Binocular for spotting owls (1 Viewer)

[Viewerinsweden]

Hi there,
I was wondering what binoculars you use for spotting owles?

Answering my own question, I used to have a EL 10x50 and it worked well for spotting owles since it was relativly light with a large apperture. I eventually sold it in favor for a lighter pair.
When I asked a professional birding guide what she would use, she told me to buy a flashligt instead of a pair of binoculars.

Does anyone go "owling" frome time to time? What do you use?

Greeting from Stockholm
Philipp

 

[GrampaTom]

When I asked a professional birding guide what she would use, she told me to buy a flashligt instead of a pair of binoculars.

Does anyone go "owling" frome time to time? What do you use?

Greeting from Stockholm
Philipp

Ha! Used to collect flashlights, before I got a grip. Which one would she recommend? Kidding.

Never gone "owling," per se, but always on the lookout. We have burrowing owls here in two places where the odds are decent of spotting one. We've had Barn Owls and Great Horned show from time to time in broad daylight, though I suspect your guide's advice was correct. They must have had a bad night's hunt. For what we encounter wouldn't think anything special, binocular wise is required, 8-10X, 32-42 objective, whatever you have. For night? Like to hear what others say.

 

[Tringa45]

Hi Philipp,

A night-vision device might be best, but they are rather specialized and expensive and I have no experience.
The choice of binocular though would depend on your age and pupil dilation. I observed Short-eared Owls earlier this year at dusk and found a definite advantage of my 8x56 SLC (7 mm EP) over the 10x42 of an accompanying birder although I am approaching 80.
For me a 10x50 EL offered similar brightness to the big SLC.

John

 

[[email protected]]

An 8x56 with high transmission. I use an SLC 8x56. In Colorado, we have a lot of Great Horned Owls. They have a five-foot wingspan.

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[Maljunulo]

Fujinon FMT-SX 10X70 has worked well for me. (from a car)

 

[Binastro]

Sony A7S with 85mm f/1.4 lens
102,000 ISO.

Look at the screen.

You could also take a photo.

Regards,
B.

 

[Patudo]

Thus spake an individual who has probably never seen an owl outside of the TV. You're not going to find the owls very well with an 85mm lens even if you could bear to scan around for them through even the best camera viewfinder.

 

[Binastro]

Owls sit in the oak tree at night about 25ft to 30ft from me.

Not sure which type but about the size of a crow.

An 85mm lens has a much wider field on full frame than a normal binocular.

The screen shows things invisible with unaided eyes.

An alternative is a 50mm f/0.95 lens or my 50mm or 65mm f/0.75 Rayxar, but at 102,000 ISO a 58mm f/1.2 or 50mm f/1.2 is fine.

B.

P.S.
As a lifelong astronomer I have seen many owls, but didn't particularly note or know the type.

 

[jurek]

I look for owls quite a lot. Any good quality binoculars are good. You need a flashlight with good throw (beam projects long distance forward) - I currently use Fenix TK35 UE with red filter. If you have money, you can also buy a thermal imager.

You don't look for owls. One listens for them at dusk and after, and looks then. Also, owls heard at night can be often seen nearby at dawn or dusk, when visibility is better. Don't switch light directly at owl, shine to the side and slowly bring it at the owl. it is a good experience, one sees also lots of wild mammals.

 

[MiddleRiver]

I look for owls quite a lot. Any good quality binoculars are good. You need a flashlight with good throw (beam projects long distance forward) - I currently use Fenix TK35 UE with red filter. If you have money, you can also buy a thermal imager.

You don't look for owls. One listens for them at dusk and after, and looks then. Also, owls heard at night can be often seen nearby at dawn or dusk, when visibility is better. Don't switch light directly at owl, shine to the side and slowly bring it at the owl. it is a good experience, one sees also lots of wild mammals.

So when you say 'flashlight', do you mean red light (always with a filter)?

 

[Viewerinsweden]

The birding guide never talked about a specific type of flashlight. Her point was as jurek wrote that you spot the owls by listening and if you can come close enought you might use a flashlight to be able to see them. I also asked regarding night visors but she told me that it would be too expensive and you would anyhow have to listen mainly.
I simple like the idea of watching an owl since they are active during the darker hours they are kind of mysterious to me so I am extra curious.

 

[kabsetz]

A thermal imaging camera and Canon 10x42 L IS would be my pick. Have the latter, not yet the former.

 

[jurek]

So when you say 'flashlight', do you mean red light (always with a filter)?

No, the filter is detachable. Red filter is not completely necessary. It disturbs animals less but, takes lots of brightness. I use normal light for owls far away and ID, and red light for watching them for a longer time. Even better than owls is usually watching mammals at night, when there is many more of them and they are doing interesting stuff.

Some time ago, there was an user confused about the European word torch, so I used the American word flashlight.

 

[wildbill85]

It's best not to disturb an animal hunting to survive. Flashlights cross an ethical line for me. I use my ears, then I use a Sony A1 at 102,000 ISO and a 50mm 1.2 or 600 F4.

 

[MiddleRiver]

It's best not to disturb an animal hunting to survive. Flashlights cross an ethical line for me. I use my ears, then I use a Sony A1 at 102,000 ISO and a 50mm 1.2 or 600 F4.

I asked about red light etc. for this very reason. Googling articles relevant to the question, it's obvious that lighting is used but most conservation-minded organizations recommend prudence. I think it's like calling birds and the obvious issue is that it's a slippery slope which depends entirely on individual ethics - how much and when to use lights, calls, etc.?

BTW, I think camera suggestion is sometimes not fully understood. Cameras - particularly one as good as the A1 - at high ISO are near night-vision in sensitivity! It's an interesting approach ;-)

 

[PYRTLE]

I'm with jurek. A red light filter or bulb is supposed to not startle or affect the vision as much as a powerful white or LED beam would. I also use a Fenix with various power settings. Occassionally also a Yukon Generation 2 night vision monocular ( with infa red ) that I purchased for less than $200 US many years ago with x 3 magnification.

 

[MiddleRiver]

I'm with jurek. A red light filter or bulb is supposed to not startle or affect the vision as much as a powerful white or LED beam would. I also use a Fenix with various power settings. Occassionally also a Yukon Generation 2 night vision monocular ( with infa red ) that I purchased for less than $200 US many years ago with x 3 magnification.

Night vision (thermal) seems like the way to go. Might have to consider selling off a bino to afford thermal unit 😭

 

[Binastro]

The Sony A7S goes to 408,000 ISO but this and 204,000 ISO give poor quality.

My friend uses 80,000 ISO on the A7S for glow worm videos.

I only take stills.

I have taken good photos of three foxes playing under the oak tree with a Canon compact at 6,400 ISO. I should have taken a video, but I rarely do videos.

I also have many photos of foxes at 3200 ISO with the Canon G16, but they need to be still or moving towards me.

With light pollution there is little problem getting photos using high ISO.

I look at the owls with the 8x32 BA and 8.5x44 HR/5 but the Canon 10x42L IS is better.

I have an old generation 2 image intensifier but it is unwieldly.

Foxes are seen most nights.

Also the black and white cat, which was escorted by its owners at 3a.m. after its encounter with two foxes, which may have caused injury.

I used to find hedgehogs and cats at night when using my telescopes.

Squirrels are common during the day, and they can jump surprising distances and accurately land on the top of fences.

Crows sleep in the oak tree at night either in pairs or singly.

Regards,
B.

 

[wildbill85]

I think people justify using a light or baiting owls by convincing themselves that it doesn't cause much distress or harm. They get filters to block out certain light to make it feel a little more appropriate. They are good folks, with good intentions, but unaware of the consequences that these disturbances can cause. I photograph them professionally and have learned first hand what impact these methods have. I've watched a family of owls leave a territory they occupied for a year because of flash lights and fake calls. Bottom line, if you find yourself in the woods at night flashing animals that depend on the cover of night to survive and feed their families, then you probably forgot why you're out there in nature in the first place. Remember you are passionate about birds and wildlife and nature and care deeply for it. If they're being disturbed in any way shape or form it's just not worth your time and definitely not the birds. I look at it like this, if I wanted to see owls not acting naturally and in a disturbed state, I'd just go to the zoo.

Here's a recent shot at the equivalent of about 50x magnification. It was during a new moon and pitch black outside.

 

[wildbill85]

Night vision (thermal) seems like the way to go. Might have to consider selling off a bino to afford thermal unit 😭

I am very tempted to get a high end thermal. 4k seems to be the price to get a good one. I'm looking at the Telos LRF XP50, but I'm concerned that Florida is too hot, even at night, to make good use of it.