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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

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  1. andyotter

    Spectrogram/sonogram viewing on tablet/smartphone

    I'm considering getting a tablet for viewing sonograms when I'm on field trips away from wifi (and mains for that matter!). I'm looking for an app that will read a pre-recorded sound file (rather than produce real-time spectrograms from the internal mic). Here's my set-up: I record with an...
  2. andyotter

    unidentified sound at Threave Estate, Castle Douglas, UK

    Whilst sitting in the Hide at Lamb island on Friday 15th, I was intrigued by the attached sound. I presume a bird was the source but I couldn't see it. The only candidate seen was a redhead Goosander ( Common Merganser ยท Mergus merganser) alone on the river. The closest I could find on the xeno...
  3. andyotter

    used Kowa TSN-663: a good lightweight scope?

    I just asked this question on this thread. Posting a link here in hope that Kowa experts can give some opinions on this or similar Kowa scopes (hope this doesn't break some etiquette!)
  4. andyotter

    used Kowa TSN-663: a good lightweight scope?

    A mate of mine has recently decided he wants to get a scope. He's in Italy so has little opportunity to follow the advice of "try before you buy". After dozens of emails he's narrowed himself down to a c60mm with a zoom. This fits his constraints: he travels by scooter so wants to keep weight...
  5. andyotter

    Birds of Prey at Cannock Chase

    We took a visiting friend a tour of the north section of Cannock Chase yesterday morning. In addition to seeing buzzards and kestrels (and hearing a sparrowhawk), we encountered two birds of prey we weren't at all sure about*. What other birds of prey are reasonably likely on Cannock Chase at...
  6. andyotter

    near E.Prawle, Devon, UK

    Attached are 2 brief snatches of bird song recorded last week (21/06/15) from a footpath here. The bird was singing from low growing gorse on a coastal headland. It sounded warbler-like (maybe subsong) to my ears, but I can't think of any such species that would favour that habitat (there were...
  7. andyotter

    To Anglesey & back via North Wales

    We're off to Anglesey this weekend with the main aim of terns at Cemlyn, auks at South Stack plus Black Guillis at Holyhead Harbour. We're aiming to cross into Wales at around Friday 6am so as to make the most of the journey over. I've trawled around forums here and North Wales Birding to come...
  8. andyotter

    Olympus LS-11 with remote control and windjammer?

    After reading v. helpful comments about the LS-11 (vs newer Olympus models) here, I'm hoping to get one soon. I note that the remote sensor fits between the mics on top and so would be covered by any windjammer ('dead cat'). Tech Support at Rycote say Has anyone got any experience of using the...
  9. andyotter

    Warbler? Derby

    I was taking a few shots today to test Fuji's RAW format when I saw this on nearby tree overlooking the Derwent. When I processed the snaps I wasn't sure what it was - I initially assumed a ChiffWillow, but I don't see any supercilium + legs appear brick-red + head appears more domed...
  10. andyotter

    hawk, Derby, Derbyshire

    This hawk alighted on a popular perch overlooking the Derwent - just long enough to get this poor shot. The eyes and thin legs suggest male Sparrowhawk to me, but I'm never sure about birds of prey. Confirmation appreciated! ( The accompanying pic show a blackbird lower down the same branch...
  11. andyotter

    Juvenile chat/robin, Bretton, Derbys

    Came across this quite confiding juvenile in Bretton Clough on 9th August. My guess is a Robin but might he be a Stonechat?
  12. andyotter

    finch call, Willington Derbys

    after a shower today got a glimpse of 2/3 fluffed up finches flitting branch to branch. Couldn't pick out much more than streaked breast, dark legs & whitewing bar , but caught these calls. The trill at abt 2secs was occasional whereas the two-note-rising was repeated. Checking xeno-canto...
  13. andyotter

    Wheatears hovering? Barbrook Reservoir, Derbys

    On Monday, we were stopped to look over Barbrook Reservoir on Big Moor (from just about here). We caught sight of one bird which flew along near the water less than 2m above ground then stopped to hover not more than 3m above ground briefly before dropping to ground behind a tussock. Waiting to...
  14. andyotter

    Geese at Marshside, Southport, Lancs

    Saw large number of geese looking North from Sandgrounder's hide yesterday, then more later, North of the track from the car park leading to the shore. Just checking: these are more likely to be Pink Foots than Bean Geese, aren't they?
  15. andyotter

    Twite? Burton, Cheshire

    Taken yesterday p.m. on Denhall La by the marshes. Twite is the closest I can come up with...
  16. andyotter

    bird song Willington, Derbys

    Heard this shortly after seeing a Cetti's in the lane at Willington yesterday. Sounds like a warbler to my newbie ears, but having checked xeno-canto, I wonder whether it's a Blackcap. I'd appreciate a few tips on what to listen for so as to improve in this area...
  17. andyotter

    bird call Willington, Derbys

    Heard this call over prolonged period at Willington Pits yesterday. It appeared to be coming from the bushes bordering the reedbeds rather than the water channels, but I can't be sure. I'm assuming it's nothing glamorous, but not sure where to start looking for type of bird (passerine or other)...
  18. andyotter

    Estimating distance of subject

    I've been digiscoping for about four months now and am often interested in approximately how far away the birds I'm snapping are. I read bf member gillean55's method (relate num of focus turns to a series of measured distances), but that didn't fit with my style of working. I considered...
  19. andyotter

    pale small wader, Luce Bay, Dumfries&Galloway

    Spotted the wader among the Dunlin resting in the late afternoon at the mouth of Piltanton Burn on 8th Sept. It looked marginally larger than the dunlin, but difficult to be sure as they had sun behind them. Possible Sanderling?
  20. andyotter

    Whimbrel? Garlieston, Dumfries&Galloway

    These pics were taken last week near high tide on rocks just s. of Garlieston Harbour. There were several definite curlews around as well, so we were uncertain which these were. RSPB guy at Mull of G says they are found there otherwise we may have just assumed it was us mis-identifying again...
  21. andyotter

    Galloway in early September

    We're spending two weeks in stunning Dumfries & Galloway, starting on 30th Aug, basing ourselves in Gatehouse of Fleet. We're planning to do a fair bit of birdwatching but are aware that early September is something of a changeover time, so we'd be most grateful for any local knowledge about...
  22. andyotter

    unidentified sounds in reedbed, Willington, Derbys, UK

    The attached soundfile is of a lapping/splashing sound heard very close to one of the viewing platforms at Willington. This sound continued more than 20 mins without pause or changing rhythm. Occasionally, (once every 7/10 mins) there was a single pig-like grunt (not caught on record but not a...
  23. andyotter

    Nikon Fieldscope EDIII 60 + camera = what head?

    I've been getting used to my second-hand EDIII 60 for 2 months now, mounted on a Velbon 250N with PH-157Q head, mostly scoping but taking the odd digiscoped snap (a P5100 attached with FSB-6 bracket to a DS eyepiece). I am thinking of upgrading to a more stable head but know that, despite the...
  24. andyotter

    whitethroat song? Willington, Derbys

    He was flitting around singing a few snatches of this song before moving on to a new perch, sometimes on a bramble or other shrub sometimes from vegetation around a wooded track. From only glimpse I could catch of him he seemed grey rather than brown with pinkish legs. Never seen a whitethroat...
  25. andyotter

    warbler song, willington, derbys

    This warbler was singing a very varied song with occasional high whistles. He was in an area of mixed vegetation, with some rushes but also brambles, hawthorn and willow. He kept out of sight mostly, but when occasionally glimpsed at the various places from where he was singing , he was...
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