Tips about BIF (Bird in Flight)

Osprey and Carp (what remained of it anyhow). 
I get asked from time to time about my BIF shots and if I have any tips on it, so I wrote some tips in hope this will help you out. Feel free to ask me anything! 

EXIF: 
(D850/200-500mm 
1/2500 sec, ƒ/7.1, ISO 1000, 500mm. 
Manual/Matrix/Handheld.)

I guess there's a lot involved in getting such shots tack sharp, in good focus and capturing that frame you are after. 
There are 5 key elements for me in this type of shot:

- Light on subject / type of light.
- Shutter speed.
- Focus, DOF, BBF, tracking (AF-C/Servo). 
- Burst CH. 
- Control & Technique.

With regards to light, this is the most important thing for me, good directional soft light will always yield better and sharper results, with the best overall details and feather details. For this I always try to shoot at 2-3 hours before or after sunset/sunrise, cloudy day with light can work at times although color and contrast wont be as good.

Shutter speed is probably the second most important thing after good light, I always pick a good healthy amount of shutter speed. For raptors I will be at anywhere from 1/1600 to 1/3200, for the small erratic ones I will be at 1/2500 to 1/4000 and if possible, more. This is dependent on your ISO/Aperture etc...managing the resource of light basically. Giving you what you need to get a good exposure at the shutter speed you need/want.

Focus & BBF & tracking, I try to pick a small area of focus something like dynamic 9 / 25 / group AF etc, as small as I can get away with so my focus is where I want it and not on where it shouldn't be. I also have enough DOF to get what I want in focus. My camera is set to back button focus (BBF) and I am always shooting in Continuous Focus / Servo with tracking, I also do physical tracking with moving the lens.

Burst CH - Once locked on focus and framed, shoot continuous high burst of frames, get as many good shots as possible, not all will be great, but the more you have the more you have to pick from and chances will be in your favor to get some good options.

Lastly, Control & Technique. This is how you hold and support the camera so it will have no shake or movement to the best of your abilities. Also how you aim it at your subject, when to fire the shots. Anticipate and know your buffer don't get stuck without being able to shoot when you need to. Anticipate the path and track properly etc...

Anyhow...some short basic tips from as I get asked about this quite a lot. Hope this helps someone...