Originally posted by RobG Manual focus on an LCD screen on a bright day with a bird or animal hopping around the place is not very practical. I did try it on the weekend with my camera (I think it's an HDC-750) and discovered that using the flip-out screen instead of the viewfinder, it seems to have live contrast detect AF. Interesting but also a bit of a pain to use when recording wildlife.
That camera has no viewfinder?
If not, a loupe is called for.
If that's still no good, a different camera.
I can tell you, from shooting little birds with branches and twigs around them (as you do, too), manual focus is important.