Still trying with these in flights. Practice, practice and more practice. You guys make it look so easy, but wait that is what experts do to make us mere mortals feel we can do it to
Your thoughts, suggestions, nits and crits are much appreciated.
Also, if someone could help me with the ID on the second would appreciate it.
#2 is a Lesser Yellowlegs. You can distinguish this from the Greater Yellowlegs by a couple things relative to the bill. First of all, the bill is roughly the same length from base to tip as the head is from the posterior most point of the head to the base of the bill. In a Greater Yellowlegs, the bill is about 1.5X as long as the above mentioned head measurement. Additionally, there is a relative upturn in the bill of a Greater Yellowlegs, while the Lesser's bill is straight.
There is also a notable size difference when they're side by side, but this is difficult to notice in isolation.
Birdied, here are my suggestions regarding the photos.
Here are the positives: The exposure is great in all of them. The highlights aren't blown and there's nice detail in the shadows. I think the photos are appropriately sharp. The negative space is nice in that it gives the birds areas to "fly into". Eye contact is great on the Lesser Yellowlegs.
Here are my suggestions: I'm not sure how much cropping you've done, but I feel that generally there is a tad much negative space for my liking. If you can, I'd crop a little bit tighter. On shots 1 and 3, if you have any shots where the birds are giving a little better eye contact, you might want to choose those in the long run. I do realize that this doesn't happen in every sequence, though.
Exposures are spot-on with beautiful color, and detail is nice and sharp Birdie.
I've always enjoyed your compositions and feel like you leave space because that's what you want the image to be... not because you don't have the pixels to crop tighter.
Congrats on the Mallard IF, it's my favorite.
Just keep shooting, you produce very fine images. When I go to the ponds for ducks, I literally shoot several hundred images... lots are technically "keepers" but typically there are only a few that have everything I was looking for in the image and those are the few that I post... but that's just me, and I'm much pickier now than I used to be. In other words, I just keep shooting til I get the one I want.
Post what you like and what you are proud of... trust your instincts and your eye, you're an excellent photographer.
The techs for your shots are always good Birdie. That includes the comps. My one suggestion is to try to capture the flyers before they get past you. And as you know, that is not always possible... ~ Ron
One of the advantages of coming in late is most of the helpful crits are already given
You have made such great strides in your work Birdie, you should be very proud. Your willingness to listen and apply it to your work has really payed off for you.
You offer up to wonderful shots. To add to what has already been said. For 1 the techs are spot on. Flying away shots don't work as well as lateral or flanking shots coming in. That said sometimes they do work. This one is pretty good, he has a great expression, like is looking forward to getting somewhere and the face is pretty well lit. You may want to straighten the horizon a tad
Birdie you are doing great with your BIF. Well done!
You are so lucky to get Mr. Mallard! I will be beyond excited when I get an opportunity and capture with a clear picture
BeeBalm
Don't let them fool you; with a 1D-X, IF shots are kids play!! These are well done. It takes many hundreds to get the proper angle etc. with IF stuff. That's why we keep shooting! Don
"You guys make it look so easy". Apparently you have not seen my IFs . Good looking set Roberta. Did the yellowlegs have a partner out in front? Looks like rings on the surface of the pond caused by water droplets. Well done.
Your willingness to listen and apply it to your work has really payed off for you. 
