I'm with you 100% on both counts. My wife and I love birds and I know first hand how difficult it can be to get a really nice shot in camera. In the old days you wanted to do all composition in the camera, but those days are LONG gone and especially with birds it's impossible to get all the elements of a great shot. Sometimes you have to machine-gun the subject and hope for the best.
Anyway, you know your craft much better than I do and I'm very pleased you've shared with us all here.
And minimal is really where it's at. The garish over-saturated filter obsessed Instagram pictures we see make me feel like a kid from Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Just too damn sweet! Yuck.
Anyway, that's the taste people have, so be it.
Once again, great work and hope to see more!