Hi Amanda,
thanks for posting your shots, I enjoy seeing them. Although I have no idea what birds they are, I hope to get round to seeing a few more myself.
I think you are right about getting more practice with your camera. I for one have lost many shots whilst fumbling with the controls.
It's a bit like giving fellow errant motorists a savage blast on your windscreen washers when you meant to honk the horn, it's a bit late to honk after the wash...

. (for those who remember when the horn button was at the end of the indicator stalk).