I use either the Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 IS L or the Canon 300mm F2.8 IS L sometimes with a 2x extender and at some point I will be trying out my new 1.4x extender
the 300mm is a fixed focal length lens so no zooming, which was a bit difficult to begin with, I'm just not used to big fixed lenses.
My bird shots are 95% handheld to give me the freedom to follow the bird.
The other 5% are used with a Wimberley II gimbal head. Comes in very handy when in a hide or the light is going.
I was about 9 meters away
as for where they are taken...
small garden birds
all taken from my mates hide
birds or prey
all taken at either The Hawk Conservancy Trust or The British Wildlife Centre. Unless they are Red Kites, they are taken in the wild.
Waterfowl
50/50 wild and wetland centres
Otters
all at wildlife parks, sadly I've never seen a wild one, but the good news is that after facing years of persecution in the UK they are on the increase
rest of my shots
well baring in mind I live in the UK and have no passport you can bet your last dollar they were not taken in Africa