had it long, maybe someone else knows.

If you fix the EXIF and reupload the pictures and delete the old ones it would work for sure.

LuLuTheMonk wrote in post #11574384
Highlights: Something I have been just learning about, using the highlight alerts, and trying to expose to the right without clipping. Apparently I failed =/

Trust me, it's tricky. I find that sometimes I've got to accept the clipping in the original image and pull it back in post processing; especially for the Buffleheads/Golden Eyes/Mallards.

LuLuTheMonk wrote in post #11574384
These shots were pretty much taken as close as I could without scaring the birds away as I always have my corgi with me, and she is a little exuberant.

HAHA! Certainly understandable!

These are really excellent shots. I never would have thought to use aperture priority for birds but it worked well for you. Keep up the good work.

nice series

Welcome, Great start!!! Keep Shooting!!

Don1 wrote in post #11574737
These are really excellent shots. I never would have thought to use aperture priority for birds but it worked well for you. Keep up the good work.

Do people typically use Tv or manual? I mostly switch to Tv if trying for BIF, but have yet to get anything great.

This is probably my favorite so far:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/johanntang/5318​746239/

Nice shots for just starting out, keep shooting. Unless you know what you are doing I would recommend shooting in TV or AV mode for BIF. When shooting in manual it is too easy to get an incorrect exposure because as the light changes on the subject you have to always change your settings or you pic's will be under or over exposed. As far as the 100-400mm goes if you put on tc you will lose auto focus capability, some tc you might still be able to auto focus but it will be slow. So if you need the extra reach of the 500mm you might be better keeping what you have. Just my 2 cents worth

tobiasfrost wrote in post #11574466
I'm not sure there is a way to edit the EXIF data on photos already sent to flickr.

Yes, you can. Just open up the exif and you will see that the 'taken on' field is editable.