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

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  1. qwerty5

    Unknown call, Southwest Ohio, April 28, 2024

    Heard this yesterday afternoon. It was near the ground in mature forest with a decent growth of native understory. Never got any visual. My best guess is Hooded Warbler, but it doesn't seem perfectly right. Any ideas?
  2. qwerty5

    2024 Targets

    Anything bird related that you hope to experience/accomplish in 2024. My number one goal is to finally get 200 year birds in my county. 210 should not be hard, but this year I was thwarted by a horrible May and being gone for all of September and most of October. My other targets are also all...
  3. qwerty5

    Franklin's or Laughing Gull? SW Ohio, October 29

    Just found this gull today. Laughing would be much rarer, but I would expect more of a dark hood and a smaller bill if it was Franklin's.
  4. qwerty5

    Sage Thrasher? Southern WY, August 27

    While driving on Interstate 80 through the nothingness of southern Wyoming, I noticed a few gray robin-size birds perched on fenceposts. Sage Thrasher seems a fine fit, but since I'm unfamiliar with Wyoming I'm wondering if there's any potential confusion species. It's hard to notice much at 80 mph.
  5. qwerty5

    Good hotspots, South-central Washington, Sep-Oct?

    I'll be going out to south-central Washington for a temporary job, arriving late August, and leaving late October. I'll be staying in the Pasco area. The job will be 6 days a week and I'll be with a non-birding family member, so I won't have much time for birding. I am curious if anyone knows of...
  6. qwerty5

    LBBG? July 24, Delaware Seashore State Park

    For some reason it is impossible for me to gain the slightest competency with gull identification. Anyway I got some digiscope photos that I think may be a Lesser Black-backed. I think the darkness around the eye is enhanced in the photos.
  7. qwerty5

    Northern Parula or Cerulean Warbler song. June 17, Ohio

    In the field I thought Northern Parula, but listened to it again this morning and am unsure. It certainly isn't the typical alternate song of NOPA, but doesn't sound right for CERW either. It was singing quite close to a definite NOPA for a while with no interaction. Merlin says NOPA, but that...
  8. qwerty5

    Tennessee Warbler??? Ohio, June 21

    If this were May, I would have no question. But it's late June, the least likely time for a Tennessee Warbler to be in southwest Ohio (besides winter). Just wondering if there is something stupid I'm missing. Could this song be from anything other than a Tennessee Warbler...
  9. qwerty5

    WEWA/CHSP song, Southwest Ohio, June 17

    This morning I happened to hear a trill that I thought sounded Worm-eating-ish. I have no real experience with Worm-eating songs, besides listening to recordings, trying to hear the differences between it and Chipping Sparrow. This bird was singing 30-50 ft up in mature riparian forest. The...
  10. qwerty5

    A very troublesome scaup - Ohio, March 5, 2023

    Hello, I saw this scaup diving about 30 ft away the other day. I originally ID'd it as a Lesser, because when relaxed the head looked too tall for a Greater. However, after reviewing my digiscope pics, I've been flipping back and forth between which species I think it is. I've read all the info...
  11. qwerty5

    Semipalmated vs. Least Sandpiper, Ohio, May 15, 2022

    Today I saw a noticeably grayer peep among the many Least Sandpipers. I was unable to see any yellow on the legs. I'm thinking it's likely SESA, but hoping someone can confirm. Here are some phone scope pics, in the first you can see the difference between it and a LESA:
  12. qwerty5

    Scaup

    Today, I stumbled across this eBird checklist, which includes both Lesser and Greater Scaup. The attached pictures are causing me to wonder whether I really know anything at all about scaup identification. To me, the left bird looks like a textbook Greater Scaup, based on head shape (smoothly...
  13. qwerty5

    Celestron Regal vs. Vortex Viper or a used scope?

    I am planning on buying a scope soon, and am wondering if anyone has an opinion on the Regal vs the Viper, or any other suggestions for good quality scopes under $700. If I buy either of the two scopes mentioned it will be the 65mm version, because I can't afford the 85mm versions, and I don't...
  14. qwerty5

    Cackling Goose question (SW Ohio)

    Today (Jan 16), while I was birding at a lake, a large flock of geese flew straight over my head, fairly high. They were all Canada with the possible exception of one individual. It was noticeably smaller than the Canada Geese it was with, and had a shorter bill. I had a fairly short look, and...
  15. qwerty5

    2022 Targets and Goals

    It's still three weeks until 2022, but since the Top 5 of 2021 thread is up, I may as well post this as well. My list is of the birds I am going to try to find, and that I have a good chance of seeing (in other words, not a wishlist). My list is in rough order, and aside from the top few, it...
  16. qwerty5

    Mid-size vs. Full-size scope

    I'll be buying my first scope in a few months, so I'm wondering, will a 65mm scope be adequate, or do I need to spend extra on a 80/85mm spotter? I'll be using the scope for long distance observation at lakes, mudflats, etc., and need to see enough details to identify shorebirds and waterfowl. I...
  17. qwerty5

    Western Monarch Butterfly population rebounds

    Great news from California, as Monarch populations have bounced back from dangerously low levels last year. https://www.courthousenews.com/monarch-butterfly-populations-rebound-in-california/
  18. qwerty5

    Short-term Birding Goals

    There's recently been some talk on BF about mostly long-term birding goals and target species. So, I've been thinking, do any of you have short-term birding goals? These would be goals you hope to reach in the next few years, or maybe in the next few months. This could include specific birds you...
  19. qwerty5

    Are shorebirds active during hot summer afternoons?

    I'm thinking about birding tomorrow afternoon. The forecast for tomorrow afternoon is 90° F, mostly sunny, and humid. I would be going to a shallow lake with mudflats. Is there much shorebird or waterbird activity when it's so hot? I know passerines won't be doing much, but I'm just starting...
  20. qwerty5

    Reliability of habitat in distinguishing waterthrush species? Durbin WV

    On vacation in West Virginia I got a brief view of a waterthrush along the Greenbrier River. The view was too brief to see any details besides identifying it as a waterthrush. My question is, how reliable is habitat in distinguishing Louisiana from Northern Waterthrush? The Greenbrier River is...
  21. qwerty5

    A binocular comparison: Vortex Diamondback and Leupold Yosemite

    I recently had the chance to compare my Vortex Diamondback (non-HD) 10x42 with my dad's Leupold Yosemite 10x30. I admit this review isn't really fair since the Diamondback has a larger objective and is a more expensive binocular. However, porros are generally easier to make cheaper than roofs...
  22. qwerty5

    My 2021 Spring Migration List

    This is my total species list of migratory species sighted during the 2021 spring migration (71 species total) This does not include resident species (such as Northern Cardinal or Carolina Wren): Canada Goose (Branta canadensis ) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) Pie-billed Grebe (Podilymbus...
  23. qwerty5

    ~$1000 Binoculars poll

    Since the Alpha binoculars poll got a good response, I decided to start a poll for $1000 bins. I'm guessing this will get an even better response since these bins are more affordable. I expect this to be a close contest between Zeiss Conquest and Nikon Monarch HG. Vote for the binocular that you...
  24. qwerty5

    Bank Swallow ID thoughts

    I've observed Bank Swallows quite a bit this spring and I've noticed some ID points that may be helpful to some. First of all, the Bank Swallows I've observed were foraging low (3-20 ft above ground), and I've found that the chest band is very difficult to see, even with a view of the...
  25. qwerty5

    Alpha binoculars

    Just curious what your personal favorite alphas are. This is not confined to optics alone, but also ergonomics, ease of use etc. Basically, which alphas give you the most joy to use? This is purely for my curiosity. I'm sure I missed some great alphas so if you choose "Other" please tell which...
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