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

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    Lightweight & budget tripod for Opticron MM4 60mm scope

    Take a look at the Surui Travel X tripod/head kit. 1kg and $150 US. The head is not perfect and the leg adjustment system will not be to everyone’s liking, but it is well made, refined (ARCA plate with anti-rotation, good quality carbon). It is what I will be traveling with, leaving my large...
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    Best bird guides by region...Central and South America

    Thanks for your recommendations! Sigrist is out of print, so I'll go with the WCS SE volume.
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    Best bird guides by region...Central and South America

    I will be in Southern Brazil (Porto Alegre region) this August for an ornithology conference, and besides the relevant Merlin pack, there does not appear to be any printed guide that adequately covers this area. The WCS was scheduled to publish its 3rd volume on Southern Brazil, but it has not...
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    Best bird guides by region...Central and South America

    Looking forward to the Dyer and Howell CR guide. Garrigues and Dean is good, but I don't see it going to a 3rd ed. now.
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    What's the best field guide for Ecuador?

    I considered getting the photo guide to Western Ecuador, until I realized its taxonomy was no more accurate than the others; its photo examples were limited compared to the Merlin collection for a given species; and finally the realization that Nick Athanas had authored 600 species in the region...
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    Northern Ecuador September 2022

    Excellent report, which you were posting when I was in Ecuador. I posted an eBird Trip Report on a parallel thread on birding from Mindo. Really nice overlap between yours and the Mindo area reports and my experience, but I especially liked your details down the East side. We did not get past...
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    Mindo: Birding the West Slope of Ecuador

    Thanks for the note. Not the first time I flipped the Ocellateds in my head! That is corrected, and certainly, the woodpecker is a Red-rumped; I appreciate the correction and your careful eye. The guides all have reliable spots for certain species, and that little stretch of road near the water...
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    Mindo: Birding the West Slope of Ecuador

    I have really enjoyed Igonz1008's narrative. I was in Ecuador for 2 weeks in November on a tour with Tropical Birding of the Northwest. Sadly, political problems in Esmeraldas forced a major route change, so we lost Las Penas, Playa de Oro, and the Awa/La Union and Chical Roads. Instead, we got...
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    What's the best field guide for Ecuador?

    For a recent trip to Ecuador, I used Freile and Restall as well as McMullen and Navarette (2nd ed). I found the little "fieldbook" very handy for quick reference, although obviously out of date on many matters. Freile's text is excellent, and I really wish he had gotten into the Lynx FieldGuides...
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    travel safety in and around Guayaquil

    I just returned from a tour of NW Ecuador. Sadly, the political unrest in Guayas had spread to Esmeraldas, and the tour company decided not to risk it and cancelled our five days near the coast and at Playa de Oro. Fortunately, we were able to substitute Canande for three days plus 2 days in the...
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    Nikon SE 8X32

    8x32 SE have about 18mm of eye relief. I could not use them with the eyecups completely down, but some can. I read somewhere long ago on BF about a brilliant fix: get some very thin O rings the outside diameter of the eyepieces, slide them onto the outside of the extended eyecup, then roll the...
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    Nikon M7 8x30 Glare?

    I had a pair of M7 8x30 for a weekend to try out. Glare control was poor, and they were prone to bright crescents at the bottom of the image when observing under bright skies. Some adjustment of eye position could somewhat mitigate it, but not acceptably. Note that I wear glasses, and cups fully...
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    SE Numbering & Production

    Proud owner of 550,802. Not for sale.
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    Is the 128rc head ok for Nikon 82? And, tripod rec?

    I have the Monarch 82 on the very solid and affordable Benro TMA 27C. I use an ancient but very smooth Bogen labeled 128 that I have rigged with an Arca receiver and the SiruI TY-70 arca plate. I think the head alone weighs as much as the legs, and all the plates make it rather fiddly and tall...
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    Visiting Dublin Late March: Query

    I am traveling (from the US) to Dublin last week of March 2022 for a conference, and have several days (but no car) to do some birding around the city and possibly further afield by public transport. I am considering bringing tripod and scope for places like North Bull and Howth or Poolbeg and...
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    SLC range to be discontinued by Swarovski!

    By "toy" I meant an object of fickle desire. The NL may indeed be simply a superior tool for some, and I meant no disrespect to those who want a pair. I look forward to your reports. David
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    SLC range to be discontinued by Swarovski!

    I am, apparently, the very rare porro user, using either an E II or an SE 8x. For several years I have wanted a pair of 8x42 SLCs, but have kids going into college, etc., so they got relegated to the turning-60 gift list. Sad they are gone, and I hope the HGs will become the new go-to alpha roof...
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    Eyecups for Nikon 8x30 8.3 WF

    Sorry to report no luck on getting eye cups.
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    Nikon service

    It appears there is hope if you speak the right person. I have been corresponding with a service rep who is adamant that the bins must be sent in.
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    Eyecups for Nikon 8x30 8.3 WF

    I have been trying, to no avail, to have Nikon USA give me information on how to buy E II eye cups and a rain guard. My eye ups, which I use rolled down, are beginning to rot along the outer edge, and I lost my rain guard (I use the one for my SEs). Repeatedly I have been told I need to send in...
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    Where are current 8x30 II made ?

    I have owned first generation EIIs and their box labeling was identical to my last generation EIIs; same with SEs. The *real* mystery, and worthy of yet another thread, is the meaning of "AM" on the front spindle of every EII ever made, including the 100th Anniversary units. "Another...
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    Brightness puzzlement, EII 8x30 v Conquest HD 8x32 v Opticron DBA VHD

    Yes, it's all diabolically confused, but such is perception. Use what works and don't fret about what you think must be correct. David
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    Difference for SC and MC For Nikon E models?

    I had a first generation EII and now have a late model EII (810xxx) and late model SE (550xxx). I have not studied these with the same care as Henry, but I concur that my current EII's coatings reflect pale magenta and green, with some yellow. My SE's seem a bit more biased toward magenta than...
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    Kim Jong Un's Bins

    What might they be? They look like fixed-focus boy scout binoculars. Or the latest in stealth North Korean optics. See attached.
  25. D

    Death Of The Alpha?

    Yup, this is another of Dennis' periodic market adjustments, changing his investment strategy. He used to argue that only alpha bins held resale value, but now is arguing that they lose more value proportional to mid-level bins. David
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