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How do you prepare for a birding trip ? (2 Viewers)

T

Thegeezer9999

Well-known member
Ireland
Probably depends on what kind of trip, but (for example), do you keep your camera "cocked" on a zoom setting, or perhaps use Merlin to identify possible birds in the vicinity then track them down with binoculars before maybe taking a zoomed photo ?

Just curious as to how everybody approaches this (as you might have guessed my MO is what is shown above) ?
 
While walking along I have my camera round my neck, the strap adjusted as long as it'll go, with my right thumb on the rotating 'on' switch (I remember we have the same make and model camera). My binoculars are also on a long strap, tucked between my right hip and my elbow - holding the camera button steadies it, and also traps the binos, so neither thing can swing around and annoy me.

When I see birds, if it's a fleeting chance to catch something likely to immediately disappear or fly away (or something very rare and exciting I desperately want to record!), I flick the camera on and grab a photo first, but if they're settled and likely to give me time, I'll lift the binos first and have a good look, before swapping to the camera. Then I'll alternate between the two - how many times depends on how interesting the birds are, and what they're doing - some birds I'll stay with and watch and photograph for as long as I can see them, others I'll leave to walk on and find something else.

I don't like to leave the camera on zoom between sightings like you describe, not just cos that uses up battery cos the camera has to stay on , but also it can be hard to find the bird while already zoomed! I find it's far easier to locate it on the screen first (often using landmarks like near-dead-tuft-of-grass, below-third-wind-turbine-from-left, or just-above-where-green-branch-crosses-oak-trunk) then zoom in once you know exactly where to aim at.
 
  • make sure I am dressed appropriately (right coat, gloves, headgear); this may be less important when it's warm, but at this time of the year it's critical.
  • bring appropriate optics - most of the time this is a 10x42 for me, but if distances are shorter (in woodland etc) an 8x has some advantages
  • bring something to take notes with (notebook, voice recorder, smartphone etc)
  • bring enough sustenance, being hungry makes any discomfort much worse
  • check logistics of getting to where you want to go at the times you plan to travel - vital if you mostly travel via public transport as I do

Can't help much with the finer points of using a camera I'm afraid!
 
Thanks for the replies/advice, I have just bought one of those clips so planning to keep camera clipped to either belt or laptop bag strap if I am carrying that. I also have a harness for the binoculars, and I am hoping this arrangement will see me much better organized than my last attempt which involved the missus untangling the devices I had slung over/around my neck, and a heavy coat which was completely surplus to requirements !!

I take the points about making sure you have the appropriate equipment/supplies, and also about leaving it on zoom. The only mitigations I have for this is that the camera right now seems to pack itself up after being on for a period of time, and I have very good sight and hearing to be able to focus in on a bird with a pre-zoomed camera, but i think this is just paranoia about missing that one shot !!

All the advice is really welcomed !!
 
What I do is pack an old backpack. Put in 2 pens, a notepad, 3 water bottles, and a snack bar. Then I throw in my light carbon fiber tripod and my spotting scope. Then I grab my vortex glasspak with my binoculars and put my camera strap on my neck. I also bring 2 extra charged batteries I charged the night before for my camera. I bring my phone but put it on do not disturb mode and low battery mode so it doesn't die while I'm out. I like to use Ebird to track where I went. I prefer to leave the field guide at home for later because if I bring it the temptation is too much and I use it instead of enjoying the birds. When I get home I review my notes and photos and track what I saw on Ebird. I have a very cheap (under $200) camera setup with an old Nikon D300 (no video mode sadly), and a 70-300mm Lens. When I'm in the field I take off the lens cap and turn it on. I only use the viewfinder to save energy. I keep it at the lowest zoom (70mm) until I spot a bird. I find it easier to start low magnification then zoom in once I spot the bird. Overall my system seems to work out pretty well for me. I just need a better camera (better image quality, looking into full frame mirrorless) and a lens with better zoom (600mm at least).
 
This is a very broad question, and I am surprised to see very specific answers.

There are some elementary things to check when preparing a birding trip:
1. what birds can you expect in a certain area / country, also taking into account the time of year?
2. once you have a list of possible birds, you'd have to check if they are common (and thus seen / heard without targeted searching), rare (so you are mentally prepared not finding them, even if you invest time and effort) or e.g. are only to be found in specific areas / times of day / niche habitats / or have very similar looking species you'd have to study differences so you can actually ID them in the field.
3. Once all of this is done (and by doing so, you will already have gone through bird books etc), it's time for specific study: have a set of sounds (Merlin, Xeno-Canto) ready per area, and actively listen to them. As much as possible. Do the same homework on how the bird can be ID'd by looking at images, drawings and similar species.

Once you have done all of that, the only thing you need are good ears, sharp eyes, a tactical/logistical plan for the day, and maybe some bins.
A camera could be useful to have some record shots you're finding hard to ID in the field or if you're afraid the bird will soon fly without ID, though a good microphone is often a better tool to record birds and learn about them. It's no coincidence that some of the best birders I know, happen to walk around with a microphone, and the times they carry a camera, they take excellent shots.
 
It starts with a bit of homework, as temmie says, do some homework before you go.
Appropriate footwear/clothing for the country/season/weather (I never go out without a packable waterproof jacket in the UK)
Phone (with Collins bird guide App.), power bank, notebook, some form of food and drink.
Binoculars and telescope/tripod.
Often a bridge camera (plus a spare battery) although I don’t take many pictures.
 
Birding box (repurposed supermarket shopping basket) contains everything from spare device batteries, bat detector, duct tape and a pair of cb radios to camo drawstring bag with a couple of plastic bags that can be filled with sand and put in it as an impromptu bean bag; waterproof coat; shamag and net scarf (lots more bits and bobs too).

On the way out camera and bins plus canvas fisherman's waistcoat (itself containing gloves, spare camera batteries and cards, pens, notebook, snood, lens cloths, thermal imager) go on top of the birding box and I pick up scope and tripod if I'm taking it (I often don't unless there is specific sea- or raptor-watching in the plan).

Always in the car: wellies, spare shoes and socks (fresh socks for a long drive home after a long day on your feet feels amazing), folding chairs, diet Cokes.

Now where do we want to go?

John
 
Stonefaction said:
Depends on where you're going birding, I'd say. You might miss out on notifications of nearby birds by doing so (if you are a member of local info networks etc).
Click to expand...
At least turn your phone to mute when you're waiting for a big rarity to show - and that goes for your pager as well. After all, you aren't going anywhere till you've seen it.

Plus if you want to keep gobbing off about any old rubbish, go somewhere else to do it. Especially once you've seen the bird and other people still haven't.

John
 
temmie said:
This is a very broad question, and I am surprised to see very specific answers.

There are some elementary things to check when preparing a birding trip:
1. what birds can you expect in a certain area / country, also taking into account the time of year?
2. once you have a list of possible birds, you'd have to check if they are common (and thus seen / heard without targeted searching), rare (so you are mentally prepared not finding them, even if you invest time and effort) or e.g. are only to be found in specific areas / times of day / niche habitats / or have very similar looking species you'd have to study differences so you can actually ID them in the field.
3. Once all of this is done (and by doing so, you will already have gone through bird books etc),
temmie said:
have a set of sounds (Merlin, Xeno-Canto) ready per area, and actively listen to them. As much as possible.
Click to expand...
Hi
Click to expand...

I am not sure where you find such sounds on Merlin, can you advise on this please ?

Thank you
temmie said:
Do the same homework on how the bird can be ID'd by looking at images, drawings and similar species.

Once you have done all of that, the only thing you need are good ears, sharp eyes, a tactical/logistical plan for the day, and maybe some bins.
A camera could be useful to have some record shots you're finding hard to ID in the field or if you're afraid the bird will soon fly without ID, though a good microphone is often a better tool to record birds and learn about them. It's no coincidence that some of the best birders I know, happen to walk around with a microphone, and the times they carry a camera, they take excellent shots.
Click to expand...
 
I think you are seeing something very different to my website view, which in theory should not be possible. I am using Google Chrome (latest), and this is a series of screenshots of what I see. You can see it looks very different to what you are seeing.

1743622261974.png

So far all looks the same, but if I click on the link Grey Heron, this is what I see, so unless you are not clicking on the link for the bird at all ? You can replicate what I am doing using this link




1743622362410.png
 

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