Hi Nick,
In my experience, something like Neat Image is better at preserving detail and reducing noise than the (even recently improved) algrithms in LR/ACR.
Got to be worth a free trial - see how you get on - my thread linked above shows how easy it can be to use.
Disclosure: I am simply a paying (happy) customer of their product.
I think I started using Neat Image when I was a bridge camera shooter too, but still use it on my DX cameras when iso gets stretched and I have to crop in PP just to see the subject.
That said, Manfred has a point; one of the reasons I sprung for a DSLR was to improve IQ, the bridge camera was fairly naff beyond 800 iso even with NR, especially in low light, your shots look awfully 'familiar'!
The sad fact is that good light on the subject, your proximity to it and photographic skill - are all paramount to getting good images, from any camera.
Upgrading the camera alone won't help, especially if you do what I did and then attempt to shoot subjects that are even further away and/or less well lit - because; surprise, surprise, the result is images that look just as bad.
The practical bottom line; don't expect to achieve the impossible (with ANY camera).
Unfortunately, like many before you (myself included), these shots are just that. - although I appreciate they are 100% crops for illustrative purposes, not finished photographs.
The "great" wildlife shots we see here at CiC are from those that have learnt this lesson and addressed it; Joe, Dan, et al.
Personally, it is something I'm still struggling to deal with, so my shots are still 'so-so'.