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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Recent content by David99

  1. David99

    exercises for steadier hands??

    I've always suffered from unsteady hands when using binoculars so I have just invested in some Canon stabilised 12x32 binoculars. They are brilliant with rock steady views, also the extra magnification make it less essential to lug around a scope and tripod. Try some out in your local store and...
  2. David99

    Swan`s record arrival could mean a long cold winter.

    It's all part of the seasonal cycle, about this time of year the press warn that it is going to be the coldest of winters and again, in about April/May, we are told it is going to be a scorching summer. It happens every year.
  3. David99

    Sunshine Coast maybe next year

    Hi, I am lucky enough to have married an Oz girl from the Sunshine Coast so make fairly regular visits. My favourite spot is the Noosa NP and the headland, there is a lot more of the park but I haven't explored all the sectors. The Kondililla NP is pretty good too, different habitat, hill...
  4. David99

    Species that have gone extinct in the last 100 years

    Yes, I did see the Madeiran large white butterfly (P.b. Wollastoni) in the early 70s - 72 or 73. I lived on the island for a number of years and was very interested in the butterflies found there. Interestingly at that time I rarely saw any small white butterflies on the island and a few years...
  5. David99

    Bird organisations and 'Oops!' moments...

    Not so unlikely. In March this year the sailing ship Europa picked up 2 cattle egrets on the passage across Drake's Passage to Antarctica. Not sure what happened to them though.
  6. David99

    Finch - Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    Thanks Reiner, I was thinking Patagonian Yellowfinch but was not sure since my guide book suggested that it was a bird found more in the open grasslands. There was a few hectares of grass next to where I saw but the area was more woodland and scrub - not quite where I would expect to find it.
  7. David99

    Finch - Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    Hi, I photographed this finch sized bird in the Tierra del Fuego NP in Argentinian Patagonia. It was in a bushy area alongside a large lake. Can you id it for me? Many thanks
  8. David99

    What's the rarest bird you've had in your garden?

    Not my garden but where I sit at work, in the City of London, I overlook an enclosed courtyard about 10m by 20m surrounded by buildings to a height of six storeys. In the 5 years I have worked here I have seen a total of 3 birds in the courtyard. A grey wagtail twice and a black redstart once...
  9. David99

    Tobago - safety and security?

    Mike, Tobago and Trinidad are very different. Went to Tobago with my family about 7 years ago and found it very friendly and never felt threatened. We were staying in a rural location (Castara - which is a beautiful place to stay) and, being a village, were made to feel very welcome by the...
  10. David99

    Penzance Pelagics

    Hi Paul, I only just found your trips so I am a bit late for this year but, if you are still running them, would be very interested for next summer. What would be very interesting for me, and perhaps others, is a short summary of how the trips went and what you saw. Thanks David
  11. David99

    Feisol tripods questions

    Thanks for your advice, very helpful. John, I must admit that it had not occurred to me that the scope would be a deciding factor but what you say makes perfect sense.
  12. David99

    Feisol tripods questions

    I can't afford Gitzo tripods so I have been looking at Feisol as an alternative based on price and reputation. But I cannot decide between the 3342 and 3372 models. I need a new tripod for two reasons, birding using the Nikon ED82A and photography using a Nikon 300m f2.8 with a 1.4TC (and maybe...
  13. David99

    Life birds and Ticks?

    Hi, The nature of ticks is something of a quagmire because everyone has their own createria, for example I have World, Western Palearctic, Country, County, Garden and Walk to Work. Others have their own list and more esoteric examples being such things as Escapes and even Seen on TV. If within...
  14. David99

    Nikon 300/2.8 or Sigma 120-300, and TCs

    Unless you need the zoom go for the Nikon VR1. I have owned both and found the latter much easier to handle. I posted my opinion on a similar thread yesterday.. http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=246613 Nothing technical just my opinion. Cheers
  15. David99

    HELP PLEEEEAAASSE Sigma 300mm 2.8 prime or sigma 120-300 2.8

    Hope my reply is not too late to be useful. I recently owned the sigma f2.8 120-300 and used it with both the 1.4tc and 2.0tc. I specifically bought for a safari and took to Tanzania where I found it excellent. The zoom utility was v useful and optically it was fine. However, on safari I did...
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