So close but not quite sharp. Please help me identify the issue.

[terrib]

Thanks everyone!!

Bruce, I'm lucky to have this spot at the back of our property and I'm retired so it's easy to get to and I have the time to keep plugging at it. We're just working on the best way to keep out of sight. We've gone from a portable deer blind (window too constraining) to camo fabric hanging over the ATV. Now my husband is teasing me about buying me one of those camouflage suits with leaves all over it.

[BCrose]

I shoot a lot of BIF. I can only repeat a few of the suggestions here but for me shutter speed is crucial. I never allow my camera to drop below 1/1600.
Also, fill your frame more with the subject. I think these images are pretty sharp for the agressive crops and ISO/Shutter settings.
My settings are as follows.

Aperture priority. I want to control that.
Auto ISO with the sub-option of minimal shutter speed allowed. I set this to 1/1600 and if the speed tries to drop below that then the ISO will kick in to maintain it there. I have the max ISO set to 3200 and this will work in almost all but the cloudiest dark days.

You 7D will do 8fps...use it! I have the D4 and it does 10fps. I typically shoot in short bursts of 4 or 5 frames every few seconds as the bird goes by. Maybe 20 to 30 frames per bird.

Here is a sample of how sharp you should be able to get with these settings. I shot this yesterday. Good light, sun behind my right shoulder.

[terrib]

...
My settings are as follows.

Aperture priority. I want to control that.
Auto ISO with the sub-option of minimal shutter speed allowed. I set this to 1/1600 and if the speed tries to drop below that then the ISO will kick in to maintain it there. ...

Geez, you Nikon guys! Y'all just keep rubbing it in that I can't set a minimum shutter speed on my Canon.

I would love to shoot in Aperture Priority but alas, if I want to keep that shutter speed up I have to use Shutter Priority.

Anyway, Monte, I'm just teasing you a bit because this is about the 4th time I've gotten this advice in various situations. I do appreciate your feedback and letting me know what your minimum settings are. That is one sharp shot. Beautiful. THAT's what I want.

Now, if I can just get those birds to "fill the frame".

[BCrose]

Geez, you Nikon guys! Y'all just keep rubbing it in that I can't set a minimum shutter speed on my Canon.

I would love to shoot in Aperture Priority but alas, if I want to keep that shutter speed up I have to use Shutter Priority.

Anyway, Monte, I'm just teasing you a bit because this is about the 4th time I've gotten this advice in various situations. I do appreciate your feedback and letting me know what your minimum settings are. That is one sharp shot. Beautiful. THAT's what I want.

Now, if I can just get those birds to "fill the frame".

Well...I learned something. Thought your Canon did that. I will bet that this feature will be implemented soon. Seems like Nikon and Canon leapfrog each other with new features all the time.