[Birdsnapper]

First I have to decide whether the weather is OK.

Then I have to choose which lens to use, and one chosen, whether manual or auto exposure, and to whether to use image stabilisation (will I panning?).
Next there's the camera settings:saturation; white balance (pre-set or auto - don't even think about grey cards at this stage of my experience); shutter speed; aperture; ISO.

Now it's composition time: remember rule of thirds; is there anything that would act as natural frame; look out for background and foreground distractions; would I be better moving over there a little; shoot high or low; what's the light doing and where's the sun (forgot lens hood AGAIN); should I shoot now and risk the bird flying off or should I wait for a better pose - just take the chance on catchlight.

All this just to capture a blurry tail feather disappearing to the right. Is it no wonder that I envy train-spotters.

But, it absolutely wonderful when it all comes together.

Merry Christmas and Season's greetings