New camera and the Blue

The digital camera I've been using for the last three years has been great for most of the photos I take. Close ups and distant shots are beyond its capabilities, but its small size and ease of use has more than outweighed its limits. The camera goes almost everywhere I go. Especially during my sabbatical sojourn in Seattle, I grew accustomed to always having the camera in one pocket and cell phone in the other.
Of course, being out and about in Seattle meant more exposure to elements. I began noticing that some photos had dark spots in just the wrong places, and finally figured that dust or moisture had gotten inside. When I investigated having the camera cleaned, the cost was half that of a new one of the same model. Most of the time I can find a way to work around the spots with cropping, but over the months the spots have gotten darker and more numerous, and my frustration grew.
A new camera has been on my wish list for months. I've read reviews and gazed at the models on display without coming to a decision. Now that I've moved and settled in and paid some bills, I figured the time had come.
But which model? Is it time for a digital SLR or should I go for the compromise of a digital with some manual settings? A review for a new model of the Sony cybershot convinced me to take the intermediate step before heading to the high end. I can't quite carry it in my pocket or purse, but it's still relatively small and unexpectedly light-weight. Now to learn how to use all the settings and options.
Last Saturday was the first chance to really try it out during a trip to a local farmer's market. On the way home we stopped to look for the Great Blue Heron we'd seen on the bank of a canal the week before. What a surprise to realize he was standing just feet away. Discretely lowering the window, I inched the camera through the opening and began snapping. I even caught him in midflight as he headed to the opposite bank. What a thrill to watch this beautiful creature and then be able to view later what the camera had captured!