New member (1 Viewer)

[Vivian Darkbloom]

Hi and hello to all Birdforum Members,
I have returned to birding after a gap of twelve years. I am retired and live in London and have recently joined The Wildfowl and Wetland Trust. Their nearest site is in Barnes which is quite easy for me to visit.
I am hoping to buy a top end scope in the next few months. I am considering either the Leica Apo 82, the new Zeiss Diascope 85, or the Swarovski ATM 80. I would welcome any comments or views about the relative merits of any of them - Also Straight or Angled?
Looking forward to hearing your comments.
Thank You Vivian

 

[delia todd]

Hi Vivian and a warm welcome to you on behalf of the Staff and Moderators.

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I'll look forward to your contributions.

D

 

[robinm]

Hi and welcome to BirdForum :t:

 

[KC Foggin]

Hi Vivian! Welcome aboard :t:

 

[Kits]

Hey Vivian

Welcome to Birdforum! I am sure you will find lots to interest you here, and I hope that you enjoy your visits.

 

[Mark Bruce]

Hi, a warm welcome to you and good to have you with us :t: !

 

[a.dancy]

Hi and welcome to BirdForum.

 

[Vivian Darkbloom]

Please advise - How do you start a thread
Thanks Viv

 

[delia todd]

Please advise - How do you start a thread
Thanks Viv

Hi Vivian

Go into the relevant Forum (depending on the subject) from this page, you will then find a large red "New Thread" button... just click on it.

Hope this helps

D

 

[Vivian Darkbloom]

Equipment and birds

As a birder said to me recently when I asked his advise on choosing a new scope, 'I don't do equipment, I only do birds.'
Well I think that I detect in these pages an underground subculture of people whose first love is not to birds at all.
Their shameful vice, their secret love, of which they dare not speak it's name, is the lust to possess expensive optics.
Yes I admit 'I don't do birds, I only do equipment.' The birds are secondary; it is the fascination of optics, and birders opinions and comments on bins and scopes that consume me.
Not Arctic or Yellow Browed Warblers, but Leica and Zeiss and Swaros fill my waking moments and dreams.
There, I feel better after that embarrassing confession. I'd recommend that anyone with a similar addiction come out of the hide immediately and get it off their chests. You know it makes sense.