Marylinne, can you detail how you are processing your shots? Software you use, what changes you are making to each shot. It might be my monitor, but some shots look like they might be overly processed with sharpening, or unmasking functions. It might also be the time of day playing havoc. The sun looks very bright for egret shots. It is very hard to hold the whites when it get into the middle of the day. Did you get lucky enough to capture any birds flying towards you?
I really like back button focusing. Always in AF-C, always using best focus point and flexible composition. Now I'm used to it I'd get confused switching back.