For BIF manual metering is reckoned to be the best Sparky. The trouble with any of the auto modes is that the metering is almost always influenced by the background that the bird is flying through, as the background changes the metering will be all over the place. The gull in your shot has been over exposed because the metering is picking up some if the darker background, if the background was darker still then the bird would be over exposed even more.
As Mike indicates if you use an auto mode then you must dial-in some exposure compensation, the amount will vary depending on the tone of the bird, the tone of the background and how much of the frame the bird is occupying.
With manual metering you set the correct exposure for the bird in the ambient light and the exposure will be correct regardless of the background it flies through.
Of course manual metering is a whole new thing to learn but once you get it weighed off I can almost guarantee that your BIF will be a lot better exposed.
Just my 2p worth.
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