Mcnswiss2
Well-known member
Happy New Year
View attachment VID-20250101-WA0004.mp4
View attachment VID-20250101-WA0004.mp4
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SWITZERLAND 2025 (6 Viewers)
- Thread starter Mcnswiss2
- Start date
Mcnswiss2
Well-known member
A brief visit to local sites on this crisp, cold but sunny new day...
Some 30 species seen or heard. Nothing really special but so good to get out there.
Highlights included a pair of Red Kites dancing in the sky, Kingfisher, Redwing, possible Hawfinch, Fieldfare, Goosanders, and Wigeon.
The Big Year begins!
Some 30 species seen or heard. Nothing really special but so good to get out there.
Highlights included a pair of Red Kites dancing in the sky, Kingfisher, Redwing, possible Hawfinch, Fieldfare, Goosanders, and Wigeon.
The Big Year begins!
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Mcnswiss2
Well-known member
A quick morning trip to Klingnauersee before the rain and snow return.
Some 40 Species seen or heard including 15 Red Kites, 5 Pintails, Marsh Harrier, Ruddy Shellduck, Common Shellduck, Black Woodpecker.
Dipped on Great Bittern and Greater White Fronted Geese that seem to have left.
Some 40 Species seen or heard including 15 Red Kites, 5 Pintails, Marsh Harrier, Ruddy Shellduck, Common Shellduck, Black Woodpecker.
Dipped on Great Bittern and Greater White Fronted Geese that seem to have left.
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Frank van Drogen
Not so important
I biked up to the Katzensee this morning, though it was a tad cold. When I got close, I saw a Great Egret flying away and a Grey Heron sitting in the middle of the bike path. Lots of Mallard and some Coots at the Bussisee, which was ice free. Three Great Cormorants were sitting in a tree and seemed to liike dismissing at the loud Mallard swimming below them.
I continued along the creek to the Katzensee, and saw a Kingfisher taking of at either
end when I passed. Both the "Obere" and the "Untere" Katzensee were mostly frozen over, so actually very few birds around. I think I saw a grand total of two Norther Shovelers as well as two Blackheaded Gulls! However, my main purpose in going was to test the new thermal imager that Santa allowed me to purchase after to di fficult negociations (it did originally arrive just before we left to France, but with a faulty battery -- the replacment got in yesterday). It for sure needs some time before I get it fully in grip, but it did reveal some Snipe and a Bittern where I kind of expected them.
For sure a fun new toy to play around with, and a nice (but frostly!) time in the field
I continued along the creek to the Katzensee, and saw a Kingfisher taking of at either
end when I passed. Both the "Obere" and the "Untere" Katzensee were mostly frozen over, so actually very few birds around. I think I saw a grand total of two Norther Shovelers as well as two Blackheaded Gulls! However, my main purpose in going was to test the new thermal imager that Santa allowed me to purchase after to di fficult negociations (it did originally arrive just before we left to France, but with a faulty battery -- the replacment got in yesterday). It for sure needs some time before I get it fully in grip, but it did reveal some Snipe and a Bittern where I kind of expected them.
For sure a fun new toy to play around with, and a nice (but frostly!) time in the field
Richard Prior
Halfway up an Alp
Congratulations Frank on having your charm persuade Santa to change her mind
Mcnswiss2
Well-known member
Answer to the above:
www.pronatura.ch
Did you guess correctly?
Die Hain-Schnirkelschnecke ist das Tier des Jahres 2025
Die Hain-Schnirkelschnecke (Cepaea nemoralis) ist eine jener unzähligen Arten, die unsere Böden fruchtbar und lebendig halten. Die kleine «Bodenmacherin» wirbt 2025 für einen respektvollen Umgang mit der Biodiversität unter unseren Füssen.
Did you guess correctly?
Frank van Drogen
Not so important
I went for the Pulsar Axion XG30 Compact, it is rather small in the hand, but easy to take with me when out by bike.
Initial use is easy, gotta play around with it a bit to understand the more fine-tuned settings. Today (so rather cold out, which I guess helps a bit), it recognized a Robin hidden in the grass about 15 meters away, the Snipes at about 40 meters and the Bitterns was on the edge at maybe 60 meters. It is possible to save images, but I haven't bothered trying that yet.
I would have loved to go owling with it tonight, but it is snowing now and I mwon't have time the next two weeks it seems.
Frank van Drogen
Not so important
This evening, while walking home from work I heard a Tawny Owl (actually, my first this year). I couldn't stop myself from getting the Thermal Imager out to test whether I'd be able to find the bird. I had the feeling the owl was maybe about 50-100m away, so I scanned the general direction. I then heard the calls coming closer, and the bird actually landed in a tree maybe 7 meters away from me -- no need for the Thermal Imager, I saw it silouted against the sky. The Owl stayed a minute or two not bother by my, or by the jogger than ran past. At that distance, the owl was clearly outlined in the imager, especially the beak and the eyes.
Pretty awesome, and although I didn't need to Thermal Imager to actually see the bird, I'd never have stuck around without it. So, another species seen thanks to the imager.
Pretty awesome, and although I didn't need to Thermal Imager to actually see the bird, I'd never have stuck around without it. So, another species seen thanks to the imager.
Richard Prior
Halfway up an Alp
Impressive stuff Frank, I wonder if the imager could have a more domestic use - for example when a recalcitrant teenager mysteriously disappears when asked to help in the house/garden the imager could be used for finding their hiding place, if only such a wonder had been available when I was bringing up my three boys all those years ago ……….This evening, while walking home from work I heard a Tawny Owl (actually, my first this year). I couldn't stop myself from getting the Thermal Imager out to test whether I'd be able to find the bird. I had the feeling the owl was maybe about 50-100m away, so I scanned the general direction. I then heard the calls coming closer, and the bird actually landed in a tree maybe 7 meters away from me -- no need for the Thermal Imager, I saw it silouted against the sky. The Owl stayed a minute or two not bother by my, or by the jogger than ran past. At that distance, the owl was clearly outlined in the imager, especially the beak and the eyes.
Pretty awesome, and although I didn't need to Thermal Imager to actually see the bird, I'd never have stuck around without it. So, another species seen thanks to the imager.
Frank van Drogen
Not so important
Hmmmm. That's indeed tempting, though they'd probably try to find better hiding places, or 'loose' the imager. If challanged enough it is also possible that an extyraordinary amount of time (way more than chores for a decade!) would be spend trying to adapt the software to ignorde human shaped beings. Basically, anything is better than taking the garbage out, or making the table.
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I did the obvious thing however, pointed the Thermal Imager at my wife and told her she was hot
Frank van Drogen
Not so important
