[P Plates]

Thanks everyone - probably if I got out and practised birds more I'd be less likely to forget.

[Isac]

True enough Gabby. My settings are:
Shutter Priority - 1/1250th - spot metering - auto ISO - Servo Mode - AWB - AF point expansion focus - high speed continuous. I then set the same for single shot when birds are just posing. Works for me. I sometimes use Aperture Priority for single shots too. EXPERIMENTING is the key and steal some settings off the pros from Mr & Mrs Google and from the pros in this forum.

[Skidlid]

Being an ex Sigma 150-500 user I can honestly say your copy appears to be way better than mine ever was. At 500mm and F6.3 for this photo mine would have had pretty poor IQ. Looks to me like you nailed it ! As Kevinj stated , the Sig really likes f8. Although mine was soft at 500 and /or F6.3 it was certainly capable of taking some very nice shots when stopped down. I only use a canon 400mm 5.6 now and sold the sigma 6 months or so ago, but lately I have been thinking how convenient the zoom, OS and extra range on the Sig was. So much so that I have been toying with the idea of getting another one ! But I will probably hold off and see what happens with the new Tamron 150-600mm.

Anyway after all that, thats a lovely picture you took right there

[P Plates]

Thanks Isac - will have to look up the manual to see how to do that now and then when out shooting remember it's there . Thanks Skidlid - I've been pretty happy with the Sigma and do like the zoom. Would love the 120-400 f2.8 but it's way to heavy for me.