I wonder how many people have ticked Collared Fly after seeing a Pied?

Right then all you photographers, I would like to pick your brains for a little advice. After seeing some of the fantastic digiscoped images on this thread and various other places I have decided to take a tentative step into the world of photography. I have bought a shiny new scope today (Opticron ES80 GA ED with 20-60 HDF eyepiece) but dont have a clue what bits and bats I need to have a reasonable crack at digiscoping. A camera would be a start I reckon. Would anyone be able to recommend a camera/adapter combination which may work well with my scope? If not, what sort of things do I need to be looking for to identify a suitable digiscoping camera? (lens/zoom etc?)

My top budget would be £200 for the lot. Perhaps a bit measly but the scope has nearly cleaned me out!

Many thanks in advance

I'm interested in hearing the advice given for this - I've got the same scope setup and can't manage to get successful digiscoping results from it - mainly as the eyepiece is too big for the lens of my old compact camera. I'd suspect one of Opticron's fixed eyepieces would be better.

I'd be just as annoyed the other way I think - Pied Fly's my yearlist bogey this year, I'd be disgruntled if I came home and couldn't rule out Collared ;)

Seriously, though, I'd hope they've given it some rather distinctive legwear so people can tick it with confidence! ;)

aye i was the guy with the green floppy hat and the stone coloured sleeveless jacket john :t:, dipped on the olivacoeus warbler tonight, hope its there first thing in the morn fingers crossed

Secret Twitcher.
infocus (nearest is Denby Dale) do a camera/adapter kit for £269 for Opticron which includes a Panasonic Lumix FS10 and all the gubbins. Can't give you a recommendation but I think it might be worth consideration. Having just bought bins and a scope there I can say they are very helpful.

The kit is listed at the bottom of this page, http://tinyurl.com/36gdkxs. There is also a link to a digiscoping review at the bottom. Hope this helps.

Cheers Northernloon. I have seen the kit on the infocus website but thought there may be a way of doing it cheaper? I may just say sod it and buy it with my next wage but just wondered if there were any alternative suggestions out there.

You need to see the digiscoping threads like this http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=171784

Cheers Jim, I'll put my questions in there and see what happens

I'd suggest the Nikon Coolpix P6000. I have the same scope as you and with this camera, (About £150-£180ish) the results can be very impressive. Ideally you need a bracket but to start off with try hand held. You can make a bracket - I've a couple of good ones; one built with a sardine tin, and the other a Lynx deodorant top!

You will never get cracking results with the eye-piece you have - great for birding, but for digiscoping you do need a smaller wider angle fixed lens. I think mine is a 25X or something like that. Zooming down on your lens to a similar mag. still won't give you as good.

But you won't get a better camera for the price.

By the sound of it the bird showed far better in the morning /early afternoon than it did later. Anyone thinking of going tomorrow will probably be best going earlier rather than later.

I was there from 3.30pm - 6.30 and didn't get a sniff.

Dave.

I must have seen about a dozen at Spurn on Friday. They are pretty much guaranteed there this week I reckon.

I used this kit for the photos of Curlew Sandpiper, Whiskered Tern, Green Sandpiper etc. on Flickr with Opticron GS 815 GA ED telescope with 20-60x zoom. The video of Spotted Crake was at 60x zoom although with tripod in hide so minimal wind disturbance. I'd recommend the cable release or if not self-timer.

Not on Saturday they weren't :eek!:

I'm at Flam next week. Those bushes will get a good scour! It's my own fault for being busy getting married during the peak time for the local ones!

Anyone know anything about the wryneck reported at Wintersett today?

and it was ringed this morning?

Flamborough
 

Olivaceous Warbler still showing today, i got it at 6.20am this morn :t:, 2 Lapland Buntings east about 7am , went again this afternoon and the Warbler was still showing well at times too, 1 Redstart and a male Blackap in the hedge, 1 Common Buzzard south then west over old fall, and a few mins later a Cuckoo flew west then north over the plantation,

Birdguides says "one trapped and ringed tis morning" @ 08.37. Just wondered if anyone had been and had a look for it?

Caught up with Rosefinch at long last today at spurn plus the crane at hornsea. Bad pics on the blog.

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
 

The bird showed well between 7.10 - 7.20pm around the Style at the south west corner of Old Fall Plantation.
http://duffbirder.blogspot.com/

Flamborough
 

Olivaceous Warbler showing real well first this this morning, one of two Barred Warblers in the bay brambles showing real well near and in the golf course willows at about 11.15am, http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...arblers006.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...arblers008.jpg

For anyone interested in buying new binoculars, this company is selling Nikon at reduced prices this weekend.
http://www.uttingsoutdoors.co.uk/Cat...ode=UOEM030910

Eastern Olivaceous
 

The highs and lows of birding:

Wednesday - altered work arrangements to finish the day in Leeds after starting in Halifax. Zoomed over to Flamborough - the bird never played ball - some people got brief views, some tickable, some not. John and James arrived after me and both scored. I got nothing at all, except cross with the crowd for turning the volume up when I'm trying to locate it by call. Left the site at 8.30, cold, tired, and hungry.

Today - lows again to start with - should have been present first thing - half an hour too late. Two-three hours standing about waiting - the bird not even calling - then suddenly it's calling and in to view. With the first few seconds of seeing it dipping its tail, it was already comfortably on the list. It then showed very well on and off for at least half an hour. Relief - I wasn't even bothered I'd lent the camera out and didn't have it.

Followed up by a very showy Barred Warbler, an imaculate Lesser White, and a massive chip butty and cuppa.

I've wanted this one for ages, (thanks Craig) - ever since I saw the one on the Alan Shaw tape.

Result.:king:

Well done Lawts, really felt for you on Wednesday. Agreed a great find by Craig. Justice for all those hours working the head. Some good shots on Martin Garner's Blog.

Hi chaps,

During a visit to Old Moor the other day I saw a little egret with ID bands on each leg . I was just wondering if there are any websites where I could try to find out the origin of said bands. I have both the colour and the lettering for both. I was going to post this on the 'Ringing' section but it appears to be a very 'quiet' area of the Forum.

Thanks very much.