Kevin Posted April 19, 2022 Author Share Posted April 19, 2022 ? https://ebird.org/checklist/S107492094 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 6 hours ago, dragon49 said: Ty - I don't have binoculars. I just scope things out with my 60x zoom point and shoot camera. Something is not right with my vision though, or at least how I use the lens. I saw the bird clearly a few times with my eyes, but when I switched to the camera, was unable to point it at the correct spot. I frequently encounter this problem when trying to take pictures of warblers in trees. What 60x, if I may ask? I've birded with only a camera when I've had no choice. It's definitely not my preferred method, but ... Start with your camera already zoomed about halfway in. When you see the bird with your eyes, notice prominent branches, rocks, or other features nearby. Keeping your head still, bring the camera up to your eye. Look through the viewfinder for those features you picked. Once you find them, then finish zooming and shoot. Practice with slower birds - herons and egrets are great subjects. If your camera has digital zoom, use it to magnify the bird beyond 60x. Digital isn't worth much for pictures but it's good for looking for large field marks. But there's no way around warblers, kinglets, and many other fast movers being difficult to observe with a camera. If you have $150 available, consider a pair of 8 x 42 binos. B&H or Adorama have great, affordable used gear. It's much faster and easier to find a bird with binos; they're made for it and cameras just aren't. You can get more recommendations than you'll need if you start a discussion in the Equipment forum. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 "Clean-up on aisle 4. You'll need a mop and bucket!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted April 19, 2022 Author Share Posted April 19, 2022 5 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: "Clean-up on aisle 4. You'll need a mop and bucket!" Five posts was a little over the top! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 9 hours ago, IKLland said: Are you also having trouble finding Hermit Warblers? I can’t find one anywhere. The time I dreamt I had a Hermit Warbler in a pine in my front yard...I wish that was true... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 9 hours ago, Quiscalus quiscula said: The time I dreamt I had a Hermit Warbler in a pine in my front yard...I wish that was true... <takes hand off mouse, backs slowly away from keyboard> 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted April 20, 2022 Author Share Posted April 20, 2022 2 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: <takes hand off mouse, backs slowly away from keyboard> Voice typing? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor Cochrane Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 This is probably going to be the biggest checklist submit ever in this thread (at least in the US). An 150 species day! Amazing fallout at S. Padre island. Have a lot of photo editing to do later. https://ebird.org/checklist/S107525833 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragon49 Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 14 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: What 60x, if I may ask? I've birded with only a camera when I've had no choice. It's definitely not my preferred method, but ... Start with your camera already zoomed about halfway in. When you see the bird with your eyes, notice prominent branches, rocks, or other features nearby. Keeping your head still, bring the camera up to your eye. Look through the viewfinder for those features you picked. Once you find them, then finish zooming and shoot. Practice with slower birds - herons and egrets are great subjects. If your camera has digital zoom, use it to magnify the bird beyond 60x. Digital isn't worth much for pictures but it's good for looking for large field marks. But there's no way around warblers, kinglets, and many other fast movers being difficult to observe with a camera. If you have $150 available, consider a pair of 8 x 42 binos. B&H or Adorama have great, affordable used gear. It's much faster and easier to find a bird with binos; they're made for it and cameras just aren't. You can get more recommendations than you'll need if you start a discussion in the Equipment forum. Nikon COOLPIX B600. I did a lot of research and decided on the best point and shoot. I got this last summer before I considered myself a birder. I bought it to also photograph other wildlife. I disabled digital zoom so as not to degrade picture quality when at max zoom. I'd rather get better pictures of what I can, rather than miss a few IDs. Appreciate the photography advice. One of these days, I'm going to upgrade to an SLR where I can add lenses, get much better than 60x zoom, and change aperture and shutter speed. I'm hoping to get something that I can comfortably use with a next strap on long walks. I'm most-likely going to stay with the Nikon line when I upgrade, and may ask advice in the equipment forum when the time comes. I'm going to pass on the binoculars for now. Although my nature walks have turned into dedicated birding trips and am always excited to add to my small life list, I'm more interested in getting better pictures of what I can see with my equipment and don't to have something else to carry. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 2 hours ago, Connor Cochrane said: This is probably going to be the biggest checklist submit ever in this thread (at least in the US). An 150 species day! Amazing fallout at S. Padre island. Have a lot of photo editing to do later. https://ebird.org/checklist/S107525833 Oh my. 150 species! Insane list! I must visit south Texas… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 https://ebird.org/checklist/S107496378 https://ebird.org/checklist/S107552182 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 1 hour ago, blackburnian said: https://ebird.org/checklist/S107496378 https://ebird.org/checklist/S107552182 Decides to go out in the blind. A catbird was obliging. Here’s the updated list with the photos. https://ebird.org/checklist/S107552182 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoroark Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 https://ebird.org/checklist/S107574223 Just a quick trip around the local bird preserve while someone was at an appointment nearby. Lots of swallows flying around, Ruddy Ducks courting, and a Killdeer guarding its nest. Nothing too rare, but a FOY Lesser Yellowlegs, at least. It's been (and will be) ridiculously windy the rest of the week, so this may be my only opportunity for birds. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 Got some good Prothonotary shots! https://ebird.org/checklist/S107611013 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted April 21, 2022 Author Share Posted April 21, 2022 48 minutes ago, blackburnian said: Got some good Prothonotary shots! https://ebird.org/checklist/S107611013 Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted April 21, 2022 Author Share Posted April 21, 2022 https://ebird.org/checklist/S107616146 A very enjoyable morning, the weather was beautiful! https://ebird.org/tripreport/48988 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 Still have to add KEWA and SUTA recordings, but: https://ebird.org/checklist/S107687416 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PalmWarbler Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 6 minutes ago, Avery said: Still have to add KEWA and SUTA recordings, but: https://ebird.org/checklist/S107687416 Nice! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 13 minutes ago, Avery said: Still have to add KEWA and SUTA recordings, but: https://ebird.org/checklist/S107687416 Epic list! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragon49 Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 (edited) Always good to go for a walk, but today, I saw fewer birds and fewer species than I normally do in the area. Not sure whether it was a slow day for birds overall, or if my timing was off. I normally don't go birding in this area at the time I started my checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S107709619 Edited April 22, 2022 by dragon49 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 1 hour ago, dragon49 said: Always good to go for a walk, but today, I saw fewer birds and fewer species than I normally do in the area. Not sure whether it was a slow day for birds overall, or if my timing was off. I normally don't go birding in this area at the time I started my checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S107709619 Midday is the “birding doldrums” Birds are disappearing to do whatever they do after the morning buzz of activity, before slowly picking back up for the evening. It’s why I always bird at sunrise. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 A decent day, just wish I had time to get out earlier. https://ebird.org/checklist/S107726413 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 28 minutes ago, IKLland said: A decent day, just wish I had time to get out earlier. https://ebird.org/checklist/S107726413 Man I need to get out west. 22.5 lifers there for me 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragon49 Posted April 23, 2022 Share Posted April 23, 2022 1 hour ago, IKLland said: A decent day, just wish I had time to get out earlier. https://ebird.org/checklist/S107726413 In Upstate New York, the Canada Geese always guard their goslings on the move with one adult in the front and another in the back. Do the left coast Canada Geese behave the same way, or is one guardian enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted April 23, 2022 Author Share Posted April 23, 2022 1 hour ago, Avery said: Man I need to get out west. 22.5 lifers there for me Yeah 8.5 for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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