HA! While Im only in California sometimes it feels like we're in Australia with seasons flipped... Beth we are on the flipside of you and Paul I gather. Now seeing the end of our arguably best birding season as the winter migration ends and birds disappear north.
Another season with Swaro ELs the most common best bino, but still not common. Two NLs this year, well 3 really. Lots of Nikon, I still think do to REI. Zeiss Conquests. Maybe an SF, not many. Curious. There seems a regional thing to it, as small as this "region" is. East towards Walnut Creek where there is a lovely Leica shop and terrific birding at Valle Vista Resevoir, we do see Leica binos. Dont know the models well enough to spot which is which and it seems impolite to ask...
New to spotting scope this past fall, Im now noticing those more. This to is curious. Brands are all over the place, but Kowas most common. As apt to see Opticron as Swaro or Zeiss. Most seem older, well used. The curious part is I see way more cameras than scopes.
Wonder why.