Hi Chris & everyone who has replied to my thread.
I went into our main town Saturday and tried loads of different cameras and I was amazed how different each one handled and results achieved. I was dissapointed how slow even the most expensive prosumer cameras were , no use for wildlife shots. So i have ordered the Canon 400D it is quite a bit lighter than the 20D and with the small kit lens i will be able to manage well on a bad day, and the bonus will be that i can still use my lenses when feeling well.
I took a look at your photos Chris and am very impressed. So many sites consist of sunrise or set and milky water. Great to see such a great variety of shots.