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BirdForum http://www.birdforum.net Free bird watcher discussion forum and photo, galleries. View photographs of birds in the wild, discuss bird topics, read reviews on all kinds of equipment and post your bird photographs in the gallery en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:18:04 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.birdforum.net/images/misc/rss.jpg BirdForum http://www.birdforum.net Birdwatching in Cambodia? http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157234&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:58:32 GMT Hi, I visited Cambodia in February, during 5 days. I was in Tonle Sap (swamps and lake) and Angkor (woods), and I saw perhaps 5 birds species only! While I Singapore I saw about 8 differents birds species in a day! Why birds in Cambodia are so shy and hard to see? +++ Hi,

I visited Cambodia in February, during 5 days. I was in Tonle Sap (swamps and lake) and Angkor (woods), and I saw perhaps 5 birds species only!

While I Singapore I saw about 8 differents birds species in a day!

Why birds in Cambodia are so shy and hard to see?

+++ ]]> Cambodia ririhugs http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157234 Hello from southern Alberta Canada http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157233&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:57:19 GMT Hi all new member here Denis is my name and in from Albberta Canada.
Wonderful community here, I've been looking for a pair of binos and needed some advice (others on the bino section if you want), I checked out a lot of different boards mostly hunting before I found this one. Lots of info here, it's kind of neat to discover a niche of people you knew were out there but didn't know one personally, birders I mean. I can see by your demands one binos that you know and like good equipment. I mostly just wildlife watch but hopfully your passion for birds rubs off, not that we have that many different birds out on the praires. I'm sure that in town it is much more diversive.
Anyway that's me. thanks for reading Denis ]]> Say Hello pikergolf http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157233 Hello all looking for some advice on binos http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157232&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:23:05 GMT Hi my name is Denis and I'm from southern alberta in Canada. I am in the market for some binos for general use wildlife watching etc.
I've bounced around a lot of forums for the last few weeks looking for reviews on binoculars, mostly hunting forums.
I was getting information on well known brands leo, bush,pentaxetc. and most of the info was pretty generic.
So I thought to myself i've got to take this up a notch and started thinking about who would really know binos, Birders!!
And so here I am. I've read a lot of different posts and there are a few binos that intrigue me. But with where I live the chance to try any of them out is none existent. The nearest large centre is 200 miles away and I can't find anyone that has in stock what I would like to see. We in Canada don't have access to all the goodies the USA has because it has to make financial sense for someone to import a line and we just don't have the population to get smaller companies in.
So I'm asking advice on binos I'll probably have to by sight unseen. I can order minox bl's, minnox porros, and nikons in Canada,but the two that Im most intrested in I would have to order from the States that being the vortex vipers and the Zen-ray ed2's. (8X40)
Any thoughts or recommedations would be most appreciated even on other brands. I'm of the anal kind so the best value for the dollar is definantly in play. My price ceiling would be around 500.00 Thanks for your time Denis from Canada ]]> Others pikergolf http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157232 American Herring Gull in Co.Kerry - Breaking news from RBA (8.02pm 20 Nov) http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157230&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:10:03 GMT Breaking news from Rare Bird Alert: American Herring Gull in County Kerry.

BBRC and IRBC stats from RBA's Previous Records Online:

There are 16 accepted records of American Herring Gull in Britain and 72 in Ireland.
The most recent published record for Co.Kerry was in 2005

RBA's Previous Records (new) has all the records and a wealth of stats and analysis for this and other rarities recorded in Britain and Ireland

Click here to see the location on the Free Rare Bird Map
Click here for information about American Herring Gull in the Opus. (Please feel free to contribute to this page) ]]> Rare Bird Information Rare Bird Alert http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157230 Russian Altai http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157227&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:41:41 GMT Hi all, My hubby went to the Russian Altai last May and was not much info available on the net. As we tried to put together bits of info in preparation for the trip I wished there are would be some more out there. So, I thought it would be helpful if I put his report here as maybe some of you want... Hi all,

My hubby went to the Russian Altai last May and was not much info available on the net. As we tried to put together bits of info in preparation for the trip I wished there are would be some more out there. So, I thought it would be helpful if I put his report here as maybe some of you want to go there.

He used my personal friends as providers (there is a choice of them now, but I'm a bit "funny" to send my family into unknown).

If you have any questions, pls drop me a line. I'm "native" to the West Siberia and want other people to discover its beauty for themselves.

Report is below, but I'm happy to provide more details on request.

The Russian Altai, 19/5 – 2/6/09: highlights

Participants: Adam & Jacob Gretton, Pavel Morozov (driver), Alex Preis (translator & cook)
Thanks: Very many thanks to Pavel (‘PM’) and Alex for their company and making the trip possible. Huge thanks to Pavel and Olga Barsukov for arranging the trip, and their very kind hospitality in Novosibirsk, and to Sasha Yurlov for advice.
Itinerary
19/5 Novosibirsk – Seminsk pass
20/5 to km 778, near Aktash
21/5 to km 803, east of Aktash (near Mt Aktrou)
22/5 to km 862, between Kurai and Chuya steppes
23 & 24/5 km 859 (23rd: Kosh Agach, 24th: mountain walk to 2740m)
25/5 km 856 (after another Kosh Agach visit)
26/5 East of Belybom (track to Shavla)
27/5 Seminsk pass
28-30/5 Lake Teletskoe biological station
31/5 Pine belt west of Barnaul, NW of Pokrovka
1/6 Mamontovo area - Spirino (?), Ob Sea
Plus half day visit to Taganay, c. 140 km east of Novosibirsk, 6/6

Species highlights
Black Stork: 2 start of Chuya steppe,
Ruddy Shelduck: regular near Chuya steppe (20+)
Red-crested Pochard: 6 near Kosh Agach,
White-winged Scoter: 1 near Kosh Agach, 13 L. Teletskoe,
Bittern: heard near Kosh Agach
White-tailed Eagle: 1 Ob sea near Novosibirsk, , perched on floating tree
Black Vulture: singles Kuray steppe, & Chuya steppe,
Black Kite (lineatus): abundant throughout
Honey Buzzard: 2 (1 in ‘wings up’ display), on way to L Teletskoe,
Hen Harrier: male, Seminsk,
Upland Buzzard (note possible confusion with Long-legged Buzzard):
Eastern Imperial Eagle: 3 adults, (imm)
Golden Eagle: 1, Mt Sarlik,
Booted Eagle: 1, Chagan-Uzun,
Peregrine:
Lesser Kestrel: regular, inc. 4, and 6, (inc. courtship feeding)
Hazel Hen: heard, Lake Teletskoe,
Demoiselle Crane: regular in Kuray and Chuya steppes (16+)
Corncrake: singles heard 1/6 and
Swinhoe’s Snipe: 12+ in full display, Seminsk pass,
Marsh Sandpiper: 2,
Red-necked Phalarope: c.200, Guseletovo near Romanovo, (with 4000+ migrant waders, mainly Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper)
Great Black-headed Gull: colony of 400+ Kasantsevo, near Mamontovo,
White-winged Black Tern: common near Kosh Agach (240+ on, including 170 over one fairly small lake) and 2-3 sites near Mamontovo
Oriental Turtle Dove: regular in lowlands, fewer in mountains
Oriental Cuckoo: regular, Lake Teletskoe
Scops Owl: heard
Ural Owl: one watched on the ground down to 12m, Seminsk, also heard east of Aktash
White-backed Woodpecker: one probable from the car, near Barnaul
Black Woodpecker
Grey-headed Woodpecker: near Yaloman
Horned Lark: common in steppe areas
Citrine Wagtail: near Kosh Agach
‘Masked’ White Wagtail (M.a.personata): common
Tawny Pipit
Olive-backed Pipit: 2 at Seminsk
Dipper: 1 at L Teletskoe
Black-throated Accentor: 2 at 2500m, and 4+ at Seminsk
Altai Accentor: 2 at 2600m
Siberian Rubythroat: L Teletskoe and Taganay
Bluethroat: Sarlik, Taganay
Pied Wheatear: quite common in rocky steppe areas (e.g. 11)
Desert Wheatear: 4, Chuya steppe
Isabelline Wheatear: common in Altai
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush: 1 Kuray steppe
Black-throated Thrush: common Seminsk and Teletskoe (25+)
Paddyfield Warbler: in reedbeds
Blyth’s Reed Warbler: common at L Teletskoe (10+)
Great Reed Warbler: only near Mamontovo
Booted Warbler: 1 by lake at edge of steppe
Wood Warbler: 1 only
Dusky Warbler:
Hume’s Leaf Warbler: very common
Greenish Warbler: very common
Willow / Alpine Tit: common (strong response to Alpine Tit playback, not to Willow Tit)
Siberian Tit: Seminsk
Spotted Nutcracker: not common
Daurian Jackdaw: 2-3 Chagan-Uzun, 2 Kuray steppe, with pale-headed hybrids and normal Jackdaws
Rose-coloured Starling: 2 with 18 Starlings, Ortolyk
Rock Sparrow: 1 past Beltir
Brambling: very smart males, Seminsk
Common Rosefinch: common
Long-tailed Rosefinch: Tuganay
Two-barred Crossbill: in flight only
Twite: 3 in Beltir
Pine Bunting: & some hybrids with Yellowhammer)
Ortolan Bunting: common between Kuray and Chuya steppes
Yellow-breasted Bunting: 1 at Taganay
Pallas’ Reed Bunting: 1 male by lake near Chagun-Uzun

Misses (seen on previous trips)
Azure Tit; Isabelline Shrike (no shrikes seen at all!); Pacific Swift (has nested in Novosibirsk)

Other misses
Altai Snowcock (many droppings and a feather found at 2700+m) ]]> Vacational Trip Reports slenderbilled c http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157227 New Video: AUSTRALASIAN DARTER Anhinga novaehollandiae Perth (added by Andy T) http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157226&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:30:01 GMT Image: http://www.birdforum.tv/files/videos/thumbnails/df9028fcb6b065eT.jpg AUSTRALASIAN DARTER Anhinga novaehollandiae Perth Author: Andy T (http://www.birdforum.tv/Andy T/) Keywords: Australia...

AUSTRALASIAN DARTER Anhinga novaehollandiae Perth
Author: Andy T
Keywords: Australia Darter Monga Perth Western
Added: 6 minutes ago

Click Here to View Video

To Upload Your Own Video Click Here... ]]> BirdForum TV Discussion BirdForum TV http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157226 yellow browed warbler? N. Italy http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157224&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:17:32 GMT Hi,can someone help me with this picture? Taken today in Monza city,Italy. I heard the voice and was identical to inornatus but picture make some other birders think of a humei. For you this bird can be a yellow browed warbler? Notice that colours and contrast are different: bird had a little... Hi,can someone help me with this picture?
Taken today in Monza city,Italy.
I heard the voice and was identical to inornatus but picture make some other birders think of a humei.
For you this bird can be a yellow browed warbler?
Notice that colours and contrast are different: bird had a little bright colours.
Thank you! http://www.birdforum.net/attachment....1&d=1258744625

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]]> il gipeto http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157224 critique and addvice plse http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157223&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:05:12 GMT Hi,I have only just got into photography,so I only got the camera/lens in july/august of this year,and with a lot of tips/help from others,things are getting just a bit better,so with this shot I was trying to use manual mode,as a rule I use AV,but on this day it was very overcast/dull,so I had a... Hi,I have only just got into photography,so I only got the camera/lens in july/august of this year,and with a lot of tips/help from others,things are getting just a bit better,so with this shot I was trying to use manual mode,as a rule I use AV,but on this day it was very overcast/dull,so I had a play around with manuel mode,but I do not quite understand it,my question is,
What setting could I have used to get a better image,the bird was about 60/100 yards or so away,any thing at distance I find it hard to get a good focus,so is this to do with where I set the aperture?
Also, should it have been possible to get the wing action without the blur??
So, away'ya go, I can take it.
I hope I have posted in the correct forum to ask addvice?

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]]> Photo Critique spock http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157223 Ringed griffon vulture ,where to report?? http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157222&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:49:20 GMT Can anyone please advise who would be interested in the below images if there is enough ring within view to work out the correct numbers,letters.I unfortunatly did not notice the ring until going through my photo's this evening..It was take at Sharm Pools ,south sinai yesterday afternoon.Any advise on where to send would be appretiated.It looks to me to be Yellow E13 and Green HB.

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]]> Bird Ringing and Banding doozer http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157222 2 Gulls Northumberland http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157221&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:36:15 GMT Hi all,

Can anyone please help me id and age these gulls? I went to Northumberland this July and photographed these two gulls, I think they're Herring but not a 100% sure.

Thanks

Robert

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]]> Robert Williamson http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157221 Gull in Copenhagen http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157220&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:26:22 GMT I don't mind admitting that I have a definite weak spot with gull identification, particularly young gulls. I saw this gull today and it attracted my attention among argentatus Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls. It was definitely paler and seemed slightly smaller than the argentatus Herrings. I am wondering if it's a 1st winter Yellow-legged of some description and would be very grateful for the views of others..

Thanks in advance

Terry

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]]> Terry Townshend http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157220 Gray duck, Oregon, USA http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157219&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:03:48 GMT Saw a duck that I can't find what it might be in my sibley. Overall grey, thinner necked & longer necked than the mallards and wigeons next to it, brownish head with darker brown at the back, white tail feathers, thin long bill, white patches under the wings in flight. No long tail feathers like pintails.

Any ideas? ]]> Bosque http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157219 Belgium passerine http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157218&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:56:32 GMT Hi,

Can you identify this, and what about the spots on undertail coverts?
http://www.valeryschollaert.com/inde...d=1996&catid=2

Cheers, ]]> Valéry Schollaert http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157218 Another one! http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157217&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:20:00 GMT I'd like a general feedback but along a certain theme.
This shot has been heavily processed in a specific way and one of my primary fears when processing is going too far.
There is a danger I feel that the fine line between a photograph and a 'digital image', for want of a better term, can easily be crossed and I don't mean image manipulation BTW.
And another concern that I've encountered recently is monitor resolution. I have a new 22" monitor and it's resolution is set to 1920x1080 and as a result even images of this size look a lot smaller and I wonder how this image looks on a smaller screen like a laptop and the like, which will be set at a smaller resolution. So if anybody is viewing it in that respect I'd like to know how it looks to you.

Many thanks.
Adam

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]]> Photo Critique Jaff http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157217 Ohio Hawk? http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157216&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:56:25 GMT This hawk swooped down on a small squirrel just off my back porch, I could only get two pics. And am now at a loss for its proper name? Thanks Lantz1 This hawk swooped down on a small squirrel just off my back porch, I could only get two pics. And am now at a loss for its proper name?

Thanks
Lantz1

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]]> lantz1 http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=157216