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  1. aucarius

    What more can I do?? Change feeders?? Feed type??

    I recommend UK native privet, as it's cheap to purchase as 'whips', evergreen, grows quickly, can be pruned aggressively & tops out at 4m (I think the berries are poisonous if you have pets). The birds love the cover in my garden. Also dogwood, yew, hawthorn & alder, all native which the birds...
  2. aucarius

    Cl Companion 8x30 vs. SFL 8x30 vs. ?

    I was set to get a pair of SFL x30s but tried them & the eye placement didn't work for me. I ended up with the CLs (& SFL x40s) as they were much more comfortable to use. Optical quality I assumed to be on par. I wouldn't buy before trying.
  3. aucarius

    Birding/wildlife holiday in UK without car - recommendations?

    Coastal Norfolk has the coast-hopper bus out of Kings Lynn which stops at reserves, e.g., Dersingham, Thornham, Holme, Titchwell & beyond.
  4. aucarius

    Disappointed OM-1 mk2 100-400mm

    I had the Olympus 100-400mm paired with an OM1v1 & sold it off for a 300mm PRO after poor results. I was using the TC with it so expected some softness but my final straw was using it a zoo on a sunny day without the TC still producing noticeable softness. For me it was either invest time & more...
  5. aucarius

    Please help me identify this bird! Swallow? House Martin? Sand Martin?

    The American version of swallow is the same species as "ours" but in America there are other swallows, e.g., Tree, Cave, Bank, hence Barn is added for its full name to be specific, & same generally now applies in the UK.
  6. aucarius

    Best portable birding camera + lens set-up

    I can't speak to the other brands but I use OM-1 v1 with the Olympus 300mm plus 1.4 extender. I got the lens second-hand from a reputable vendor offering a limited warranty which saved me a fair amount. I'm very happy with the sharpness of the results & portability.
  7. aucarius

    Who is still viewing through Victory HT 42s?

    That's good to have confirmed, thanks, & when I tried them I felt the same. Very tempting once I have the funds.
  8. aucarius

    Thinking of buying a new OM-1 mk2

    When I switched to OM-1 from Canon 7Dii I started with the 100-400 but found it too soft for me, compared to the Canon EF 100-400 Lii. I traded for the 300mm F4 plus 1.4x & couldn't be happier. Great reach & fantastic sharpness, it's also lighter & I don't end up with backache after a long hike.
  9. aucarius

    Who is still viewing through Victory HT 42s?

    I still use my 10x42s purchased 10 years ago. Essentially flawless visually, tough & durable, I'm in no hurry to trade them. Maybe for the 10x32 NLs which would be lighter & still great visually, but I can't currently justify the cost.
  10. aucarius

    Eye Relief problems in ZV pocket?

    I was going to buy a pair of 8x25s after selling my 8x20s but I happened to be in a shop this weekend, tried them & had blackouts (without glasses). Most disappointing because the image is great but they didn't fit my face. Now I'm having to consider other options. I agree with Mike, it's...
  11. aucarius

    Cost-effective digiscoping adapters.

    I recently purchased a Slokey adapter from an online retailer for £18 & it's quite nicely built. It doesn't fit my Kowa 883 eyepiece but I think would fit most others.
  12. aucarius

    Kowa 883 still the best one?

    I've found it excellent from the UK, when I had to send my dropped 883 to Germany for repair. An expensive service - don't let it get blown over in the wind! - but a thorough and friendly service.
  13. aucarius

    Digiscoping - T Mount advice

    The Sony RX100 system can have a filter thread fitted to the front on the barrel via a stick-on adapter. The leading brand in the US is lensmate, but I assume generic ones are also out there. I haven't tried it so don't know what the results would be though.
  14. aucarius

    The Kowa Genesis 33 the best kept secret in premium midsize binoculars.

    Thanks to your and eitanaltman's comments, I purchased a pair of 8x33 Genesis from an auction site and am very pleased with them. Although obviously not quite as bright and sharp as my Zeiss 42s (why would they be), they are not far off and their compact size and weight mean I can tuck them into...
  15. aucarius

    Kowa 883 Eyecup

    The lower eyecup setting is unaffected because it's the same piece of plastic that extends it and goes right back down.
  16. aucarius

    The Kowa Genesis 33 the best kept secret in premium midsize binoculars.

    Great, thank you, John. I wasn't aware of these reviews before, very helpful. I'll have to keep an eye on the price of the Kowas, which are still available new versus only second hand Victorys.
  17. aucarius

    The Kowa Genesis 33 the best kept secret in premium midsize binoculars.

    So the Kowa Genesis is better than the Victory T FL 32s at the edges? I've been keen on the Victory's for a while now; I'm looking for a compact bin alongside my x10s. I hadn't seriously considered Kowa even though I own a TSN-883 which is great.
  18. aucarius

    Kowa 883 Eyecup

    Modding I think there is a way: I recently had to clean my TE-11WZ eyepiece after a windy day on Titchwell beach which caused some sand to get into it, so that when it was twisted up it made a crunching noise. On unscrewing the rubber part and pulling off the rubber, I found that a few small...
  19. aucarius

    iPhone 5S & Kowa 883

    I used the Kowa adapter with an iPhone 4S with decent results. The main benefit I found was the ease and speed of use. It's much lighter to carry around and the workmanship from Kowa on the adapter is excellent, and of course it fits very well on the 'scope. I've since changed my phone to a...
  20. aucarius

    Carbon tripod recommendation, please.

    I've got the Feisol 3342 and Manfrotto 700RC2 combination, used with a Kowa TSN-883, and am very happy with it. It was pretty much the lightest most affordable combo I could find, yet is stable enough for digiscoping. As Torview said, the head is not the easiest but after some practice you get...
  21. aucarius

    Thrush species, Olmsted Park, Boston MA (May 12)

    Great - thank-you - Swainson's is a lifer for me!
  22. aucarius

    Thrush species, Olmsted Park, Boston MA (May 12)

    Hello all, I could do with some more expert help on tricky thrushes. I assumed the attached was Hermit thrush but on closer examination I wondered if it could be Swainson's (or something else)? Any help and tips appreciated. Thanks, Marcus
  23. aucarius

    Montagu's or Hen Harrier [Switzerland]

    Is it possible to expand on the ID tips for distinguishing ringtail Monty's from ringtail Hen harrier please? What is it about the auxillaries that are diagnostic? I understand that Monty's (or Pallid) has 4 primaries showing as opposed to Hen's 5, but what else should I be looking for? Any...
  24. aucarius

    Golden Pheasant sites

    My Wolverton Experience I've been to Wolferton Triangle a few of times recently (often on my way to Titchwell), early morning i.e., before 8am, & connected a couple of times just by driving slowly along the road. Turn off the A149 at the Wolverton sign then turn right at the crossroads (which...
  25. aucarius

    Norfolk birding

    Thornham Harbour, looking across to Holme, is where I usually go to see barn owls, mainly at dusk though. There also lots of dog walkers along the sea wall there as well.
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