Elaine - I almost thought there was something around the cardinals neck in the one photo! Then I realized it was the wire of the feeder. I have learned to hold my breath when snapping a photo because I tend to shake the camera too much. My camera seems to be slow to actually take the photo too, which doesn't help. I hope you can get your tripod to work. A tripod has been my saving grace along with a good window to photograph from.
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us. Garden Rooms and Becky's Budget Garden