tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33794260983928690672024-03-05T04:56:08.554-06:00600 BirdsA birder's blog about nature travel, binoculars, spotting scopes, bird digiscoping, and a quest for the 600th Bird.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-22861062266272584192011-06-22T12:56:00.007-05:002011-06-27T14:19:57.809-05:001983 BMW R100 RS SOLD<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sbJxDjOPV_JWaR53HrO-R_drpmTezOWhhLGa2nIiGs5PjcUl618kuVcI1ItO0gSxZlVmaMZC-8woj4oA3YwC821FjV5u-z7H-NuLsG1f5GY6M_ordkOhr3lZgt4GVgsER12CiFDl-Wc/s1600/R100RS+%252811%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sbJxDjOPV_JWaR53HrO-R_drpmTezOWhhLGa2nIiGs5PjcUl618kuVcI1ItO0gSxZlVmaMZC-8woj4oA3YwC821FjV5u-z7H-NuLsG1f5GY6M_ordkOhr3lZgt4GVgsER12CiFDl-Wc/s400/R100RS+%252811%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621105924744465730" border="0" /></a>These are photos of a 1983 BMR R100RS that I'm selling. I've owned this bike for 10 years and have ridden it regularly. The heads were rebuilt at 55K miles with new valves, valve seats, springs, etc.... The carbs have been rebuilt and the front suspension has been aligned.<br />I would consider it to be very well maintained, tuned, and in perfect running order. When I purchased the bike it had no fairing on it. 3 years ago I purchased and installed the Vesco Rabid Transit fairing. It has mounting brackets for Krauser bags. This is a strong running and reliable bike!<br />Feel free to call (608-437-4343) or email (benlizdas@gmail.com) with any questions.<br /><br />Location: Mt Horeb WI (just west of Madison)<br />Price: $2700<br />Milage: 68K<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMN-q8t-D0pg3bT0dfjPD4oVgjWMsWyzrjahbxS0LG5JV-qjIMI2KI7ITZB8WjP03wP-O8YIR6FV5LBbZuW3Lr_9KcgcH_PLk-ZKkJLvFFVRbi1Kh4Ar0gnYHOe-flywJCTx8CF8zets/s1600/R100RS+%25289%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMN-q8t-D0pg3bT0dfjPD4oVgjWMsWyzrjahbxS0LG5JV-qjIMI2KI7ITZB8WjP03wP-O8YIR6FV5LBbZuW3Lr_9KcgcH_PLk-ZKkJLvFFVRbi1Kh4Ar0gnYHOe-flywJCTx8CF8zets/s400/R100RS+%25289%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621105667509563122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFpEdHpi_zWNmwNi_CKRqp9UreBXqs7_nB09ofDVAsnKfBRTSwE9hnoytmi7bijYhZn-VQQdrDj-8K0lxFpvuCixpopKpC6LUVmaMMD8FxLZKx4Zk3s8NmHuu8D08jhnEVM4vUvZTM0A/s1600/R100RS+%25288%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; 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margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-C0zqiEpQAYghmDzOyCMAloiCH8LE3MExho4CB05dN3PH19Jv9TNeJDEAqndVwP7x6NMSdYWuSWlGHNFiJX1D1VnNOokbWB2mN94DMMcR4QIyBAJL_wuO1O3CLUST-VbV0VYPr0kqN4/s400/R100RS+%25286%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621105647619582242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslulefQtxiuTMTUTAYrxsNMM1BF48bzvTCe8VMdoRVvZ2iNtl7geuKAH4kFYzLZW3J-0wX5qmiv51Ez_cfk-dDDfbknLkKBuTPHmle50w-NvQBGX2W60at3E-fyrK0FG5-kjC359mwng/s1600/R100RS+%252810%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslulefQtxiuTMTUTAYrxsNMM1BF48bzvTCe8VMdoRVvZ2iNtl7geuKAH4kFYzLZW3J-0wX5qmiv51Ez_cfk-dDDfbknLkKBuTPHmle50w-NvQBGX2W60at3E-fyrK0FG5-kjC359mwng/s400/R100RS+%252810%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621105677714876434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVQhyn111KJ74G7TY0NRINAtHi-vJGdECk57BquwKuE_NuJSTd0y7honOfgPInYlNOFbz6qgGU12aFYl3o5uu48Wx0ErDdTL8GwwIvcAzJtabyd05R8Bd2IvKtOB6TiMOeDG05dyd8og/s1600/R100RS+%25284%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; 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margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6g3Io6L74PVLmsIoMLFPRueiNI1LaC9SjQo8NvhMq3I2chpbSRlmTex1QKprFMawF2PyPwOGCZs0I7mwfXFbrWZNRx25HFDfFCK639Qt6kv8CZ_a8GQb2fC41AvG7X8Tsprzgr_1N21M/s400/R100RS+%25282%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621105260198587362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2DPtnSPBEmdfLx4vtR6MtM76C_PT4gCncouymv-vEURa7bp8nBk0g419-lTNeWZcp4JtBBYcBf2vE5oDdNWiEUwd8jBaxf0Eb7cQ3z0roCRbF6BPIt0FZSLWJ1LVlEcEa1Ny-oI_HUU/s1600/R100RS+%25281%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2DPtnSPBEmdfLx4vtR6MtM76C_PT4gCncouymv-vEURa7bp8nBk0g419-lTNeWZcp4JtBBYcBf2vE5oDdNWiEUwd8jBaxf0Eb7cQ3z0roCRbF6BPIt0FZSLWJ1LVlEcEa1Ny-oI_HUU/s400/R100RS+%25281%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621105255890331106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2rLfOFTmONleyCLfYjZMofsFkpFFEIem0Hnc_-8ibQXYbS0GFzN8gvTPh12X2sIr5y6ZL469S-6cTRUZuWNieHKFjjIipaEL8mdbEGjwdSHYnnkMeB7dtHT9H4eKxWbVxK9XqO2BKpI/s1600/R100RS+%25285%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2rLfOFTmONleyCLfYjZMofsFkpFFEIem0Hnc_-8ibQXYbS0GFzN8gvTPh12X2sIr5y6ZL469S-6cTRUZuWNieHKFjjIipaEL8mdbEGjwdSHYnnkMeB7dtHT9H4eKxWbVxK9XqO2BKpI/s400/R100RS+%25285%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621105286831698034" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-2468214575823299702010-05-17T15:05:00.003-05:002010-05-17T15:17:33.602-05:00Some recent birding trips<div align="center"> I'm just settling in from a few trips to birding events in Alaska and Texas. Below are a few images I managed to digiscope while on the road.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472333885225584338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOGb7_GmW2TG7ddaW87jVG7z4vl6Z724AvkdQARc1quVrnN6pMyddgMnIPaOvCy0EwW5omYeuU0ipHKDwaxqq7FWw3cv5SmQZHqfwRhdXVPZ24bp1k4hYveQNGha8b5x7Gy6ScT4YNzI/s400/harley.JPG" border="0" />Harlequin Duck near Ninilchick, AK.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSXkU8WAuJSRXVMuj6OmB7iTYlTbDTqdUVUj2OiKZzoN-H5K-qlA6sTyT77mZzoxrngBN4eQZEyjN49xwTv17BfMA22m25TB2Ebqekj2_4fsayg9tsgxJkrnwc1MkwW3itQlsd8SyrZo/s1600/bunting.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472333461326595762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSXkU8WAuJSRXVMuj6OmB7iTYlTbDTqdUVUj2OiKZzoN-H5K-qlA6sTyT77mZzoxrngBN4eQZEyjN49xwTv17BfMA22m25TB2Ebqekj2_4fsayg9tsgxJkrnwc1MkwW3itQlsd8SyrZo/s400/bunting.JPG" border="0" /></a> Indigo Bunting at South Padre Island, TX.<br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJmwJ7-uhHqIaKbtboGqGZtULT6-l8A5EG9pULcwM4iWC4fkNLlZDdc4JYi2M-4IPdQ09SJZI5PiR8-CPbE7LdHJ2_u2m45oWPNohA5-Km74tuQDnwMUOJNkE2KlklkswibWaxuCtHes/s1600/L1000334.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJmwJ7-uhHqIaKbtboGqGZtULT6-l8A5EG9pULcwM4iWC4fkNLlZDdc4JYi2M-4IPdQ09SJZI5PiR8-CPbE7LdHJ2_u2m45oWPNohA5-Km74tuQDnwMUOJNkE2KlklkswibWaxuCtHes/s400/L1000334.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Scarlet Tanager, High Island, TX.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">It was a pretty face paced trip jumping from one end of the country to another. A bit of exciting news is that the Eagle Optics sponsored team (the Groovie Billed Anis) won the Big Sit Tournament of the Great Texas Birding Classic this year. We managed to see/hear 145 species in 24 hours at the convention center at South Padre Island. </div><div align="left">I did miss the one Black-billed Cuckoo that was seen that day and also manged to miss out on Aleutian Tern and Black-backed Woodpecker while in Alaska. Still sitting at 598 birds right now, though I have a date with a Kirtland's Warbler later this week. I'll keep y'all posted on those developments later.<br /><br /></div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-922707817621334602010-04-09T14:43:00.000-05:002010-04-09T14:43:37.886-05:00Migration is well under way!<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3h0EtfKy1JT2eNTS84cQQAjZVyfkjg3W0cmqBYMgZr-k7cmpY59J4_Bj76RDb6yNb8IzZzDzFmHotjnmBKIikAn7161IiF7gj0wnLSWw1I1aw7Hd5lV3YGlhbGur8crSb_PuFPoo5Us/s1600/IMGP2955.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3h0EtfKy1JT2eNTS84cQQAjZVyfkjg3W0cmqBYMgZr-k7cmpY59J4_Bj76RDb6yNb8IzZzDzFmHotjnmBKIikAn7161IiF7gj0wnLSWw1I1aw7Hd5lV3YGlhbGur8crSb_PuFPoo5Us/s400/IMGP2955.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br />I was enjoying coffee in my backyard last week and spotted a pair of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers flirting and feeding on a birch tree in my yard. The Sapsucker is one of my favorite harbingers of spring. It's a species that shows up to let me know that winter is in fact over. One morning each spring I wake up to find our resident Hairy Woodpeckers replaced by this larger, more colorful relative passing through from the south. Once the Sapsucker has arrived, he will be followed shortly by a migratory cavalry of warblers, vireos, thrushes, and other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">neo</span>-tropical migrants. I also think the Sapsucker may hold the title as the showiest of backyard bird species that we see at our house, with it's faint yellow markings on the breast and dramatic red throat and crown. The Sapsucker is the perfect aesthetic compliment to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bloodroot</span> that inevitably begins to bloom within a day of this bird's arrival. As I sat on my deck, watching and photographing these birds and admiring the buds in the garden, I could only wonder if there a sweeter season than spring??? At the moment anyway, the answer would be "No"...<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-13685227347835898782010-01-08T15:32:00.002-06:002010-01-08T16:00:36.923-06:00597 Birds....<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0E8W7mNDYBr7nolZ7XAlpXAfAZzGA2DQQcp6QROth9uiq91DCN5cTyoAXleBQNETN0rg5mCV8AO49FzHE9vK7mcU_l_5clXeNtfXyuNWciW8v5JlY5luclePjprpa77wwyod8grHwOs/s1600-h/IMGP1780.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0E8W7mNDYBr7nolZ7XAlpXAfAZzGA2DQQcp6QROth9uiq91DCN5cTyoAXleBQNETN0rg5mCV8AO49FzHE9vK7mcU_l_5clXeNtfXyuNWciW8v5JlY5luclePjprpa77wwyod8grHwOs/s400/IMGP1780.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><p><br />So 2009 has been put to bed and 600 Birds comes to a turning point of sorts. The idea or concept of this blog began as a way to document my travels to various birding events around the country and my quest to see 600 different bird species in North America. This <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pursuit</span> was not simply an attempt to reach a personal goal or <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">fulfil</span>l a lifelong dream. At its core, it was a beer bet between me and a few coworkers here at Eagle Optics. When the clock struck midnight and the new year dawned, I lost that bet.<br /><br />How close did I get? 597 species was where I stood at the end of the year and where I still sit today. Let me tell you, those last 3 species have been hard to find, given my limited ability to just hop in the car and chase birds. Sure, there were chances to travel north and hunt down a Hoary <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Redpoll</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Gyr</span>falcon, and Bohemian Waxwing for example. The problem is that December just isn't a good month for me to get away.<br /><br />So having lost 2 cases of beer (is it possible to lose something you never really had?) and fallen short of my much publicized goal, I come into 2010 anticipating the joy of seeing my 600<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> bird species without the pressure of a deadline. That doesn't mean I won't celebrate though! </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424486804805056546" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 266px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWnwHjkukwXeIjK51HiHkThlDkbpQfBu7z5ceDd9GRIsbgnnDBZuBLFBOVh0nSH2GZSD9OWh62uzVh0QE4tA-jOX0CjOtq1X8qzy_MfQ8IasvBiDRsssQnghSyJlYMcJRmrLDLSLOrhg/s400/IMGP1771.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p></p><br /><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-58323743357094067302009-12-10T16:48:00.001-06:002010-01-08T16:02:21.446-06:00Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNvgtuOu4QkO_HbKnHbvRz4fJUs7aWhvlchq2iBdXNvuuM0M25eSJodyz9aQUZHl2ElLX5P4YUYffFlzUpZnpFlISb2i-PjQ9bATlhfLKiSfXOCSvBOQDjZ1nQ_z1S02ZEVkyNq-ryFQ/s1600-h/snow+12+11+09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNvgtuOu4QkO_HbKnHbvRz4fJUs7aWhvlchq2iBdXNvuuM0M25eSJodyz9aQUZHl2ElLX5P4YUYffFlzUpZnpFlISb2i-PjQ9bATlhfLKiSfXOCSvBOQDjZ1nQ_z1S02ZEVkyNq-ryFQ/s400/snow+12+11+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414081778653382258" border="0" /></a>Pictured above is the current view from my desk at Eagle Optics. On Wednesday we got walloped with 18 inches of heavy snow. The Rio Grande Valley feels very far away as I turn around and look out my window these days.<br /><br />This year's R<a href="http://www.rgvbirdfest.com/">io Grande Valley Birding Festival</a> was simply wonderful. Last November I was on a cruise in <a href="http://600birds.blogspot.com/search/label/Central%20America">Costa Rica and Panama</a>, forcing me to miss this great birding event for the first time in many years. Getting back down to the Valley this year reminded me why it remains one of my favorite birding destinations ever. Lots of my affinity for this event stems from the wonderful volunteers who run the show and their inexhaustible hospitality. It's been such a pleasure to work with those folks over the years. My love for the lower Rio Grande Valley isn't solely due to these fine people. The birds there have their own charismatic draw.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411516966304945010" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 272px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppkL9oDB4xtHgQ4k2i6yN4wDS2oQptD0szoCQnJGc5UhqvE5r5VZQ7jliSUt2_cLChFxDONsAtebCpqXkTExOFn4fidqRkJ1VrBU2sfEtdpzqsIoAsxZKWTuYhcBdNT4eQcJIgrK9swQ/s400/nbt.jpg" border="0" />Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet<br /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU88wdJrMIBynPhhEiDu6W5ZfDOMgQs1TQDhsgPCI9h-j8qoBbN7nGCBs4nX8iQSqWPlqT1xWtkixXeF7gOQc_-jxDA9wXZTsI9ihv87nNN2ObI8pLQeWHjeXiEmBcKk07h9TsyfNxiHQ/s1600-h/kiskadee.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411516968163623698" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU88wdJrMIBynPhhEiDu6W5ZfDOMgQs1TQDhsgPCI9h-j8qoBbN7nGCBs4nX8iQSqWPlqT1xWtkixXeF7gOQc_-jxDA9wXZTsI9ihv87nNN2ObI8pLQeWHjeXiEmBcKk07h9TsyfNxiHQ/s400/kiskadee.jpg" border="0" /></a>Great Kiskadee<br /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVukz7Fe0IbpnytakvxZGjDkb02m8419xcWfiqSyDM8v55VSiQzq27GE6B9RggdB-0qsSK5o4S33lZ0Qb2pAiLoPRZskMt7OednLnMnFOxdlIS2UnuOC3rNFw3XpqHbwLJ1imikFkoDls/s1600-h/inca.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411516836447380050" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 365px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVukz7Fe0IbpnytakvxZGjDkb02m8419xcWfiqSyDM8v55VSiQzq27GE6B9RggdB-0qsSK5o4S33lZ0Qb2pAiLoPRZskMt7OednLnMnFOxdlIS2UnuOC3rNFw3XpqHbwLJ1imikFkoDls/s400/inca.jpg" border="0" /></a>Inca Dove<br /></div><br /><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gWAGARtriF80Zn4RoMjDdvB8NOo0doS7TeIbAPpU8YCOrSQMAwM9C19UFVi3X-nzcunoPtzd6MyJelMaiepoyDY6wxtv6JCg1XrE6wea7unZWUk4kQKU61oTXlidG5SR59LHPoa0JR0/s1600-h/harrishawk.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411516833307318882" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 277px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gWAGARtriF80Zn4RoMjDdvB8NOo0doS7TeIbAPpU8YCOrSQMAwM9C19UFVi3X-nzcunoPtzd6MyJelMaiepoyDY6wxtv6JCg1XrE6wea7unZWUk4kQKU61oTXlidG5SR59LHPoa0JR0/s400/harrishawk.jpg" border="0" /></a>Harris's Hawk<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HmnYBGnd1Ks0jeoYBiNh3CH8wORPWNVz1yF-pjvoQQ8KX-f7jI-toXOiZOYqd9cbZ1NxLknzXDGV2dB8KB7XZkKAJe0zPFAD7rukNN9hvaU0Hmq6VDkiXEFPSq-y8aUKOCPzjo3wfSY/s1600-h/GreenJay.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411516828350377986" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 233px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HmnYBGnd1Ks0jeoYBiNh3CH8wORPWNVz1yF-pjvoQQ8KX-f7jI-toXOiZOYqd9cbZ1NxLknzXDGV2dB8KB7XZkKAJe0zPFAD7rukNN9hvaU0Hmq6VDkiXEFPSq-y8aUKOCPzjo3wfSY/s400/GreenJay.jpg" border="0" /></a>Green Jay<br /></div><br /><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75VreBsqL9_te2kbe_BcKYFA1ssp7imaXSiqFzgoWV7Gr-fFbqIKmEJuM-DCDyp2YfCuYDYE8w0aLlHPrMeyAFEm-0FTz6fTEEhzdOouj8IRwQ36FT6aOKEbHVBbTTlTXEyM5R1aLyXA/s1600-h/cbt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411516823028428866" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 215px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75VreBsqL9_te2kbe_BcKYFA1ssp7imaXSiqFzgoWV7Gr-fFbqIKmEJuM-DCDyp2YfCuYDYE8w0aLlHPrMeyAFEm-0FTz6fTEEhzdOouj8IRwQ36FT6aOKEbHVBbTTlTXEyM5R1aLyXA/s400/cbt.jpg" border="0" /></a>Curve-billed Thrasher<br /></div><br /><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmyCUqD6C_n-a0tUcwtoQOJ2ic36n_mPkBU7xt7zSr1D3mRdxKU12rLn1UFizz8RlPL3s4vMpD_1lwto6thdjCq6wpGWGziveRYutsBfTdMi2gmystcXBsb6eqPW1upVitHfXqbGhcwM/s1600-h/btsprw.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411516821451841586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 224px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmyCUqD6C_n-a0tUcwtoQOJ2ic36n_mPkBU7xt7zSr1D3mRdxKU12rLn1UFizz8RlPL3s4vMpD_1lwto6thdjCq6wpGWGziveRYutsBfTdMi2gmystcXBsb6eqPW1upVitHfXqbGhcwM/s400/btsprw.jpg" border="0" /></a>Black Throated Sparrow<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-89153926263789688992009-10-27T12:05:00.004-05:002009-10-27T12:34:11.552-05:00Digiscoping with a Digital SLR<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Concept</span><br /><br />As a concept, <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/articles/digiscoping/">digiscoping</a> is as simple as it gets. Put your camera up to a spotting scope's eyepiece and take a picture of what the scope is focused on. However, we often find that in practice things are not as easy as they seem. It's been my experience that one of, if not the biggest challenge of digiscoping, is to get the right mix of scope, camera, and adapter that can easily and effectively be assembled as a complete, photography-ready unit. Why is this?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />The Problem</span><br /><br />I think the biggest hurdle here is the camera to adapter interface. In today's point-and-shoot camera market there is no uniformity in regards to shape, size, and features. It turns out that camera makers could care less about their products' suitability to digiscoping. As a result, the manufacturers of scopes and digiscoping adapters are forced to come up with intricate, highly adjustable, and often complex universal adapters to fit the plethora of cameras offered to consumers. I'm not interested in making digiscoping any more challenging than it already is. I'll always opt for the route that is fast, simple, and effective.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvpJjfXwDj2u7pcGP65HNFEHzclaNc02knCapwQ7LdDg_wduMl-84_g-Jpu0laXQRyt1swZi4isgAH1UugIS9aTS8FUzdP-zS3ls6JDdGjFRh8vqt2iJG_fVqCzA8BJLf1OB2_z043TU/s1600-h/adapters1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvpJjfXwDj2u7pcGP65HNFEHzclaNc02knCapwQ7LdDg_wduMl-84_g-Jpu0laXQRyt1swZi4isgAH1UugIS9aTS8FUzdP-zS3ls6JDdGjFRh8vqt2iJG_fVqCzA8BJLf1OB2_z043TU/s400/adapters1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397330284214979890" border="0" /></a><br />Pictured above are some of the "universal" digiscoping adapters. Large and mechanically intricate, they offer a less than optimal solution.<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />The Adapter Solution</span><br /><br />The best hardware for digiscoping is that which requires the least amount of forethought or effort to put into use. In regards to camera adapters, the simple tube-style adapters on the market fit the bill perfectly. These tube adapters are simple, both in design and functionality. The premise is a hollow tube screwed onto the front of your camera lens that can slide over a scope's eyepiece, effortlessly centering both lenses at the proper depth. Not only are these adapters easy to deploy, they are compact and lightweight. Question: what's not to love about this type of setup? Answer: it doesn't work with a lot of cameras.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvfJgYt7rU40JZaoLQks6lLqfqsxkH_ByZSFAfQnl7Xl8c6JFf99Nrbw0MHE07RwvSefAF38gsfqyx59k4_8ME1LMNFcl5PNKDGfpxKkfBHK6Dg5kfqVb4BWqnqIO3QsCZYL937eCst0/s1600-h/adapters2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvfJgYt7rU40JZaoLQks6lLqfqsxkH_ByZSFAfQnl7Xl8c6JFf99Nrbw0MHE07RwvSefAF38gsfqyx59k4_8ME1LMNFcl5PNKDGfpxKkfBHK6Dg5kfqVb4BWqnqIO3QsCZYL937eCst0/s400/adapters2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397329841195292274" border="0" /></a>Pictured above are "tube" style adapters offered by <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/digital-camera-adapters/kowa/kowa-tsn-da10-digital-camera-adapter">Kowa</a>, <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/digital-camera-adapters/vortex/vortex-razor-digital-camera-adapter">Vortex</a>, and <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/digital-camera-adapters/swarovski/swarovski-digital-camera-adapter-for-zoom-eyepiece">Swarovski</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />The Camera Solution</span><br /><br />Very few point-and-shoot cameras have the functionality to attach adapters, filters, or boosters to the front lens. The absence of this feature is a design trend that seems to be picking up momentum, and as new models are introduced each year, fewer and fewer of them support filter thread attachments. Here is where a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) fits the bill nicely. Almost all DSLR camera lenses are inherently designed with filter threads that easily adapt to those wonderful tube style adapters. Warning: not all DSLR lenses are suitable for digiscoping. The best lenses are the short focal length lenses. Both Canon and Nikon make 50mm f/1.8 lenses that are relatively inexpensive and perfect for digiscoping. If you're shooting with a Pentax DSLR, you will want the Pentax 40mm f/2.8 “pancake” lens. When using a DSLR for digiscoping, you will need to disable the auto-focus, put the camera on its full manual settings, and set the lens aperture wide open. You will also need to adjust the camera's shutter speed to obtain the proper image exposure.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcW1WVSPOv64aroytFIwFcs2gRoMhUc8-nXAl7gVw1ZzPfY41dPYMuxcjrQjzFPzpTEtx1aPjOYQxMaiVklLggbEOJh7z64R2uyBQ0_Yqq16Ww4n0IXbpRhB70wTKwBm63vCWi_zAqLM/s1600-h/SwarDCA+and+K100D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcW1WVSPOv64aroytFIwFcs2gRoMhUc8-nXAl7gVw1ZzPfY41dPYMuxcjrQjzFPzpTEtx1aPjOYQxMaiVklLggbEOJh7z64R2uyBQ0_Yqq16Ww4n0IXbpRhB70wTKwBm63vCWi_zAqLM/s400/SwarDCA+and+K100D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397329836453806530" border="0" /></a>An exploded view of a full DSLR digiscoping rig, minus a tripod.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Nothing's Perfect</span><br /><br />Using a DSLR for digiscoping doesn't come without compromise. DSLR benefits include universal adaptability via a threaded lens and the ability to use, and compose images through, a viewfinder. The drawbacks to DSLR cameras are the inability to use the lens' auto-focus and working with a bigger, heavier camera body. Because of a DSLR's size, I would NOT recommend allowing the camera body and lens to hang unsupported from the spotting scope for any extended period of time.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzInsK0eujYhAneYXt6yXfd6_Sdy6PVOF4q0ysbFsa4BIBMBcQklp2ClXyNMnHMusChEb08c819PS-tJXUjt4WsSVaWsDnbMtrbyyrislDioQifi0I2FCjQtAe1sCulOs5IX3Ndv-DSc/s1600-h/LPDCA.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzInsK0eujYhAneYXt6yXfd6_Sdy6PVOF4q0ysbFsa4BIBMBcQklp2ClXyNMnHMusChEb08c819PS-tJXUjt4WsSVaWsDnbMtrbyyrislDioQifi0I2FCjQtAe1sCulOs5IX3Ndv-DSc/s400/LPDCA.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397329830569007474" border="0" /></a>My current digiscoping set up: <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/spotting-scopes/leica/leica-televid-apo-82mm-angled-spotting-scope-with-25-50x-eyepiece">Leica 82mm APO Televid</a> with <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/digital-camera-adapters/swarovski/swarovski-digital-camera-adapter-for-zoom-eyepiece">Swarovski DCA</a> and Pentax DSLR<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />What Are Your Options?</span><br /><br />If you've got a DSLR or point-and-shoot camera that uses filter threads, and you need a good digiscoping adapter, I would take a look at the Swarovski DCA, Vortex Razor Digital Adapter, and Kowa DA10 adapter. These three brand-specific adapters accept rings to accommodate various lens thread sizes. I have had some limited luck getting some of these adapters to work with other brands of scopes. For instance, I'm currently digiscoping with the Leica 82mm Televid and, much to my delight, found that the Swarovski DCA adapter fits nicely around the new Leica eyepiece. Be prepared to get creative; if you are going to try to mix and match brands of adapters and scopes, you might need to make your own bushings or modify the adapters in one way or another.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-75606206362631101032009-10-20T11:42:00.004-05:002009-10-20T13:40:26.814-05:00Fall Walk<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYjOEISUhx9l743XQC1k_623_9dCWQ_7v08Hs8HORVcg_PY1TpaB34Ae1kg4S1hyphenhyphen-uAH6JOwVkF7pECbY4xhQe540Q7mwm0MjZiZXu21uxg_Nx55I7wQjh3SnF5Uc-a_4QbyWDTcHXNw/s1600-h/IMGP1194.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYjOEISUhx9l743XQC1k_623_9dCWQ_7v08Hs8HORVcg_PY1TpaB34Ae1kg4S1hyphenhyphen-uAH6JOwVkF7pECbY4xhQe540Q7mwm0MjZiZXu21uxg_Nx55I7wQjh3SnF5Uc-a_4QbyWDTcHXNw/s400/IMGP1194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394725740307565682" border="0" /></a>This past weekend my dad turned 60. We have started a tradition of getting together for Grandpa Bill's birthday to walk among the woods and fields of Southern Wisconsin while enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of fall. As you can see from the photo above, we have not quite reached our peak fall colors yet, though there are a couple hints of what's yet to come. Here in the southern part of the state, the color change isn't as dramatic as we see elsewhere. The Oak woodlands that make up most of the habitat tend to hold onto their foliage for a longer time and turn more of a brown/red color. As we go north into the Maple and Birch forests, we see more of the spectaular reds, yellows, and oranges that draw onlookers from all over the midwest.<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8SlTcfXHkgdNKaEYDx8JLL0ST0s8JWog3XPMhyphenhyphenULWh6oXq3l7fWtGgkpX4HFPYXxhrYw7Bg7EDxVUqR1Dyix7oNrWGWUY7GD7V4K9KAXYYrmm6qKdjt9K76sCnmmWA9kX05uGVWXlLM/s1600-h/IMGP1141.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8SlTcfXHkgdNKaEYDx8JLL0ST0s8JWog3XPMhyphenhyphenULWh6oXq3l7fWtGgkpX4HFPYXxhrYw7Bg7EDxVUqR1Dyix7oNrWGWUY7GD7V4K9KAXYYrmm6qKdjt9K76sCnmmWA9kX05uGVWXlLM/s400/IMGP1141.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>This year we went to Lapham Peak State Park. The weather was gorgeous on Sunday and the park was full of visitors. I haven't seen a state park parking lot quite as full for a number of years. Maybe this was because the Green Bay Packers were only playing the lowly Detroit Lions??? Regardless, I was happy to break away from an afternoon of football to hang out with my family and take in some of the seasonal splendor.<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwm9hWE732etCnVJ6qcAEzkiLOByoRkiJwBc9ncnRUWYgu4PMt__oVO42SQ3mzd51uyLEpqsiW715bFPfWCxnJ_HhlpUvYg8yRohWHsp1376tY_vsoLXGwlHTrwQzprQ3v7pmkic56H8/s1600-h/IMGP1143.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwm9hWE732etCnVJ6qcAEzkiLOByoRkiJwBc9ncnRUWYgu4PMt__oVO42SQ3mzd51uyLEpqsiW715bFPfWCxnJ_HhlpUvYg8yRohWHsp1376tY_vsoLXGwlHTrwQzprQ3v7pmkic56H8/s400/IMGP1143.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>One of our first finds along the trail was this beetle. I'm fortunate to have two daughters that don't shy away from the creepy crawlies. In fact, both girls will gladly come running to check out an unusual beetle, worm, spider, or snake. I came into work this morning and asked a coworker who knows his insects about this beetle. He looked at the picture and quickly identified the bug in question as a Blister Beetle. Following his ID of the bug, he added that it's best to not agitate them because the Blister Beetle emits a chemical that can burn or blister one's skin.<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7K621q_Mu77xRJMIFJpOEaMAtj1CyrRshpzqsEzwVPB5QievwavYBO68Imz5OrMa2pDO08ElJjK5Odx3yKd4eSbyv6dyffJjY5SwTBqeX2ZUGqzwsBU0t1yyAvRgo5KUzzfi2dFqUlw/s1600-h/IMGP1147.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7K621q_Mu77xRJMIFJpOEaMAtj1CyrRshpzqsEzwVPB5QievwavYBO68Imz5OrMa2pDO08ElJjK5Odx3yKd4eSbyv6dyffJjY5SwTBqeX2ZUGqzwsBU0t1yyAvRgo5KUzzfi2dFqUlw/s400/IMGP1147.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Here is Nya, getting a closer look at what I thought was just an innocent little beetle. Little did we both know that she was tempting fate here. Fortunately for all, the bug was lethargic and mellow. Not in a fighting mood, I guess. When I get home today I'll be sure to tell Nya more about the bug she was handling on Sunday and maybe use it as a lesson to identify such a critter before picking it up....<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIGnVm0L61ZhHb4Wd-x0myPo8q3X6EgRFn92MXYOIteJaOZb1iZ7hfWJlwLpzBIuoutzXlVMuC1C0dEDWGSykWxfTZAW2b_b_b6iwXRbpFLpEWJbRzxgjnVl_kVsC9KkRljRvaN9cE2M/s1600-h/IMGP1159.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIGnVm0L61ZhHb4Wd-x0myPo8q3X6EgRFn92MXYOIteJaOZb1iZ7hfWJlwLpzBIuoutzXlVMuC1C0dEDWGSykWxfTZAW2b_b_b6iwXRbpFLpEWJbRzxgjnVl_kVsC9KkRljRvaN9cE2M/s400/IMGP1159.JPG" border="0" />t</a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">There was a hint of color in the trees and that wonderful smell of decaying leaves permeated the entire forest.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEnqmfZ_88w-CYNiaGBn_hA3_7gBxvnztIAgJFFvYauGssn5oM4l52zS2jRwlQVRMTKvrcoUe9rVRA23SA3KlXxX6YXL_1F1s0U3_4zhFRkE5s8oZD65-k3jgkB0DUDsgS35M_nzGisg/s1600-h/IMGP1177.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEnqmfZ_88w-CYNiaGBn_hA3_7gBxvnztIAgJFFvYauGssn5oM4l52zS2jRwlQVRMTKvrcoUe9rVRA23SA3KlXxX6YXL_1F1s0U3_4zhFRkE5s8oZD65-k3jgkB0DUDsgS35M_nzGisg/s400/IMGP1177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394725720494165794" border="0" /></a><br />When we head outdoors we always take our binoculars. I recently got both kids new binoculars. We have a <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/eagle-optics/eagle-optics-raven-6-5x32-binocular">new 6.5x32 model</a> that is particularly well suited for kids. With a wide field of view, narrow interpupilary distance, and bright optics, they are a no hassle piece of equipment that takes the technological challenges out of using binoculars. Especially for kids. They kept my two girls fully engaged for a few hours in the field.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7L6c99i8VSOblNOQVRuwNYnh1htxWmr1qC1L1ivNq8AAHtl6KMOjNdPPuBCRukxxyAhXodcU81HKS5AYXb-dbCBxnVUcgKYxTcc_rNct26R6oD3q58sYQfE8yycQiSy5RJ1dWKQd7Tw/s1600-h/IMGP1189.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7L6c99i8VSOblNOQVRuwNYnh1htxWmr1qC1L1ivNq8AAHtl6KMOjNdPPuBCRukxxyAhXodcU81HKS5AYXb-dbCBxnVUcgKYxTcc_rNct26R6oD3q58sYQfE8yycQiSy5RJ1dWKQd7Tw/s400/IMGP1189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394725727580994322" border="0" /></a><br />Fall is a season of transition. We spent time with the kids talking about what plants and animals do in preparation for winter. A lot of time was spent looking at seeds and talking about why there are so many different types. Seeds that fly, seeds that bury themselves into the soil, seeds that stick to animals, and seeds that are eaten. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_rffL0SpMbirsyjsGEtbc4jT0NM12cEgAQzTswbeggO0wx0sEeHKQVZTXeTBobjgnttU8xFbupfl8mzrBHCXVQCwTWxmKlolp0R_Y-RkiaPP47092gw1Tf7XjyPxvZAVpwJqBaflufY/s1600-h/IMGP1167.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_rffL0SpMbirsyjsGEtbc4jT0NM12cEgAQzTswbeggO0wx0sEeHKQVZTXeTBobjgnttU8xFbupfl8mzrBHCXVQCwTWxmKlolp0R_Y-RkiaPP47092gw1Tf7XjyPxvZAVpwJqBaflufY/s400/IMGP1167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394753477728490610" border="0" /></a><br />It's always a wonderful day when you get to bring generations together to enjoy and delight in the complexities of nature. I was able to convince the kids that it was a good idea to leave the beetles, leaves, and seeds at the park. To my delight, they did manage to bring home lots of questions. I see a 3rd graders presentation on seeds in my future....<br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-63830460121260914742009-10-12T14:11:00.007-05:002009-10-20T11:54:48.693-05:00E-Mail from Readers<span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">So it's been a long summer without a whole lot of activity here at 600 Birds, but that sure hasn't slowed down the volume of inquiries I have gotten from regular readers.<br />Today we will spend a few moments answering your emails......<br /><br />Chuck from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sheboygan</span>, WI writes:<br /></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Great blog Ben! I've really been enjoying your bird photographs and the clever anecdotes that accompany them. My question to you is whether or not you have ever considered a career on television or in film?<br /></span><br /><br />Well Chuck, that's a timely question, as I've just wrapped up a short demonstration video of the </span><a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/digital-camera-adapters/swarovski/swarovski-universal-camera-adapter"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Swarovski</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">UCA</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">digiscoping</span> adapter</span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> for the </span><a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Eagle Optics</span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> website.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kvPEPr5KVdQ&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_profilepage&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kvPEPr5KVdQ&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_profilepage&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />This could prove to be a big breakthrough for me as my agent is now in negotiations with a company who makes frozen dinners marketed toward <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">digiscopers</span>. I'll be sure to keep the updates coming here at 600 birds.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Speaking of digiscoping, Claire from Port Townsend, WA sent this inquiry:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hey there Ben! I've been a long time reader </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">of your blog and was wondering when and if you are going to submit some of your photos to <a href="http://www.digiscoperoftheyear.com/en">Swarovski's </a></span><a href="http://www.digiscoperoftheyear.com/en"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Digiscoper of the Year </span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">contest? I've heard that it's <span style="font-weight: bold;">the</span> place for digiscopers worldwide to show off their stuff!<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Well Claire, your e-mail is timely indeed. It turns out I have not submitted any photos to the contest yet and the October 31st deadline is fast approaching! The good news is that I still have time to enter AND I can even submit digiscoped images that I've taken with my new<a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/spotting-scopes/leica/leica-televid-apo-82mm-angled-spotting-scope-with-25-50x-eyepiece"> Leica 82mm scope</a>, such as this image of Surfbirds congregating on the rocky shores of Homer, Alaska:</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmk1BsV6B2qiqLBu8uZa24xO8ZoqmSqAfjRzZTVHMKWUO4iLWuN5NU7AEmYLehgSqaCTm3V1ZzDDJRobwk_UOrEUtYKUEKfWncrfPC9tNmpbzNUbtZyeEypjzhj_W9X9GjjOSDTuTPrM/s1600-h/surfbirds.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmk1BsV6B2qiqLBu8uZa24xO8ZoqmSqAfjRzZTVHMKWUO4iLWuN5NU7AEmYLehgSqaCTm3V1ZzDDJRobwk_UOrEUtYKUEKfWncrfPC9tNmpbzNUbtZyeEypjzhj_W9X9GjjOSDTuTPrM/s400/surfbirds.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391793597535647282" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" >If you have a moment, check out my entire gallery of images<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/benlizdas/DigiscopedBirds#"> </a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/benlizdas/DigiscopedBirds#"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">here</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" >, and give me feedback on any shots you think I should enter in </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/spotting-scopes/swarovski/for/ats_sts"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Swarovski's</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > Digiscoper of the Year contest</span><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-6449446830211905572009-08-14T13:01:00.007-05:002009-08-14T13:59:47.069-05:00New Photo Gallery<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzN5j_zkXQLLkb_BZXAmWKAZS1VtLztDvb2D0tEXtC6dnh0rxwenxhyphenhyphen0rLyze_tnntBpQZ0EnGF7Od0XJ4rsSXl9YnIvIKkXn7DHb13f7KW42_GLdObxdh69oDRTZqJZpqPellSJU8VB0/s1600-h/pf.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzN5j_zkXQLLkb_BZXAmWKAZS1VtLztDvb2D0tEXtC6dnh0rxwenxhyphenhyphen0rLyze_tnntBpQZ0EnGF7Od0XJ4rsSXl9YnIvIKkXn7DHb13f7KW42_GLdObxdh69oDRTZqJZpqPellSJU8VB0/s400/pf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369882526812452994" border="0" /></a><br />Greetings and Happy Friday to all the thousands of readers out there in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cyberland</span></span> . Thanks for once again tuning into the 600 Birds Blog.<br />I've got a few updates to share with you.<br />First off, I've moved my gallery of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">digiscoped</span></span> photos <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/benlizdas/DigiscopedBirds#">here.</a> This new space is easier to upload photos to and also more <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">convenient</span> for re-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">sizing</span> and tweaking them. You'll find more images here than I had on the old <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Flickr</span> site and it will be updated more regularly.<br /><br />On a separate note, iconic <a href="http://www.birddigiscoper.com/">blogger</a> and fellow <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/">Eagle Optics</a> employee Mike McDowell will now be bringing his wonderful insights and photographs to the <a href="http://www.eagleopticsblog.com/">Eagle Optics Blog</a>. Follow that link to some great footage that Mike recently captured of a Barred Owl <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">tranquilly</span> sipping water from a puddle. The cool thing about that footage is that it was shot through a pair of <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/swarovski/swarovski-el-8x32-binocular-with-snap-shot-adapter">8x32 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Swarovski</span> EL <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">binoculars</span></a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdusWKDjTWolxF6YHrkHpFahXd5MWHgml-PxzPEDlT7JDbYA-3r0yZ4g9FB5GQTRTC5PqoBemGWdr23Sh64_TDL-q-jM9ghHqa9EGQRVIPmfoyYl8fimVGWfFcWer77wr3NaNlmGWHGek/s1600-h/Barred+Owl.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdusWKDjTWolxF6YHrkHpFahXd5MWHgml-PxzPEDlT7JDbYA-3r0yZ4g9FB5GQTRTC5PqoBemGWdr23Sh64_TDL-q-jM9ghHqa9EGQRVIPmfoyYl8fimVGWfFcWer77wr3NaNlmGWHGek/s400/Barred+Owl.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369894715263701874" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-73680349778568374372009-08-07T15:05:00.004-05:002009-08-07T15:31:04.085-05:00Harlequin Duck<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25xQSNj5qvRExq9UHjXPsuUGy7R67tnStr9fu_DeuuVY_6AGDEbIk68T_8Z_RgZPEzo-TYsI-LTEYPhyfMd0756y-7EQEs-ngy4kQ1fqvYfGEmGxARtowcDWrvyBLg7Q9Rk0v6cq3pvs/s1600-h/harley.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367315582494505762" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 274px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25xQSNj5qvRExq9UHjXPsuUGy7R67tnStr9fu_DeuuVY_6AGDEbIk68T_8Z_RgZPEzo-TYsI-LTEYPhyfMd0756y-7EQEs-ngy4kQ1fqvYfGEmGxARtowcDWrvyBLg7Q9Rk0v6cq3pvs/s400/harley.jpg" border="0" /></a> I was sorting out photos today (lots of them) and came across this nice photo of a Harlequin Duck that I took in Alaska this spring. Here in Wisconsin, we can <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">occasionally</span> see these birds way off in the distance, bobbing among the waves of Lake Michigan. On some of Alaska's inland streams, one is able to get nice close up looks of this spectacular bird.<br />Enjoy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-5987144395714620242009-08-05T10:56:00.004-05:002009-08-07T15:32:33.098-05:00Midwest Birding Symposium...you really should attend.Follow this<a href="http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/emails/view_email.php?id=102493"> link</a> for a quick 22 reasons why you should be in Ohio this September. I've even managed to convince my wife to attend this event, which happens to fall on our 10-year anniversary. Like I told her, it will be fun AND romantic!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-11324058153269868452009-08-05T09:54:00.007-05:002009-08-07T15:32:15.714-05:00Digiscoping VS DSLR<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw28BFyK8N92nMpB-C2IHT-Een4s8ik84usXJhwbzOi7G4woy8G5ziDXUiLafI-z0zXGLdu8nMWw8IwkER7Y3y1WyBllMMiO04I3Gq6uoOjrZWB7LILl-9YIoYlN020PABWHsmXSj0F9A/s1600-h/greenheron.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw28BFyK8N92nMpB-C2IHT-Een4s8ik84usXJhwbzOi7G4woy8G5ziDXUiLafI-z0zXGLdu8nMWw8IwkER7Y3y1WyBllMMiO04I3Gq6uoOjrZWB7LILl-9YIoYlN020PABWHsmXSj0F9A/s400/greenheron.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366493793083568706" border="0" /></a>Wow, I've been absent from this space for awhile and for those 3 or 4 readers that may still be following 600 Birds, thanks for hanging in there. For parents in particular, summers tend to be time vacuums filled with lazy days at the local pool, camping trips, canoe trips, family reunions, soccer leagues, etc, etc... (notice that I didn't mention blogging in the aforementioned activities))<br /><br />Even though I have been slacking as of late, many of the other birding <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">blogger</span>s out there have stayed the course and are producing insightful and regular postings, most of which I check in on daily. Some of them even have kids.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">One of those bloggers who seems to be able to pull off amazing feats of travel, publishing, blogging, business running, kid parenting, bird festival organizing, keynote speaking, music playing, etc..etc...etc... is Bill Thompson. This brings me to the point of this post. Bill recently got back from a trip to Trinidad and recently blogged about his experience digiscoping with the new<a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/spotting-scope-packages/leica/leica-televid-apo-82mm-angled-spotting-scope-with-25-50x-eyepiece"> Leica Televid spotting scopes</a>, and how that rig performed compared to his DSLR. For the full scoop, I recommend you check out the latest post at <a href="http://billofthebirds.blogspot.com/2009/08/quick-comparison-digiscoping-vs-d-slr.html">Bill of the Birds.</a><br /></span><br />I've also been digiscoping with one of these new Leica spotting scopes and they are truely superb. I haven't gotten around to editing newer shots, post-processing, cropping, etc... but when I do, rest assured you can see more here. For now though, I've got to get the kids to horse camp.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-85938873890659273172009-06-17T10:30:00.004-05:002009-06-17T10:51:28.910-05:00New Leica Birding Blog<div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jThyphenhyphen0lF0osDFnTh6uGoEuywt9TKvqb2N4nVo1L2EmuT1xo-Y4c5gA7cE5FU97rJDfHgZ2uBrzFqS5lIFqb8fD4SrHgTiCEqbqyiQBN5-YhtYViIMG2FmBNSvIMGDmqQeUiQiIxGecSQ/s1600-h/leicablog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348319645107100994" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 266px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jThyphenhyphen0lF0osDFnTh6uGoEuywt9TKvqb2N4nVo1L2EmuT1xo-Y4c5gA7cE5FU97rJDfHgZ2uBrzFqS5lIFqb8fD4SrHgTiCEqbqyiQBN5-YhtYViIMG2FmBNSvIMGDmqQeUiQiIxGecSQ/s400/leicablog.jpg" border="0" /></a> Jeff Bouton with <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/leica">Leica Sport Optics</a> has started a new blog <a href="http://leicabirding.blogspot.com/">here</a>. If it wasn't for Jeff, my list of North American Birds seen would probably be around 400 species or so, rather than 597. That guy is a seriously talented birder. He also happens to be a lot of fun to hang out with, so I consider myself fortunate to be able to go birding with him on a regular basis.<br /></div><br />The shot above was taken this year in Homer, Alaska, shortly after we saw a Bar-tailed Godwit(below). <br /><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348320972401148194" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 234px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyWeYzUHloV6NMK27ojjNxO3lzuQw2N_LugNP3qUY6YfBau4kS2ZM1lXsew5EF8bk-p47N8hwNJgO_7sKbpdWZp7TFxDRXhoBNOJkH3LRwhdgJ-CZX3iaj0IgUfy5Vpk6OCUjqyhzLmY/s400/bartailedgw.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-19462938055970326042009-06-12T13:15:00.002-05:002009-06-15T14:44:39.355-05:00Eagles in Alaska<div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346514176922053074" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 109px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7LZmgqbVKD94HICyk71y5m01dje52ByvAbFRhdhQMbMJhVcR3vXSl6pjBJPOLgCkUC75cZDtCyQi7O3-ddXNAJBeKgYFrQj-0Mvdnqdq24asak7FoR5KSrOD-VLJ-a8_72vk2WLG24s/s400/eagle3.jpg" border="0" /> For the past few years, I have been fortunate enough to travel to Homer Alaska in early May to attend the <a href="http://www.homeralaska.org/events/kachemakBayShorebirdFestival/index.htm"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kachemak</span> Bay Shorebird Festival</a>. While the main attraction is of course, shorebirds, I always associate Homer with eagles. These large fish and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">carrion</span> eaters are abundant and very approachable almost anywhere on Alaska's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kenai</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">peninsula</span>. Their abundance and commonality reminds me of our Robins here in Wisconsin. Like everything else in Alaska though, these yard-birds are bigger.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOahCD99e9H0r77qo3coVFqjHPhCb5qYxorhv9YNa2JRkQm0zXA38WvY0D9l4CLbfWe8UCZT-EY3381qBdo0m98vaJpWif0YeNhYK7_uZBZFNcbjJi7INVcAKW8xY8RNVHyTocENlo6ME/s1600-h/eagle4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346514182290440626" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 266px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzasp3oABFl4kNVIYh1HhVSfT37OI-vcvqIkZBEneqMH5Y9SJUcpC3TQ5gxd2cfN9fJufuzuECqQFVapuI5e_247lFutoh_XOZCuTjMvzavDp5nkelTRbD0yDGIH8CuFETF04mCIfF8Vs/s400/eagle5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPfiYagNgCyQQWR2Y8AP5lDSocFCM8cEaRLiDFeuxvfLgexk71xNdFP8r9NYNHuSxXE275RUfQ_PH8c09LNgvR5Wb_vbXgLWNnjUrddDgc4ZvxMVi0-6BcENlCPRB0WqQapO4HXzZHV8/s1600-h/eagle2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346514175016396194" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 287px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPfiYagNgCyQQWR2Y8AP5lDSocFCM8cEaRLiDFeuxvfLgexk71xNdFP8r9NYNHuSxXE275RUfQ_PH8c09LNgvR5Wb_vbXgLWNnjUrddDgc4ZvxMVi0-6BcENlCPRB0WqQapO4HXzZHV8/s400/eagle2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOahCD99e9H0r77qo3coVFqjHPhCb5qYxorhv9YNa2JRkQm0zXA38WvY0D9l4CLbfWe8UCZT-EY3381qBdo0m98vaJpWif0YeNhYK7_uZBZFNcbjJi7INVcAKW8xY8RNVHyTocENlo6ME/s1600-h/eagle4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346514184331777442" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 281px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOahCD99e9H0r77qo3coVFqjHPhCb5qYxorhv9YNa2JRkQm0zXA38WvY0D9l4CLbfWe8UCZT-EY3381qBdo0m98vaJpWif0YeNhYK7_uZBZFNcbjJi7INVcAKW8xY8RNVHyTocENlo6ME/s400/eagle4.jpg" border="0" /></a><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDtK6yMhrowtBF6A2b7dvWjs2xMGGH9UG1BMmTAGhgGkki5qNTgPuRYI1uOGDm9ce19xN5MtOIzT0uM7A_QsheN7LuG7e7At6fTDkam_2GE9ChoNfySSW3sG1eH9EKfUjMhso1Bmo9J0/s1600-h/eagle1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346514175091260210" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 266px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDtK6yMhrowtBF6A2b7dvWjs2xMGGH9UG1BMmTAGhgGkki5qNTgPuRYI1uOGDm9ce19xN5MtOIzT0uM7A_QsheN7LuG7e7At6fTDkam_2GE9ChoNfySSW3sG1eH9EKfUjMhso1Bmo9J0/s400/eagle1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Is it a coincidence that the Bald Eagle's plumage mimics one of the fundamental backdrops of the Alaskan landscape, the snow-caped mountain?</span><br /></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-20450741213969414312009-06-11T16:18:00.002-05:002009-06-12T14:29:02.787-05:00San Diego Birding<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSZOJUOzKPpMPVNtp9ynr7hZzbRfA9asWbGj9v_DR-pZbmQYUvGouA-guTVVEH_wwXwMPPhix4rx89Tk5rr731q-ra7gjBqLUSE1KYY1j-JhC62_PaeQ4XP_Dknfje35a4Xi9xR5dIdo/s1600-h/westernbluebird+%284%29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320207183741995266" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 266px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSZOJUOzKPpMPVNtp9ynr7hZzbRfA9asWbGj9v_DR-pZbmQYUvGouA-guTVVEH_wwXwMPPhix4rx89Tk5rr731q-ra7gjBqLUSE1KYY1j-JhC62_PaeQ4XP_Dknfje35a4Xi9xR5dIdo/s400/westernbluebird+%284%29.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here are some of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">digiscoping</span> and birding highlights from my last San Diego trip. The San Diego area has some of the most diverse habitat and thus, ample birding <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">opportunities</span>. One of the more common birds in the area is the Western Bluebird, pictured above. I never tire of watching or photographing this species when the chance presents itself.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPIGn3R8G1RKXX0PkrFtbDsZMIWXsEpHQ0WBcBlrUYDpvNEqJ3l6hjZvFt3i1nUeJfOj4I2bne81RvaT5dk34OsD41lwtMh1sLBpd5dNmbFNEelSw0tlV2Di9SI-ZDhGMd082hCM4VDU/s1600-h/mountainplover+%282%29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320206849830600578" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 280px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPIGn3R8G1RKXX0PkrFtbDsZMIWXsEpHQ0WBcBlrUYDpvNEqJ3l6hjZvFt3i1nUeJfOj4I2bne81RvaT5dk34OsD41lwtMh1sLBpd5dNmbFNEelSw0tlV2Di9SI-ZDhGMd082hCM4VDU/s400/mountainplover+%282%29.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />With the help of some friends, I was able to track down a number of missing species from my bird life list, including the Mountain Plover (above) that we found foraging in agricultural fields near the Salton Sea. Another target bird that we tracked down in the same area is the eye-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">popping</span> Grey Flycatcher (pictured below). This is a bird that is drab even by <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Empidonax</span></span> standards.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xdYwC5pLmjmAUex02sW2ss6AsXeY2vqxu5i93GjhnK1PJzjhQRrUQfPvB1eNaNGqpr8chUPcWpgwJlYs4CMeW2-QLY9tOBXkkDNBPdgd36BgEicAogT3C2jJH74z-kHBrd7LiY-MMC8/s1600-h/greyflycatcher+%2822%29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320206845588207346" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 357px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xdYwC5pLmjmAUex02sW2ss6AsXeY2vqxu5i93GjhnK1PJzjhQRrUQfPvB1eNaNGqpr8chUPcWpgwJlYs4CMeW2-QLY9tOBXkkDNBPdgd36BgEicAogT3C2jJH74z-kHBrd7LiY-MMC8/s400/greyflycatcher+%2822%29.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBl98FMe1NsOQOiPSG8KMX7jBVi9TMarV0p7VQZBP9gbzscjFYnlSQpkZfGbpfCdqgwgif95Iaus3zgirj3iHkh7ZjTbQMMnkBOM-6dVkApRP8DCYsWKDfVGIXR3plBliJ5Ye7RsH1Bw/s1600-h/cagnatcatcher2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320206847861521954" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 250px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBl98FMe1NsOQOiPSG8KMX7jBVi9TMarV0p7VQZBP9gbzscjFYnlSQpkZfGbpfCdqgwgif95Iaus3zgirj3iHkh7ZjTbQMMnkBOM-6dVkApRP8DCYsWKDfVGIXR3plBliJ5Ye7RsH1Bw/s400/cagnatcatcher2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The bird pictured above is a California <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Gnatcatcher</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Federally</span> endangered, this species is most easily distinguishable from the Black-tailed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Gnatcatcher</span> by the almost entirely black underside of its tail.<br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgGT_EWOapgNNn_RhY230T2u96epWomc4Du7_s9Oq6TUylLwFV-kP9ZncKzbJk0K6H9A6BAOxmt9aipDZUCDMDOQB9hve2IIKct9TtFYSldY49bzx8YeAMCVY5GIl0P8KSb9bpL86Xjk/s1600-h/cagnatcatcher2+%282%29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320206843333523602" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 232px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgGT_EWOapgNNn_RhY230T2u96epWomc4Du7_s9Oq6TUylLwFV-kP9ZncKzbJk0K6H9A6BAOxmt9aipDZUCDMDOQB9hve2IIKct9TtFYSldY49bzx8YeAMCVY5GIl0P8KSb9bpL86Xjk/s400/cagnatcatcher2+%282%29.jpg" border="0" /></a>California <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Gnatcatcher</span>, perched on barb wire.<br /></div>I've got some serious catching up to do here at 600 Birds. Since my last post I've been to Corpus Christi for the <a href="http://www.aba.org/mtgs/2009corpus/">American Birding Association</a> convention and shortly after that, I flew to Homer, Alaska for the <a href="http://www.homeralaska.org/events/kachemakBayShorebirdFestival/index.htm"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Kachemak</span> Bay Shorebird Festival</a>. After those two trips, I now find myself sitting at 597 birds. Looking ahead to my travels in the fall, I'm wondering where I'm going to find those next 3 birds.<br /><br />In the meantime, summer is here and I'll be tending to our gardens and hanging out with my kids, who all of a sudden have a lot more free time on their hands. That won't stop me from daydreaming about that Black-billed Cuckoo that I still need to cross paths with.<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-53593504943687889462009-04-28T13:49:00.008-05:002009-04-28T14:24:34.078-05:00Eagle Optics at the Great Texas Birding ClassicOn Sunday, I participated in the Great Texas Birding <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Classic's</span> Bit Sit competition. If you are wondering what exactly is a "big sit", I recommend you check out this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AvmLM7rUGU">YouTube video</a> by <a href="http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/blog/blogger.html">Bill Thompson</a> and <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/">Eagle Optics</a>.<br /><br />Our Big Sit site was at the South Padre Island Convention Center. It was a windy day with few migrants but we had a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">fantastic</span> time, spoke with lots of birders, and saw quite a few birds in the process.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WwQlzIMUHmVoWxoLwdIoGaEfyuJO-6ivQZTE2Kdwy3Cda4yiP6nZDKYo2NGPDVS5ip7qj16KX5HIRZiDVgeeEQln8e7XnuJ7RjWqFOGQ_9dOw9T3hHKSFzHicWAaY3AfLhysH1YZRwc/s1600-h/michael+on+ladder.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329817007472489858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WwQlzIMUHmVoWxoLwdIoGaEfyuJO-6ivQZTE2Kdwy3Cda4yiP6nZDKYo2NGPDVS5ip7qj16KX5HIRZiDVgeeEQln8e7XnuJ7RjWqFOGQ_9dOw9T3hHKSFzHicWAaY3AfLhysH1YZRwc/s400/michael+on+ladder.jpg" border="0" /></a> Team member Michael O'Brien scouts for shorebirds from a ladder perched against our modest shelter for the day. Michael <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">literally</span> wrote the book on shorebirds, so if anyone was up to the task it was him. Fellow shorebird author Richard <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Crossley</span> also joined us for a bit, so I felt we were in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">exceptionally</span> good hands.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXz8ph8REuCgX-0dCDykHQ0kdMIl6g4eqn6ByhyrwLL2UKLwFRHvU3yf030CbAN1hELqGj_BiCvvHndvKvILBIQ9Xo5i0cFE2By1PGNMqTUiyV1UOdXiSaN7cqqAyBmU14UyaLEJE1DCM/s1600-h/big+sit+site.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329817001512981250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 251px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXz8ph8REuCgX-0dCDykHQ0kdMIl6g4eqn6ByhyrwLL2UKLwFRHvU3yf030CbAN1hELqGj_BiCvvHndvKvILBIQ9Xo5i0cFE2By1PGNMqTUiyV1UOdXiSaN7cqqAyBmU14UyaLEJE1DCM/s400/big+sit+site.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here is an overview of our site. We had excellent views of multiple habitats from this spot. The ladder, contributed by Rio <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Grande</span> Valley Birding Festival President Danny <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Hoehne</span>, allowed us to get some long views that added significant numbers of species to our list for the day.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStVRvik8-6Bst07uYNpy3qKUz6kcOVVTajJL5zgLC_MKTsrA9mJzsYJtIRSzsnVaAPR5R1zX24Xe3TOnWwxE_aTFdqaqj2QT4Mmjgk6FrXOzzwLronkC05Op5TTYda_ntFYG7V1N2VIE/s1600-h/team+picture.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329816771809629682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStVRvik8-6Bst07uYNpy3qKUz6kcOVVTajJL5zgLC_MKTsrA9mJzsYJtIRSzsnVaAPR5R1zX24Xe3TOnWwxE_aTFdqaqj2QT4Mmjgk6FrXOzzwLronkC05Op5TTYda_ntFYG7V1N2VIE/s400/team+picture.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here's a team photo (left to right): me, Terry Fuller, Marci Fuller, Susan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hoehne</span>, Danny <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Hoehne</span>, Micheal O'Brien, and <a href="http://www.birdday.org/artist.htm">Louise <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Zemaitis</span></a>. Louise is another amazing birder and bird artist. I feel so grateful to have been part of such a collective wealth of talent on this team.<br /></div><div>We ended the day with a respectable 98 species on our list. Very well considering the windy conditions which blew most all the smaller migrants right past the island on their way north.</div><div></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvvnkiCxCpzW_ShVGY_GzLdUQm3Oncuu2FgvFxG9XAmRaymzcxm5PgtKgzUKLzd3Q4Tb7_HyEFbuViLmCZtk5cKo2muQFVPgkwssOOdvcR3NN7t388TM5HpWwhMfwa6cNaB8bBnE3GaM/s1600-h/blackpoll.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329816768103168690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 226px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvvnkiCxCpzW_ShVGY_GzLdUQm3Oncuu2FgvFxG9XAmRaymzcxm5PgtKgzUKLzd3Q4Tb7_HyEFbuViLmCZtk5cKo2muQFVPgkwssOOdvcR3NN7t388TM5HpWwhMfwa6cNaB8bBnE3GaM/s400/blackpoll.jpg" border="0" /></a>This <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Blackpoll</span> Warbler was one of 4 warblers we had on Sunday.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fPJHC6NOy-Qi6Zmi6GBm6PUh52FuH-m0xoFuRfsZjDrbblwZQgrYDarVLFKE-9QHJcnLTcR9BFSKS8lxJjFKuAeNW4AWBqBaDWrNXKZin3zHDnmWiHu-cEbE2vtm5u7g8yM_1eXRE8E/s1600-h/short+billed+dow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329816767513437634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 295px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fPJHC6NOy-Qi6Zmi6GBm6PUh52FuH-m0xoFuRfsZjDrbblwZQgrYDarVLFKE-9QHJcnLTcR9BFSKS8lxJjFKuAeNW4AWBqBaDWrNXKZin3zHDnmWiHu-cEbE2vtm5u7g8yM_1eXRE8E/s400/short+billed+dow.jpg" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329817750155274114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Hrd6Nvt7-hp_8emM8O5TXMCegPNPfGreu6Z1EPXWN7HN1CvHNXvrAsXtjdB8OS8zKEBaYvsd7jkcOSOab3GLxW9U4B4b2-6LWSx0zjfFS4tv7p08BSNnxbA4YAGvuANdBL2pT9NRlR4/s400/dowitcher+close+up.jpg" border="0" />The boardwalk at the convention center allowed excellent close-up looks at rails, waders, and shorebirds, including this Short-billed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Dowitcher</span>.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDrWa99_3ZfyiflaotoBeMYDxMRBSUSiYUJZFn6z9WuYjyiyQ3PMEHl2SfmpJvssBabccefFpfOusqPGAcbzzDXm_xrztu9amKt7MYjmVBFwo3nbMY8yulbkdSidMPjJz7PuPOkZo5cg/s1600-h/windy+heron.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329816761309935058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDrWa99_3ZfyiflaotoBeMYDxMRBSUSiYUJZFn6z9WuYjyiyQ3PMEHl2SfmpJvssBabccefFpfOusqPGAcbzzDXm_xrztu9amKt7MYjmVBFwo3nbMY8yulbkdSidMPjJz7PuPOkZo5cg/s400/windy+heron.jpg" border="0" /></a> Wind-blown, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Tri</span>-colored Heron.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidamk6J3Rn3JTVpPnlCdytylJH0YkFaVpKt6t_ZdyMhncvPTFy90Li2dAR5JprZ9nJJeiciR9OezDjPeZa4RLnDatYR-Q4ovnbkKbjNqr3dJ-Qc5gjk2cfO5hAG7xUJikPGFcTkXLET00/s1600-h/yellow+warbler.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329816764570095666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidamk6J3Rn3JTVpPnlCdytylJH0YkFaVpKt6t_ZdyMhncvPTFy90Li2dAR5JprZ9nJJeiciR9OezDjPeZa4RLnDatYR-Q4ovnbkKbjNqr3dJ-Qc5gjk2cfO5hAG7xUJikPGFcTkXLET00/s400/yellow+warbler.jpg" border="0" /></a> Yellow Warbler.<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-88671681076785114392009-04-07T12:50:00.006-05:002009-04-08T09:06:51.281-05:00It's Not Always About Birds<div>So when I'm not birding, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/benjaminlizdas/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">digiscoping</span></a>, <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars">selling binoculars</a>, blogging, or spending time with friends and family, you can often find me in the garage/workshop behind my house, tinkering around on a number of different diversions. Most often, I'm engaged in a furniture making project of some type.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNOkdhIApVNUpzookdI-n4xr4ivkATCLTxUOdIjazMjiGKVpk-l0vcT3B0vRSNt2c8Ooh9zufHdSeep3KvagjGE1hgMmdeXtdJ70rjgLtF04a3G7gYa5jiSVHFj-sTqVZl8pqNsftJ3A/s1600-h/IMGP9960.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322008820030879986" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 208px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNOkdhIApVNUpzookdI-n4xr4ivkATCLTxUOdIjazMjiGKVpk-l0vcT3B0vRSNt2c8Ooh9zufHdSeep3KvagjGE1hgMmdeXtdJ70rjgLtF04a3G7gYa5jiSVHFj-sTqVZl8pqNsftJ3A/s400/IMGP9960.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is the shop. I find woodworking a great way to break from my usual routines. It allows me to spend time in a space all of my own, full of sawdust, lumber, motorcycles, tools, and skateboards. These are some of my favorite things that I don't get to keep in my house. I also get to listen to whatever music I like at whatever volume appeals to me at the moment.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Scm7aXpKaGyyeR_jn1HmxYmpyoK5b6EekTmoyMYREtG-33nIroDmL9oUt9nGSZmf_zFU4kA6FT8QaoRYMIU4b0OZakVQmtvDerpZWeLV0_snwdu0Nv2f7nOfkk62916ICS60TmCdCps/s1600-h/IMGP9945.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322008818603181330" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 266px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Scm7aXpKaGyyeR_jn1HmxYmpyoK5b6EekTmoyMYREtG-33nIroDmL9oUt9nGSZmf_zFU4kA6FT8QaoRYMIU4b0OZakVQmtvDerpZWeLV0_snwdu0Nv2f7nOfkk62916ICS60TmCdCps/s400/IMGP9945.jpg" border="0" /></a>Another aspect of furniture making that appeals to me is that I get to work with my hands to build something. That's a sensation near and dear to me, which is generally absent from my usual work obligations.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttIFwaQkMHZGd3Whb-Q-lFXVyOlA3_kZXehW3_Ybl9jEOQmij96WHdDjeoN3UmRXbWHu5D83L299a0ceDwjGsJ_DUWLMJFxg-iliCiG6sIwXC4_Akw1bIZVgE-HGawwnx6xqmxB0Na6w/s1600-h/IMGP9964.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322008821450850082" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 266px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttIFwaQkMHZGd3Whb-Q-lFXVyOlA3_kZXehW3_Ybl9jEOQmij96WHdDjeoN3UmRXbWHu5D83L299a0ceDwjGsJ_DUWLMJFxg-iliCiG6sIwXC4_Akw1bIZVgE-HGawwnx6xqmxB0Na6w/s400/IMGP9964.jpg" border="0" /></a>This current project is a cabinet that will be in my living room, housing our stereo system and other A/V related goods. Probably a few books as well. It's made from Quarter-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sawn</span> White Oak.<br /><br />This particular wood was harvested from an old tree that was taken down at a park not far from my house. It's a wonderful feeling to look at a piece of furniture I made and be able to recall the tree that it used to be. In this case, it was an ancient tree that I often watched Blue Jays harvest acorns from while my kids played at the local swimming pool. I'll miss it as a tree but am grateful to have been able to get the bulk of the trunk for some furniture projects.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRfcq-qAxGrfzFFfBpCv3-sm8ENnFqxWlQGP2jM_4x78-kxW59Laeo5BNi4eMZ4zUIb7SoBdm6Sms9AjKINhm3KvSmLJASSRkt9JxoB9ZWT_t39iR7VfyjV1v_JD0qYCl8LzP11tr-_0/s1600-h/IMGP9968.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322008827016692114" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 219px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRfcq-qAxGrfzFFfBpCv3-sm8ENnFqxWlQGP2jM_4x78-kxW59Laeo5BNi4eMZ4zUIb7SoBdm6Sms9AjKINhm3KvSmLJASSRkt9JxoB9ZWT_t39iR7VfyjV1v_JD0qYCl8LzP11tr-_0/s400/IMGP9968.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here are the sliding doors, sitting on top of the cabinet, waiting to be installed.<br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHYM-3AbE-bQi2i5xOxdPIoCGygDp1-XEgiEkiGa1b-ea3j-YKk8o48VduoG65P9ANIj_Rzeck70PRX_ASWXuy0-4wylb4eHw6KA6BRVX4uBM9HnlnIl_rSZTjq8IXBbXB-xn037bshs/s1600-h/IMGP9959.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322008822127578642" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 266px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHYM-3AbE-bQi2i5xOxdPIoCGygDp1-XEgiEkiGa1b-ea3j-YKk8o48VduoG65P9ANIj_Rzeck70PRX_ASWXuy0-4wylb4eHw6KA6BRVX4uBM9HnlnIl_rSZTjq8IXBbXB-xn037bshs/s400/IMGP9959.jpg" border="0" /></a>It looks kind of like a coffin, sitting on the bench.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQFNczg1cNOnmMiod09Y_Pvb_aMgTwTFohknkDjtjorR2SqqRS-gDoO8zubadakW3k1ugpf8H2fkoqYZZ8cEHk3tFEW1ek01a9YJJ7VOOy5SV40FH9YE7LeR1wKxaDegIe0nsUrCrNqg/s1600-h/IMGP9971.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322050790398800690" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 230px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQFNczg1cNOnmMiod09Y_Pvb_aMgTwTFohknkDjtjorR2SqqRS-gDoO8zubadakW3k1ugpf8H2fkoqYZZ8cEHk3tFEW1ek01a9YJJ7VOOy5SV40FH9YE7LeR1wKxaDegIe0nsUrCrNqg/s400/IMGP9971.jpg" border="0" /></a>The shop attracts other wayward men from the neighborhood, such as the fellow pictured above. These individuals, often looking for respite from their day-to-day lives, are drawn to the power tools, obnoxious music, and motorcycles. I guess it's a brotherhood of sorts.<br /></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-49148528396416301762009-03-17T17:38:00.006-05:002009-03-21T11:31:29.518-05:00Mangrove Warbler<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryw4byyAPN4BEo44xSYzOEcx28eIeAFI9-Ox947fXr7Z-td8RdNX5kWI0vipYmUySuEawR91pjbHOgJgKXbo67kBhDFrS8ia_rvVT140z9mZ0T54wAvgegi_oddCyXL6rFHT-CgGIK0w/s1600-h/IMGP9891.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314290034061894546" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 266px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryw4byyAPN4BEo44xSYzOEcx28eIeAFI9-Ox947fXr7Z-td8RdNX5kWI0vipYmUySuEawR91pjbHOgJgKXbo67kBhDFrS8ia_rvVT140z9mZ0T54wAvgegi_oddCyXL6rFHT-CgGIK0w/s400/IMGP9891.jpg" border="0" /></a>While at the San Diego Birding Festival a few weeks back, there was a report of a Mangrove Warbler hanging about. Further inquiries led us to this green dumpster behind an office building and adjacent to a freeway.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XCo5dIycbwDUaZBm0ItHVr4Cn7QO-aJbrVitmaNe2H23yWpNfavBVNiRbV3wn3JFW1AwSCWXrmUqT8gkrujDscbr5hSFVbsu1mHCF2sA5ItT9rqxY2sIurTESGx__xduSEb97L6ZDPI/s1600-h/mangrovewarb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314290030796381730" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 266px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XCo5dIycbwDUaZBm0ItHVr4Cn7QO-aJbrVitmaNe2H23yWpNfavBVNiRbV3wn3JFW1AwSCWXrmUqT8gkrujDscbr5hSFVbsu1mHCF2sA5ItT9rqxY2sIurTESGx__xduSEb97L6ZDPI/s400/mangrovewarb.jpg" border="0" /></a>Lo and behold, the adult male Mangrove Warbler was soon spotted foraging among the flowers of a tree adjacent to the dumpster. What brought this bird from its typical habitat in the mangrove swamps of Mexico and Central America to this particular spot is beyond me.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd1kaunTAucE45NnD6dECpj4K9o-xbZ978pIKyO1GP2OhlmSd3yq3uN5v5cWeYTpjYM0GnsCL_Ocq9tQohxSKod1lQ1T53bV9YB8GxXYMv9SOkge0420b9Er57HGItAirLuYxAv1JWDo/s1600-h/mangrovewarb+%2811%29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314290031088978834" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 266px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd1kaunTAucE45NnD6dECpj4K9o-xbZ978pIKyO1GP2OhlmSd3yq3uN5v5cWeYTpjYM0GnsCL_Ocq9tQohxSKod1lQ1T53bV9YB8GxXYMv9SOkge0420b9Er57HGItAirLuYxAv1JWDo/s400/mangrovewarb+%2811%29.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Mangrove Warbler is a subspecies of <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Dendroica</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">petechia</span></span>, commonly known as the Yellow Warbler. At one point, ornithologists recognized the Mangrove Warbler as a separate species, but for reasons only known by ornithologists, it is currently considered the same species (until they change their mind again).<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38wfqgjYsMYzF4zHDZfmD-2WeOiSOcKcbg7Sk94YDmhG4Zpn8VBB8SFT-PSwS5Y-WJtK0YaHyZ0WIkENzdlJVTfBnrETCTvW0VNVAoCh44pa1MrX1MJK9-F9uu-C-1a0sV5PLLiVLWFg/s1600-h/mangrovewarb+%284%29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314290027604330034" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 305px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38wfqgjYsMYzF4zHDZfmD-2WeOiSOcKcbg7Sk94YDmhG4Zpn8VBB8SFT-PSwS5Y-WJtK0YaHyZ0WIkENzdlJVTfBnrETCTvW0VNVAoCh44pa1MrX1MJK9-F9uu-C-1a0sV5PLLiVLWFg/s400/mangrovewarb+%284%29.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Mangrove Warbler was one of a few new birds I was able to observe on my recent trip. Upcoming posts on other new birds include Mountain Plovers, California Gnatcatchers, and the astonishingly gaudy Grey Flycatcher!<br />Stay tuned.....<br /><br /></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-31254972228132068792009-02-20T15:30:00.007-06:002009-02-23T11:35:45.989-06:00Least Bittern<div> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304996312281180274" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03ZtblV1zSaN0uAxA8Lqm95ApV2j8_L_W3r40b0bC000zg8FcZdFFfdOLkspysN01BtAW42oigLDuavu_0hjYVKvZPKyKTGGtdOYm8Hg5ucCBAHZanXzY_fn4IBDzXVuH2VTopa9ADpE/s400/leastbittern+%283%29.jpg" border="0" />On my last trip to Florida, I had a chance to do some birding at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Viera</span> Wetlands, one of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">birdiest</span> sewage treatment plants around. We saw lots of great birds but I would have to say this cooperative Least Bittern was the highlight for me.<br /><br /><div> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304996313889402418" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 269px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ISbmDfvJvcM2fyUV6i1ADhyx5hWhtzrKjtcp4b27-Pp2asd4K-RTyf0uo2xiPuQiMdsH2wILhvDuODzEy26LOHijBK5rFbn63LK2qE5MkHjE-U9-EOhyphenhyphenSz7rWW_795mpjcg5pDHnjJU/s400/leastbittern+%282%29.jpg" border="0" />The Least Bittern is secretive by nature and seldom seen out in the open for extended periods of time. It acts a lot like a rail, though it is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">technically</span> a heron.<br /><br />This fellow seemed content to let us watch him hunt for minnows in the shallows of the wetlands. It was fascinating to observe this bird move across and over the water, stepping from stalk to stalk in the cattails and reeds.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304996478902172210" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 280px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTGdm25YZQ9NCuzWOaU0c4Advho-4GomIGwYCjQe3oMAJCb-4OxJoCg3J2gdXXyLdUNKHUx5RY6AmNbxd1JMq5AO5O9WJAQwJQ0LZF_kwujWxdGSdEn-kDPlr9Xx0zyMVgn9Css5NT5M/s400/leastbittern.jpg" border="0" />As herons go, the Least Bittern is among the smallest in the world. You can reference the size of this bird pictured above with a Common Moorhen. Moorhens tend to be slightly smaller than the more common American Coot.<br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304996320955675810" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 292px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhIjgW89qpJx5pj79celALLxIhMbxRsbySXLHScU7EPabdwu1i-TAfArFZdfTHdWx1ux2yq5uBqB44Qv8bpkOXUybGm6Gzi9xgUH6SCBAC5yoDrMX5ZEbL2ELdenaSEXwEFcH3eM0Fqo/s400/leastbittern+%289%29.jpg" border="0" />This bird sighting was one of those great, unexpected treasures that can happen any time you pick up your binoculars and head out for a morning of birding. The fact that these types of encounters are unpredictable and uncommon make them all the more memorable.<br /><br /></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-40840485945798461222009-02-11T14:08:00.008-06:002009-02-25T10:38:56.662-06:00Everglades Birding<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGgLNHW_av7ejqwKV-2VXq3qiw8lJCEd1hhoD4j6nklWSUYR0JbVUhVRcfxF-XKDwrIR9UAc79eATUinpzkLyAiCm0sFeRXorTO1CmUz2Ts9nrx8kgNRxGef2c6WAIdyCZb8PNPsZvrI/s1600-h/greenheron.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301635149346573970" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 229px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGgLNHW_av7ejqwKV-2VXq3qiw8lJCEd1hhoD4j6nklWSUYR0JbVUhVRcfxF-XKDwrIR9UAc79eATUinpzkLyAiCm0sFeRXorTO1CmUz2Ts9nrx8kgNRxGef2c6WAIdyCZb8PNPsZvrI/s400/greenheron.jpg" border="0" /></a>I have long since returned from Florida but have just now gotten caught up enough with life and work to return to 600 Birds. I had a wonderful time catching up with many friends in the business and was able to spend some quality time birding as well. All of the photos in this post were taken during my trip to the Everglades.<br /><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioeZpWCmhD-79E7YI7AO5lqzzomweNh6wHODuQeP0Tz8RiQ4HGDbu0wowNO3foko973lPRyZnfVGiNqgD2aP7_G_UQRrM-L2Vf7wjPgeucs0l2jjtAa6KInsq3s01ne-iIWQN_maib-g/s1600-h/cgdove.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301635146994107138" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 314px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioeZpWCmhD-79E7YI7AO5lqzzomweNh6wHODuQeP0Tz8RiQ4HGDbu0wowNO3foko973lPRyZnfVGiNqgD2aP7_G_UQRrM-L2Vf7wjPgeucs0l2jjtAa6KInsq3s01ne-iIWQN_maib-g/s400/cgdove.jpg" border="0" /></a>Common Ground Dove at Everglades National Park<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzfAh5cu2kAssrV8t8GUFItiHt8AyUScNRRQyi2j02dhml3nCOaZbn4LRKN4P-82rx0QDKFBg00K2rexdmIifbUlK70TicO3Dv3FoAPyZRFBFdFA4Tb_jfwdEtntJGUiLZ33vldp1vY4/s1600-h/sthawk.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301635142961257570" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 273px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzfAh5cu2kAssrV8t8GUFItiHt8AyUScNRRQyi2j02dhml3nCOaZbn4LRKN4P-82rx0QDKFBg00K2rexdmIifbUlK70TicO3Dv3FoAPyZRFBFdFA4Tb_jfwdEtntJGUiLZ33vldp1vY4/s400/sthawk.jpg" border="0" /></a>This Short-tailed Hawk was one of my life birds from this trip. This was also taken at Everglades National Park. Overall, I ended up with sightings of 7 new birds on this trip (some of them pictured in this post).<br /><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-YYbwFHAS-ieIcdc2CJwI4iVasfsaW7x8Fq3hO0EFd-OE_ZLb29Rdwe2HOgeq6WHjZHbdDYykXfmfOSJk9VzDlclOCz9FVTrZQHXwoq-Eq_FqKeBHXTUHQTz3KqQ2cdgcYWJGveLOFc/s1600-h/monks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301635138255568786" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 383px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-YYbwFHAS-ieIcdc2CJwI4iVasfsaW7x8Fq3hO0EFd-OE_ZLb29Rdwe2HOgeq6WHjZHbdDYykXfmfOSJk9VzDlclOCz9FVTrZQHXwoq-Eq_FqKeBHXTUHQTz3KqQ2cdgcYWJGveLOFc/s400/monks.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Monk Parakeets nesting in a residential neighborhood in Kendell.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fn7GctRw1AputJbio-ZTRVMTj34bqFqjjsS3np_yjFpWF0rhdOV5gIOaOQYZhMg-3Gefghl41RywuyhrDQhPShbHr7wTyXkv6dW4KqvrvnhY0YOOchXsnXgNvHEUxzkw0KPmG69rG3E/s1600-h/spotbreastedO.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301634869646248802" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 276px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fn7GctRw1AputJbio-ZTRVMTj34bqFqjjsS3np_yjFpWF0rhdOV5gIOaOQYZhMg-3Gefghl41RywuyhrDQhPShbHr7wTyXkv6dW4KqvrvnhY0YOOchXsnXgNvHEUxzkw0KPmG69rG3E/s400/spotbreastedO.jpg" border="0" /></a>This Spot-breasted Oriole was perched on a wire about 4 feet from the parakeets.<br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbbGNzWHMnWRgEONP4HX4uxYEDQZRkAoGzSowyfsdv0E-5FmEEMt8W27l5L56OT_HeM3ftP9KXq-uAJpEqmy8K37-ioQ6oEcmbTfX-YfiuoJOqX9zHlw4wNqI6z0fHDgoNzOE4k0LnyY/s1600-h/bobul.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301634865486842002" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 321px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbbGNzWHMnWRgEONP4HX4uxYEDQZRkAoGzSowyfsdv0E-5FmEEMt8W27l5L56OT_HeM3ftP9KXq-uAJpEqmy8K37-ioQ6oEcmbTfX-YfiuoJOqX9zHlw4wNqI6z0fHDgoNzOE4k0LnyY/s400/bobul.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This Red-whiskered <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bulbul</span></span> was seen at the same South Miami location where we found the oriole and parakeets. This was a residential neighborhood near the Kendall Baptist Hospital.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGX5K3RTjyDhQ6H48mSFKMcb5fv6t3cnvpHPztNsUtYrk9eHsTCpYo0O0rlftOZihyphenhyphenNgqV7z9yj0SjSQiVLPUpC4_4PvzbBTnD8eWCWnwMvM05jWnuOKhMmt7pmDHy2o4OopW1lPo6Lw/s1600-h/anhinga.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301634868164473010" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 229px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGX5K3RTjyDhQ6H48mSFKMcb5fv6t3cnvpHPztNsUtYrk9eHsTCpYo0O0rlftOZihyphenhyphenNgqV7z9yj0SjSQiVLPUpC4_4PvzbBTnD8eWCWnwMvM05jWnuOKhMmt7pmDHy2o4OopW1lPo6Lw/s400/anhinga.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Anhinga</span> photographed just off the aptly named <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Anhinga</span> Trail at the Everglades National Park. It was amazing to be on the boardwalk and watch the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Anhingas</span> swimming underwater alongside. Their feathers press against their body underwater, giving them an entirely different shape. Combine that with the fluid motion of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">their</span> body as they move through the water, and you would think you are watching an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">entirely</span> different creature.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Bd9Ld_hyg6O1J93-MGmGrYpPR9M8A3RyKn59nLgjIm-d-Xvjn1G-WV-OvIw_wpwrpSPlPBFWxsDdoKLT_e0KYLMEoBE93ajcc2XniUUVLTGLYDPNPXknt0Mxq2NMbCbzWrUZ9-rgemM/s1600-h/anis.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301634862398432498" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 244px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Bd9Ld_hyg6O1J93-MGmGrYpPR9M8A3RyKn59nLgjIm-d-Xvjn1G-WV-OvIw_wpwrpSPlPBFWxsDdoKLT_e0KYLMEoBE93ajcc2XniUUVLTGLYDPNPXknt0Mxq2NMbCbzWrUZ9-rgemM/s400/anis.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dl25nR1anLaUTFTUREP2XFeXLGnuedZ9E6b19LvuvNGabAQWYF75RhVBt6udBTjVthTZ4xhY6i0c1xsNuMLNmAQYUG54NEpiKxXm53MGoya1fubfAr9vI_r5MBK4ZT2kCqUmmxKUF-k/s1600-h/2anis.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301634858062066354" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dl25nR1anLaUTFTUREP2XFeXLGnuedZ9E6b19LvuvNGabAQWYF75RhVBt6udBTjVthTZ4xhY6i0c1xsNuMLNmAQYUG54NEpiKxXm53MGoya1fubfAr9vI_r5MBK4ZT2kCqUmmxKUF-k/s400/2anis.jpg" border="0" /></a>These Smooth-billed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Anis</span> were found just outside of the Fort <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Lauderdale</span> Airport. This small colony of 6 birds is hanging out in an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">abandoned</span> lot adjacent to an industrial park, and may be the only known members of this species being seen in North <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">America</span> at the moment.<br /><br />The trip was a little early to coincide with the presence of some of south Florida's more sought- after specialty birds like the White-crowned Pigeon or Black-whiskered Vireo. Nonetheless, it was a fantastic trip and one I hope to repeat. The Everglades and Florida Keys are some of the best tropical habitat a birder in the US can visit without a passport.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Target</span> birds seen:<br />Monk Parakeet<br />Spot-breasted Oriole<br />Common Myna<br />Hill Myna<br />Short-tailed Hawk<br />Red-whiskered <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Bulbul</span><br />Smooth-billed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Ani</span><br /><br />Target birds missed:<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">White</span>-crowned Pigeon<br />Greater Flamingo<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Fulvous</span> Whistling-Duck<br />White-winged Parakeet<br /><br />North American life list total: 588<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-5639840169430072392009-01-15T18:04:00.004-06:002009-01-15T18:28:24.414-06:00Flying South<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-vqUfdPMTZhFnPRgIS74yeXdpZ0qUQrsAU6CoB0WqgoaWdCcK4eDVBNRVRV9kBIFWLtplv7sFiAcQwTJC9vJD2Lg4_oo_Tsq8kpdvmpjZoZq1joIMAt2a3kt_Kwf2GSMInUtEMcK4ow/s1600-h/royaltern5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291676126368525426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 219px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-vqUfdPMTZhFnPRgIS74yeXdpZ0qUQrsAU6CoB0WqgoaWdCcK4eDVBNRVRV9kBIFWLtplv7sFiAcQwTJC9vJD2Lg4_oo_Tsq8kpdvmpjZoZq1joIMAt2a3kt_Kwf2GSMInUtEMcK4ow/s400/royaltern5.jpg" border="0" /></a> I'm waking up around 3:30 am tomorrow to catch a plane to Orlando Florida. The whole situation has it's pros and cons of course. On one hand, I could do without the early departure time. On the other hand, we reached a high temperature of -7 degrees today here in Wisconsin, so I'm willing to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">fore go</span> the beauty rest for temperatures above freezing.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291676133425767554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 258px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGz4FrxNxRPrS8h7P7yRQ20jm5AIAvtlYlGy9oz79BJoAdaN9lNC4XqkNxXi2SxPAM5mCm63g8T6UdebtX-DAVNY54cWNweGCtvSHMr0JTI4uCZ3mduF7gIOJzVktxveJrDVS7LY1p9sM/s400/tricoloredheron3.jpg" border="0" />After spending the month of December at home, this is the beginning of my winter travel season. I'm starting things off with a trip to the <a href="hthttp://www.shotshow.org/App/homepage.cfm?moduleid=1968&appname=100300tp://">SHOT show</a>. This is different from my usual work away from home for two major reasons.<br /><br /><br />First is that there is very little interest in birds among the attendees at this event, with the exception of those birds which you can shoot. Primarily a hunting and shooting sports event, SHOT a big deal in the world of optics and the place where many manufacturers unveil their latest and greatest offerings to the optics marketplace.<br /><br /><br />The second reason it is such a different type of event for me is that at this show, I am the customer. It's nice to be on the other side of the trade show booth once in a while.<br /><br />After Sunday however, the birding begins.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStWanCZNqCSMhGIYYR4AkIOoPaMkJr0CdrxcUEYaUcgoqw0Erff4hEyWX7ZfGzlMZFKJx5GUhFcxMEdoMjoGelyOWiD9j1ALiyVheVHgR5TqT-5fx6c5DoDyJ1S4z-aK4gl7aZ2GUet4/s1600-h/snowyegret3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291676128838825634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStWanCZNqCSMhGIYYR4AkIOoPaMkJr0CdrxcUEYaUcgoqw0Erff4hEyWX7ZfGzlMZFKJx5GUhFcxMEdoMjoGelyOWiD9j1ALiyVheVHgR5TqT-5fx6c5DoDyJ1S4z-aK4gl7aZ2GUet4/s400/snowyegret3.jpg" border="0" /></a> I'll be sticking around Florida for a few days before attending the <a href="http://www.nbbd.com/fly/">Space Coast Birding and Nature Festival</a> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Titusville</span>. There I will be leading courses on birding optics and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">digiscoping</span>, as well as manning a booth for <a href="http://www.eagleoptics.com/">Eagle Optics</a>. Between these two events, I plan on making a run down to the Everglades to do a little birding and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">digiscoping</span>. It will be a nice break after SHOT and before the hectic schedule of Space Coast. The Space Coast Birding Festival is likely the largest birding show that we do and it is a sight to behold. There are more activities and trips going on here than at any other venue I attend. If you are in the area or are looking for an excuse to escape those colder northern climates, I would encourage you to check it out. More updates on the festival as well as the everglades trip later.....<br /><br /><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-64485512468654111572009-01-07T13:19:00.003-06:002009-01-07T13:39:14.877-06:00Chicken Pox DetourWhile this blog really is about birding, nature travel, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">digiscoping</span>, I'm going to detour slightly today. I'm home from work, taking care of Esme who came down with the Chicken Pox. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288633970034520450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguY13A2XTjrrbF_zQd3PUuwGKiZj8Q_Xo8PR7O6tNcQo9LzL_f_PaX3qvud6t1pgnhVomjdaTB-CTtkswLmQtO6aCL26Y-mi1TvEnpNVWooGocpjySzEyjvr2viqNPIB8smbY2ld_YAs0/s400/couch+buddies.jpg" border="0" /><br />We've spent a lot of time watching TV, eating carrots and apples (her favorites) and cuddling with the dog. I think we will continue with this itinerary for the remainder of the day. We will likely take a break on occasion for a book or story. <br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMU-NHhfoCVs4vYMIqqbgWeyFB3Me1VXPJsIgmiHuVPztOP7tPfX1QKR4Dqben2mUlvTrkIWJn4ZWJjQSX7LAp6zpclkriB-VAg0h9UhmKCtVCpo9QGfzJxGfIzXmEgYV2ZRKKc63Sa0M/s1600-h/poxface.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288633960220732178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 253px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMU-NHhfoCVs4vYMIqqbgWeyFB3Me1VXPJsIgmiHuVPztOP7tPfX1QKR4Dqben2mUlvTrkIWJn4ZWJjQSX7LAp6zpclkriB-VAg0h9UhmKCtVCpo9QGfzJxGfIzXmEgYV2ZRKKc63Sa0M/s400/poxface.jpg" border="0" /></a> As you can see, she is suffering terribly.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-31847751095915960832008-12-23T13:01:00.004-06:002008-12-23T13:58:39.805-06:00The Tiny AviaryIt's been too long since my last post here at 600 Birds. It's easy to get swept up in the holiday craziness that happens both at work and at home. Add to that all the snow shoveling that I've been doing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lately</span> and it's no <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">surprise</span> that I've found little time for blogging.<br /><br />One of the many duties that has been <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">filling</span> my time has been holiday shopping. It seems that every year, while on that quest for a perfect gift for someone else, I come across something that I just have to have myself. Well this year I treated myself to a print by Chicago area artist and fellow bird nut, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/16409337678043351973">Diana <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sudyka</span></a>. I first came across Diana's work while admiring that of husband's, <a href="http://www.thebirdmachine.com/gallery_detail.php?uid=D3D337&year=1998">Jay Ryan</a>. Below is a copy of the print that I purchased for myself.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzfsGtRJyAHgNS2UAoDOuixvYum1dt2YkOryF3n75wD0oKe08TdNNwbD-_0n8NHc92nsdgUaeNE8RB0eMRdDgTIbmBKdZJW19GVvvPZ2nN_eUN7lrYwAByLOqMdlhfT_uhCBW0PyYels/s1600-h/mr.fox.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 325px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzfsGtRJyAHgNS2UAoDOuixvYum1dt2YkOryF3n75wD0oKe08TdNNwbD-_0n8NHc92nsdgUaeNE8RB0eMRdDgTIbmBKdZJW19GVvvPZ2nN_eUN7lrYwAByLOqMdlhfT_uhCBW0PyYels/s400/mr.fox.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283064853707249026" border="0" /></a>I'm a huge fan of illustration, including comic books. Diana's illustrations bring together elements of a lot of my favorite things: <a href="http://thetinyaviary.blogspot.com/2008/07/drawing-lessons-and-accipiter-cooperii.html">nature</a>, <a href="http://thetinyaviary.blogspot.com/2008/11/new-prints-in-etsy-shop.html">art</a>, <a href="http://thetinyaviary.blogspot.com/2008/05/lichen.html">science</a>, <a href="http://thetinyaviary.blogspot.com/2008/12/andrew-bird-noble-beast.html">music</a>, and <a href="http://www.gigposters.com/poster/80332_Melvins.html">whimsy</a>. Her work reminds me of a mix between the stylized drawings of John James Audubon and <a href="http://harvardmagazine.com/2007/03/edward-gorey.html">Edward Gorey</a>.<br /><br />You can see a lot of her bird artwork as well as anecdotes about working with the skins collection at the field museum at her blog, <a href="http://thetinyaviary.blogspot.com/">The Tiny Aviary</a>. Gig posters can be found <a href="http://www.gigposters.com/designer/10830_Diana_Sudyka.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Below are some of my other favorites by Diana.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5z4sgtC5ersN6jPGHz5RpiolrRwE6cOYS2uNhBc6MXnxSjCyxHyFT4gzsOngfRTAPuRsdmZmITurVt9L1Ltnc6eWNBr0MMphYLkuP5fMM_Cfj03cu8kNJwTTg3b33nbHHfiR5jXNyuE/s1600-h/nparula.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5z4sgtC5ersN6jPGHz5RpiolrRwE6cOYS2uNhBc6MXnxSjCyxHyFT4gzsOngfRTAPuRsdmZmITurVt9L1Ltnc6eWNBr0MMphYLkuP5fMM_Cfj03cu8kNJwTTg3b33nbHHfiR5jXNyuE/s400/nparula.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283074710615501810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxqSjlNY_BjGE54Si8s3M3kYs0-sxjePo2wrbsZwvCHFr_sFo6s63ohTiqjOgrX-ruyb5QxU6zH2d_XNfsLgbnZzTwi8hRABIMr-5CCITC88YGQI1hMGFUPAMMryzAnESuIbycAOztGM/s1600-h/melvins.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxqSjlNY_BjGE54Si8s3M3kYs0-sxjePo2wrbsZwvCHFr_sFo6s63ohTiqjOgrX-ruyb5QxU6zH2d_XNfsLgbnZzTwi8hRABIMr-5CCITC88YGQI1hMGFUPAMMryzAnESuIbycAOztGM/s400/melvins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283074707347299330" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7V2GVCcD5oIWirX561DJid2wwO8ZrMoZ6F4tNuppUH-gEG4AINwoRdmF4gkW0owNj5yhKNP-li-m-6xi3-Jjb0B1rIDWxvltYtKf5LLgFSVn-o7lRFu5nsvumQYKg6MrrxPmqC3mlJZg/s1600-h/pygmyowl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7V2GVCcD5oIWirX561DJid2wwO8ZrMoZ6F4tNuppUH-gEG4AINwoRdmF4gkW0owNj5yhKNP-li-m-6xi3-Jjb0B1rIDWxvltYtKf5LLgFSVn-o7lRFu5nsvumQYKg6MrrxPmqC3mlJZg/s400/pygmyowl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283074708363458418" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-10304278098188880332008-12-09T11:25:00.007-06:002008-12-09T13:29:26.086-06:00Snow!If you love snow, it looks to be another fantastic winter here in the Madison area. If not, you have my condolences. Personally, I've already been out x-country skiing a few times and am looking forward to many more moonlight skis this week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIAbDAYThn6_31TzYePguorehzQS-W9zdbpaB2zg8LNB1gTlh2ozoeLj-wev1Z2fK2uOp2MNX3M1fkchgGg_n1fh7tSuoj7JBt69QjNTXBrKtjFJVylhbyu89lPNRbfm8sHGPsG_X0g0/s1600-h/eosnowscene.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277844246307267186" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 289px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIAbDAYThn6_31TzYePguorehzQS-W9zdbpaB2zg8LNB1gTlh2ozoeLj-wev1Z2fK2uOp2MNX3M1fkchgGg_n1fh7tSuoj7JBt69QjNTXBrKtjFJVylhbyu89lPNRbfm8sHGPsG_X0g0/s400/eosnowscene.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This is what it looks like right now outside of the window next to my desk. Lots of snow and not much else. School has been canceled and people are staying home today to enjoy this beautiful spectacle. So far we've got 7" on the ground with 3-5" more before the end of the afternoon.<br /><br />My daughters have already spent the entire morning exploring the snow-covered backyard with our dog. I'm sure my wife will have them all warmed up and well rested by the time I get home. I expect we'll do some sledding tonight at the local hill and maybe after bedtime I'll have a chance to suit up and go skiing. I think we will all sleep well tonight after a full day of fun in the snow.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277861890899915922" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwU5glMq2OYfXiVY3hLoFhDoYMbvlz4VgrltVnVhRRO6O85dCK9hI8yfwmLX87Ksi_8sqFGr172X3r6gKbRnaAyood_WODe-ZIU8l7HDyzAy2YfGcJVd91HiCNZuAC6c-44xOnS7uIMA/s400/esme+in+the+snow.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p><em>The real efficient laborer will be found not to crowd his day with work, but will saunter to his task surrounded by a wide halo of ease and leisure.</em></p><p><em>-Henry David Thoreau</em></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3379426098392869067.post-64971507562031770422008-12-06T10:15:00.012-06:002008-12-06T11:44:52.742-06:00The Wildlife of Costa Rica and Panama<div align="center">I've finally gotten around to reviewing the hundreds of photos I shot while on my recent vacation to Central America. Photographing wildlife was a real challenge due to lack of light in the forests and an abundance of rain on many occasions. The photos below are just a sliver of the animals we enjoyed on this trip, be it in the forests, skies, or seas.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276714258674730290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 273px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIeZmuxxOTM2YRKUUFIxGN9ZQhLVv9jtENKovkVWZKHmm1zUU-hhvno3VW7OtCdAPPcUN70MNxCw76KhZg1BRGnGuOajTQlVHdrAGB-pR7JtchK0Jwx_nxfOwleqHa_iLr1deAQZsOq4/s400/iguana.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center">This is a spiny-tailed iguana shot at Manuel Antonio National Park. One of the naturalists from our ship said that these are prized for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">their</span> meat by some of the locals. </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276715136322371874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9RjXn5JyJdgWzmqcBvww9rlny6PqcyuSotyIzP0tDxWUqc9FPe0PJoouPiDOHZygSkXx5Bz8JtMJCJHkT0p0dM4N0pINljEcThuOsDruQJT6YB5IKeb-2M-zqpBWYwitEs_gnpavx-4/s400/White+Faced+Monkey.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center">A C<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">apuchin</span> or White-faced Monkey, also shot at Manuel Antonio. These guys were everywhere and quite easy to approach. We were advised to keep a close eye on backpacks, cameras, and binoculars, as it was not uncommon for an inquisitive monkey to make off with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">someone's</span> gear.</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276715122673575810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrXMx55TXDOVLJRZY8EqoDQH_9rF6ldFIbUnJ2fwX41OGCnMcWVRttpYvHhlvEvq0JO_VJW1VDwzUvLZ3yl6Zp7MpMSY9ja3IG_zSStUygMYKNWToNq4LdRF-4Y8o9MgKbXSN0smL6CQ/s400/racoon.jpg" border="0" />The Crab-eating Raccoon is found only along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and is closely related to the ubiquitous Northern Raccoon, common to exotic locales such as Mount <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Horeb</span>, WI.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276714269008223090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikW4Bd3X5vmN7aI-e-ujWC-2F4FsYokrEP6_Qrp27shr6b3riTMT3QALv3S0MhEMXAQlMZQOy22-qlD3dbS-Fj3nfnV5SrbLQL-VRyoukO1VuSxndqkrFJobsDEgDJ2QzhRdOTV6bRM2g/s400/3+toed+sloth.jpg" border="0" />This is a Three-fingered Sloth. What can I say about sloths other than they are such cool and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">bizarre</span> creatures. Sloths are also a favorite food of the Harpy Eagle, the national bird of Panama.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276714274314880818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5plU8Z7kNjC9fYK9a1sVEg5wUyFwoXgABcuYcW1-8TrT7jUGgicFHhmdYZN9Hzs7qsUi-mgZ57xY_8Fmt98K5Xne3DMlwX7u5jyXABcURyJBC-IV16FNn14tY_7AA0GsxbQb6Mz3Cag/s400/marbled+wood+quail.jpg" border="0" /> The Marbled Wood-quail is a very elusive, chicken-like ground forager. I was told that many birders in Costa Rica <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">seldom</span> if ever get a chance to view one of these shy creatures. I felt pretty lucky when we were able to watch a small covey hunt amongst the leaf litter within 15 feet of us and tried to get a decent photo. This was the best I could do with the lack of light.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276714269315254482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 292px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqXGTSPSaI8sqFo1G7amSOR3A1RfPs-bHPtWTSH4aWqrZEV1Oqf6DJIMya-AtLQoVAZ5t6-EXQ6_coV_Z2FS6RECcTqyYHx20GRAKQOJpbfvbh3JkMhewCdJyaCbOzzoh79EVrBZJlAE/s400/Basalisc.jpg" border="0" /> This is a Jesus Christ Lizard, named as such because it escapes predators by running across water on its hind legs.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276715132866544642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zIoLM-thkMJsMI-6ThZjQswKRmbrTp0xJH3lgwLdePC9EDEtabGyx5EDKYuxjfUlUU05vRyP7ZyNWBo7arz5_lo8UuH1LXa8tID28evChAwWToUhS8nwh0R4IWY8k8oxUds3Dr8EUNo/s400/spotted+sandpiper.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">A Spotted Sandpiper in winter plumage. </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276715742401012018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0w9OHxxkK6VnK_FgNmzfcG2-PAslFDv30sGGNxGHeKj43fCb0GHwkZsAcNPz1KSmapM_VmAqFxZ4Nt-dQYAmFroX6lfciSZhNr4uoynyqStVsPzNe6wMAKQp3mBjtzwOJKlwN_lOfYvU/s400/Chestnut+mandibled+Tucan.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Chestnut-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">mandibled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Toucan</span>.</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276715139901750066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTA7IgMsPyBhXD3sMCGByQbsyqsYOcPJPil9wKvH4oM0iLHWIDsHeZoaR93pv20jb5IXzYD_Hq78oPc3b5rk9cnlY1iBZkrxcwUjiIGJxWM6zNGC8lfOXITzOB2kps7UIAWQ8eC0OYzhw/s400/kids+with+scope.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">We had spent a day in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Darien</span> Jungle with the indigenous people of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Embera</span> village. Here is a picture of a group of children enjoying close-up views of a Night Monkey through my scope.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276715750375652146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3umMAFo1fz-c_s6PDry-2wv_nLsTpmCLBP_CKDQhPJAy_s6PNrt2a2I4ZZ9sIgDdT2kOxWObas_pQmG6P4OobISoyBN5dLsWxepfw3rZmBsk5f6vW2ZI4gBc408Qtng_8zSUIQswak3M/s400/Night+Monkies.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Night Monkeys (also called owl monkeys) are a nocturnal species. If I recall correctly, the night monkey is the only nocturnal species of monkey.<br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276715745237151922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPmd4zcIr7X-Nso6x4qoHDXEJdV4O6uh2BnGAAUUL0V9KFhGzqZIpLJAkbk5SnCxCa-sAZP-8PBuqGZgX2rcehGDJD7Dn1JR4-OPaShC9yZd_5wtC_yHUzECCAmSm_ZC_0DarA1tRJ1I/s400/Night+Monkey.jpg" border="0" /><br />The list of those species seen but not photographed is too long to post, especially when we get to the bird species. </p><p>As I look back on our trip, I am <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">continually</span> amazed at both the diversity and abundance of life present in such a small geographical area. Having said that, both Panama and Costa Rica face continual pressure for development of land for housing, industry, and agriculture. A bright spot here is that both countries have recognized the value of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">eco</span>-tourism to their economies and have protected large tracts of land to try and insure its future. My hope and belief is that their reverence for wild things will continue to keep in check the tempting desire for wealth easily obtained by exploiting the land. I highly encourage you to help keep these places wild by visiting and supporting the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">eco</span>-tourism industry in Central America. It's worth it!<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3