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

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  1. Merg

    Southeastern Arizona - Jan 19-21, 2013 - Sparrows & Hawks

    In the hopes of trying to get better at ID'ing... For the first hawk, what are you guys looking at for exclusion of imm. red-shouldered, or inclusion of red-tailed? And for the 5th sparrow, why Savannah? There was no noticeable yellow eye stripe, and this bird has the eye ring.
  2. Merg

    Southeastern Arizona - Jan 19-21, 2013 - Sparrows & Hawks

    Hi all...long time no see... I have decent thoughts for two of these, but am not 100% sure. The others I'm less than 50% sure... Hawk #1: Spotty streaks, short hooked beak, light eye, slightly paler feathers under the eye, my guess is (edited to add: immature) Red-Shouldered - but they are...
  3. Merg

    Bled, Slovenia - sparrow-ish bird

    Thank you! Chaffinch was the only one I spent time trying to match against, but this one seemed less boldly patterned than what I was seeing online/in the books. I should know better. :) Thanks!!!
  4. Merg

    Bled, Slovenia - sparrow-ish bird

    These were taken near the shore of Lake Bled in Slovenia. They are terrible photos, but I'm hoping the rosy throat, plain grey underside, white undertail, and white patch on the wing over the legs may be distinctive and can help ID'ing this bird. I've been through the European bird books I...
  5. Merg

    Mystery bird in San Jose, Costa Rica

    the only other options would be great kiskadee or social flycatcher. but the apparent size of the bird, and it's bill relative to it, make me think your Boat-Billed FC is right...
  6. Merg

    A couple of Southern California Loons

    The upturned bill in both suggest red-throateds to me, but I'm less confident of the 2nd pic than the 1st.
  7. Merg

    ID help with these two hawks

    I'm pretty sure they are both light morph red-tails. the pale undertail with very light thin bands, the belly barring, the pale eyeline, white chin and breast, and that 2nd photo shows the dusky trailing edge to the wing really well. Gorgeous shots! :t:
  8. Merg

    Domestic or Wild Hybrid Goose? Mass, USA

    These are terrible cell phone photos, but they're the best I have. Mostly black neck, with some mottled gray on the back of it. White face with black cap on back of the head, and black eye line. Mostly orange bill with some black on it. Orange legs. Rest of body coloring almost identical to...
  9. Merg

    Birding Costa Rica?

    I've never traveled out of country, but have been asked by my GF if I would like to plan a trip to Costa Rica... strictly for birding. :) I hope I'm not out of line by asking for opinions/help here... I'll probably have 7 days to bird Costa Rica. What would you suggest as an itinerary for...
  10. Merg

    Help on Autumn Warbler - Cambridge, MA, USA

    wow. so different from the spring/summer plumage. i wondered if that might be the case with the subtle streaking on the sides,... but i had no idea about the brown. thanks, guys.
  11. Merg

    Help on Autumn Warbler - Cambridge, MA, USA

    Saw this bird flitting in some low trees along the edge of a pond yesterday afternoon. The size and bill suggest warbler... any thoughts as to which one it is? All photos are of the same bird.
  12. Merg

    Name that Kingbird?

    Shot this photo in Pharr, TX, which means this is one of 3 possible kingbirds, as far as I can tell... Western, Cassin's and Couch's... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2450/3780076350_1667301662_o.jpg Any ideas which one of the three it might be? I have an opinion (Western - white under tail...
  13. Merg

    Audio only lifer?

    There are certain birds you can pretty much only ID with a song (empidonax flycatchers anyone?) In cases like these, does it even matter if you saw them or not?...
  14. Merg

    Average number of "life" birds on trip to new area?

    You've never travelled somewhere (even within driving distance of your home) to see a new species? And I do the same. It was just an attempt at a lighthearted, conversational thread...
  15. Merg

    When is a tick a tick for you?

    This is my approach also. The field guide is obviously a source of info, but so is the person who's able to point out field markings. None of us would be able to ID a particular bird without having had input from an outside source at some point (or in most cases, regular and routine input)...
  16. Merg

    Your Most Recent "Life" Bird

    Black-crowned Night Heron. Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA less than 10m away! and with my camera! o:) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3348/3545807014_b314c8c2a1_o.jpg
  17. Merg

    Average number of "life" birds on trip to new area?

    Just curious how many new lifers you tend to tally if you're going to a very new habitat/area that isn't close to your home region? The only time I've ever really gone to a totally different region since I've been birding, I went out for about 3 hours and got about 20 new birds. I'm going to...
  18. Merg

    Rent or Buy a scope?

    Conditions (heat, cold, distortion, water, etc) are the same with bins & scope, as I've had to revert to bins to note markings reliably. And I have compared to other scopes at the same time, in the same conditions. Again, this is the NON-ED version of the scope, which I don't believe lives up...
  19. Merg

    Rent or Buy a scope?

    Even at 20x I'm unable to get a good image. And I'm not talking about a crystal-clear, razor sharp image at 1000m... I'm talking about a serviceable image where I can clearly see markings on a good-sized bird that's between 100m and 300m away. I can often ID birds at this distance with my 8x...
  20. Merg

    Rent or Buy a scope?

    I'm travelling to South Texas and the Rio Grande in July. My current scope (the Vortex Skyline 20-60x80 [non-ED version]) is not worth bringing with me. I'm very unhappy with it even at the lower magnifications. So the question is, would you bother renting a scope (total cost: $107USD) like...
  21. Merg

    2nd mid-priced pair? or sell-and-upgrade?

    So... I got 'em. And... I like 'em. :t: I'm no opticalphile (yes, i just made that up), but it seems to me that there are two distinct areas where the Zen Ray is better than the WP's: 1. brighter overall image. 2. wider FOV. also, it seemed to me that there was a slight sharpness advantage to...
  22. Merg

    200th lifer!!!!

    Matt...I do have short-eared, snowy, screech and barred, but I still haven't seen or heard a GHO or Barn (or Long-eared, for that matter)! Just an example of what I mean when I say that I'm missing some stuff that I figured I'd have by now...
  23. Merg

    2nd mid-priced pair? or sell-and-upgrade?

    What do I think? I think USPS Tracking info needs some improvement. I'll definitely update you guys when I get them and have had a chance to play with them a little bit... :)
  24. Merg

    200th lifer!!!!

    A few years, maybe? I'm missing a bunch of "easy gets", I think... but it still feels like an accomplishment :) I'm hoping to go to San Antonio for the first time in July... I'm hoping to add a bunch of lifers on that trip. :king:
  25. Merg

    2nd mid-priced pair? or sell-and-upgrade?

    USPS Tracking says that they've been delivered!!! WOO HOO! I might run home at lunch to get them :king:
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