[newfie ghost]

Since this is bird forums, I assume we all bird with binoculars? But what else do you glass, if anything? What else fancies your glassing eye?

[typo]

Recently, Formula1 motor racing, and Olympic archery (and hopefully other events if I can get tickets). They'll be with me at Twickenham for the rugby in a few weeks.

David

[Torview]

Anisoptera and Lepidoptera, that`s why I value close focus.

[Tvc15_2000]

Two legged deer.

[WilsonsWarbler]

Oddly enough, Trains...

Also butterflies, trees & flowers. Also distant & scenic views...

[David Swain]

Originally Posted by newfie ghost

Since this is bird forums, I assume we all bird with binoculars? But what else do you glass, if anything? What else fancies your glassing eye?

Is there anything else besides birds?

[WilsonsWarbler]

Only when there's no birds in sight to look at!

[follownoone]

Airplanes, Bats, and Astronomy.

[Stet]

Whitetail Deer! And any other wildlife I come across in the woods, fox, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits etc. Also use them for Nascar, especially at Pocono!

[WilsonsWarbler]

I think we'd be lost without them.

[edwincjones]

whatever happens to be out there that needs a closer look

edj

[Robert Wallace]

Originally Posted by WilsonsWarbler

Oddly enough, Trains...

Also butterflies, trees & flowers. Also distant & scenic views...

Is train spotting odd in the USA, its an established hobby in the UK?
I think most of BF users will also use then for wildlife in general, including butterflies, dragonflies and insects, modern bins with good close focussing are useful for the latter.
My younger son lives in the Portsmouth area so I use my bind for watching ships (Royal Navy) and yacht racing.
Used my wife's compact 8x20s at a Bob Dylan concert at the Sheffield Arena.

[chris butterworth]

Originally Posted by WilsonsWarbler

I think we'd be lost without them.

A map might be a bit better

Chris

[chris butterworth]

Originally Posted by Robert Wallace

Is train spotting odd in the USA, its an established hobby in the UK?.

Doesn't mean it's not odd over here as well.

Chris

[gw4aurora]

Apart from all wildlife, as a radio ham I find them useful for checking out the antennas for damage on top of the tower after a bout of stormy weather.

chris

[Tarsiger]

With such a rubbish Spring and Summer and the dearth of interesting birds mine might
be used for 'Eddie Stobart' spotting soon!!
Russ
PS What will the Americans make of that if they struggle with trains!

[Stoggler]

My bins often accompany me to the cricket and horse racing. Also handy for looking up at tall buildings for those of us interested in architecture.

[brocknroller]

Originally Posted by WilsonsWarbler

I think we'd be lost without them.

Trains?

[brocknroller]

Originally Posted by Stoggler

My bins often accompany me to the cricket and horse racing. Also handy for looking up at tall buildings for those of us interested in architecture.

The time when I'm most likely to look at something other than birds and trees is when I'm in an open area waiting for a look at birds of prey. Sometimes I see 'em, but too far away, on rare occasion a red tailed hawk or turkey vulture will fly right overhead.

Meanwhile, I'm hoping to spot some bluebirds. I hear them, but they rarely come out from the hedgerows into the open area where I watch BOP unless I go early in the morning or in the late afternoon.

My roommate in college was an architecture major and went on to become an architect and builder. He taught me a few things about architecture, which helped me develop a greater appreciation for different styles and movements, "From Bauhaus to Our House".

At the front of the field toward the mountain ridge where the BOP ride the thermals is row upon row of student housing, which is boring looking.

Fortunately, along the perimeter of the park are some custom-built homes, so when nothing's doing bird-wise, I will take in the architectural sites in the area.

One large home has a huge green house with humungous curved windows. The appointments in the yards are also unique - an octagon shaped birdhouse; a homemade wheel barrel and shed; a handmade stone wall; the largest satellite dish I've ever seen on a house - must be part of SETI; a carriage house; an Italian villa type home with iron railings.

Looking at buildings is where AMD and pincushion become most noticeable in my bins.

My favorite bin for looking at architecture (and only for this activity) was the Nikon 10x42 HG, but more so on campus, which has a variety of structures, from winding, green-tinted glass LEED certified buildings to old cottages built at the turn of the 20th century to buildings from the 1800s with gargoyles and other interesting carved details.

Sometimes, I even look at HVAC pipes and vents on the roofs, which are more interesting than it may seem. There's also lots of landscape architecture on campus since the university offers a program in that field.

Although I enjoy looking at birds and more so studying their behavior, I have an artistic eye and enjoy colors, textures, lines in a variety of objects, both natural and man made.

<B>

[proudpapa56]

baseball games

[Chosun Juan]

Recently, I've rather enjoyed taking to observing a local resident - check out this absolute Q-Tee!

And of course, when out for a stroll, bins are always handy for checking out oncoming traffic (especially when approaching rapidly with intent!)
(This is just one of the smaller units!)

Also, David (Typo), speaking of F1 - wish I'd had my set of bins along to check this out .... nah - who am I kidding? was shaking that much, that nothing short of a Canon IS would have shown this, clearly .....
Epic is an understatement!


Chosun

[Malloot]

Badgers!! I love them!!But also Deer, Roe, Boar, Beaver, Otter, etc.

[jaymoynihan]

other living things, night sky, landscapes

[WilsonsWarbler]

Originally Posted by Robert Wallace

Is train spotting odd in the USA, its an established hobby in the UK?

It's not odd at all, but I've never seen anyone else train watching (or is it more properly termed spotting?) have any sort of binoculars. No idea why, they certainly are useful...

Also, almost every forest preserve I can think of near me is right by railroad tracks. So one day a few weeks ago, I saw my first Yellow Headed Blackbird, and also a rare (and honking) blue and gold sd40-2. I didn't have my camera, but it was like this: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=39339

Originally Posted by brocknroller

Trains?

I'll roll with that!

[ronh]

Everything. How can you be so sure it's not interesting, if you don't look at it?