Bird Photography

--With as fast as these birds are, or any BIF, I'd turn off that IS to get as fast as acquisition speed as possible in order for the center point expansion mode to lock on and let er rip...shoot at a minimum of 400 ISO depending on light, you might have to go higher depending, it's all about shutter speed...good quality lenses should be good wide open but in general I aim for f/7.1-f/8 in manual and adjust SS accordingly having my thumb on the dial like a foot on the accelerator, I usually like between 1600-2000 shutter speed ...here's a similar shot with the 400mm f5.6 lens which is very fast focus and sharp wide open, that's why I choose it over the 300mm f4L IS+TC, I use it strictly for BIF though whereas you have more versatility with the 300mm F/4 IS...Good luck and practice practice practice

shot hand held wide open..

'I am what I am and that's all I am' Popeye 1960. Favorite famous Hollywood celebrity. Don't have time for the rest.....