Trying with manual settings as recommended - could be a bit sharper, but happy with how my skills are progressing after the course :)  

Per the course I made several changes on camera function: changed to raw (will take extra memory cards in the future), increased shutter speed and iso level, used AWB.  Purchased card with higher write speed which helped.  Wind and sun were not in my control but the overall photo shoot was much improved.  Let the practice continue....

  I have taken a few good pics, of birds in flight. My best strategy, is to always make the whites under exposed, to appear textured. And under-lit. Then, fix the dark areas. Cause it is easier afterwards, to photo edit, to fix greys and browns, than fix 'glowing' white areas. I have a great camera, but not enough to focus only on birds in flight. Since I started this class, I take the opportunity, and add, birds in flight, to my bird watch walk. OSPREY top, RING BILLED GULL, bottom. More on the way ? nikon p1000.

I usually go birding, with basic photos in mind. When I saw this course, I said, 'I will try to get the flying birds.' Only thing, as good as my camera is, 125 x zoom. It is still tough. Because usually birds are way up there, in flight. And I get 'album cover,' type shot. I edit them to be kinda sketchy, but cool. I got my best picture of an Osprey, in flight, ever. But I could not get the  same scientific quality, as a bird within 150 feet. But now, I have more things to look for, than basic birding. And I just think, 'prepare to adjust exposure and zoom, the second I see a bird in the sky.' bk