Post your photos. I would love to see them.You will find that everyone on this forums is friendly, helpful, and laid back. I hear you about other photography web sites. I have found that the majority of photographers that frequent those type of forums are a tad stuck up and/or are rabid fan boys.I do plenty of multi-tool photography...but I haven't had much opportunity to visit the local parks and natural byways for the past couple of years. I do plan on getting back into it someday soon.
I use a Bigma 50-500mm lens. I can heartily recommend it as quite often, that 50mm has come in quite handy on a nature walk.
Very nice Derek,brilliant capture of the swan chasing the canada goose,excellentall i use is a 70-300mm(can pick them up quite cheap now),i don't have the funds for the big glass,my first dslr was an a200(super little camera imho),never did get the beer can for it as they were hard to get and people did not want to let them go when they did get one as they are a super all rounder.two from the back garden today while the sun was out.