Reddit reviews Panasonic Lumix FZ80 4K Digital Camera, 18.1 Megapixel Video Camera, 60X Zoom DC VARIO 20-1200mm Lens, F2.8-5.9 Aperture, Power O.I.S. Stabilization, Touch Enabled 3-Inch LCD, Wi-Fi, DC-FZ80K (Black)

Those super serious birders who go out and get publication-quality pictures of hummingbird's nostrils or whatever are all using top-shelf digital SLRs with gigantic telephoto lenses like this that run >4k all told. I'm not sure what your price range is (assuming it's not that lol), but for non-SLR cameras I'm a big fan of the Lumix series by Panasonic or some of the fancier cameras in Canon's Powershot series for birding. They run in the $250-400 range, have good resolution and great optical zoom for a point-and-shoot, and look enough like a normal camera that you won't be ostracized by your friends and family. I used to have an older version of this camera that I liked a lot. Your photos won't win awards but will be more than good enough for identifying and zooming in on what you see!

On another note, if you're birding in the Hill Country, next spring you absolutely HAVE TO make the trip to go see Black-capped Vireo and Golden-cheeked Warbler. The Hill Country's the only place in the US where you can find them, and both are threatened/endangered. Try Kerr WMA for the vireo and Lost Maples SNA for the warbler. If you already have gone, go get a camera, go back and take pictures, and then post them here :)

So at $300 one of the better cameras to look at is the Panasonic Lumix FZ80 [affiliate link]. It will do 4K at 30 fps if you want, or you can do 1080p at 60 fps (which I recommend for the smoother action shots in this case).

It also has impressive zoom range, and fairly decent performance in low light compared to some of the other cameras in this range. The autofocus is ok, but nothing too special, one of the tradeoffs for a camera at this price. If you plan out your shots, or don't have too much variation in the distance from the camera, I don't think it will be a big issue.

Here's a video of this camera being used to film a concert from quite a distance back. I think it's a good example of the zoom and low light performance of this camera.

I haven't used this one personally, but I have had it recommended by people in your particular position (birdwatching, travel photography, and no tolerance for interchangeable lens system)
https://www.amazon.com/PANASONIC-Megapixel-20-1200mm-Stabilization-DC-FZ80K/dp/B01MS16V42

Alternatively your S9 has a great camera. You could get a moment zoom lens on that and try it out. I'm finding more and more that there isn't a lot of room in-between full-frame cameras and cell phone cameras with how much better cell phone cameras have gotten.

https://www.amazon.com/Moment-iPhone-Samsung-Galaxy-OnePlus/dp/B07K4T1NG7/

To fill the frame with a song bird from 30' you're going to need a looooong lens. There are P&S cameras with large zoom ratios. https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-FZ70-Digital-Optical-Stabilized/dp/B01MS16V42?th=1

A good camera line that is cheap with microphone inputs are the Panasonic Lumix fz series check out one of then here https://www.amazon.com/PANASONIC-Camera-Megapixels-20-1200mm-F2-8-5-9/dp/B01MS16V42/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511736122&sr=8-1&keywords=panasonic+fz+20

How do you think this compares? https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DC-FZ80K-Lumix-Camera-F2-8-5-9/dp/B01MS16V42/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1491591751&sr=1-4&keywords=lumix

It doesn't explicitly say it can do 1080 60fps, but I would assume it could if it could do 4k 30?

what about something like this


https://www.amazon.ca/Panasonic-DCFZ80K-Camera-Megapixels-20-1200mm/dp/B01MS16V42/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=PANASONIC+LUMIX+FZ80+4K+Digital+Camera&qid=1564609428&s=gateway&sr=8-1