It was my first time really trying this with some birds that only recently began coming to a feeder that's been here for years so I'm sure I'll pick up some other ways but these were all shot within a couple feet using an 85mm f1.8 lens. I'll likely try it from a fixed tripod spot and a 300mm or 300mm + 2x teleconverter to get real close details but given that most of these were manually focused due to the 1.8, It will be tough doing the tripod thing, I think. Time will tell but we at least have some great detail here.
I'd say you did pretty darn good on your first try. My husband is visually impaired. His first encounter with a hummingbird was 2 years ago at my aunt's near Superior WI and he said in a most honest voice with a look of fear on his face, "honey, there are some giant bees up here, must be from global warming."