I could definitely do with one of those scopes @wild edges your photo is wonderful and so sharp. I spent ages today trying to take a photo with my iPad through my kitchen window of Mr and Mrs Bullfinch who spent a lot of time on my sunflower feeder but my best shot is still so fuzzy 🙈
On a positive note - you got an image that proves what you saw
What I would say however is that the 'two device' method would never be the favoured approach to capturing images. Birders only use this method at distance to capture what they've managed to ID through their scope. For a start there is no autofocus on the scope, so you're relying on you getting it spot on before you offer up the second device (either phone or i-pad) and then you need to align it properly. And then there is the problem of shake if you haven't got a custom mount for your second device because there will be no 'image-stabilisation' (anti-shake) through the scope.
Far better to just use a 'cheap' bridge camera to capture your images. You will have autofocus and image-stabilisation. I know this can seem very off-putting for many but most modern bridge cameras are really easy to use and can give you a massive 50x zoom. I use a Canon SX50 which cost me £399 8 years ago but which can now be obtained second-hand for around £150. These are a few images (cropped) taken in the garden or from the house with this camera - the last two through the kitchen window glass:
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
Amazing photos @steephill, I would love to see a fox in my garden, my parents who live in Bristol see foxes daily in the garden and trotting along the pavements whereas we live in a very rural area and rarely see a fox. Beautiful photos @LunarSea what a fantastic clear photo of the Sparrowhawk.
We were out cutting back the field maple tree in our garden , between showers. I had noticed during the winter something stuck in the branches, but didn't think it was more than leaves or something. So I was surprised to find this in one of the bits we cut. Bird nest yes, but what would have such a small , downy nest? The secateurs are for size comparison.
It's amazing to see all the different materials birds use to build their nests. My mother still has one that included tail hair from three different equines we had on the property, plus bits of wool from a nesting ball she'd put out.
New England, USA
Metacomet soil with hints of Woodbridge and Pillsbury
The old nags in the farm field along the road here get 'harvested' for their coats being shed @CrankyYankee . I put my daughter's amply shed hair out as well... The blue tits regularly take little bits of twine too
Might be a little wren @purplerallim, although I think they like more dense cover than a maple might give? We used to have tree creeper on the field maple in the garden round the corner I don't know anything about their nest sites though. I remember a tiny nest falling out a cherry tree at the last house, but it was much tidier than that one. Not sure who it had belonged to. They're unbelievably perfect though, aren't they?
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I took my scope out for a test run this afternoon as there was talk of a Ring-necked duck on a local reservoir earlier in the week. It was still there luckily and it would have been well out of range of my binoculars so the extra bit of zoom from the scope proved its worth. I didn't take the tripod though so couldn't try to take a photo sadly. The Rare Bird map shows 7 of the ducks in the UK at the moment, not including this one, so it was a good one to add to the list
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
A nice mix of birds about on this morning's dog walk. The highlight was seeing a meadow pipit, stonechat and yellowhammer on adjacent fence posts. The stonechat stayed with me for quite a while, hoping from post to post. Still a few fieldfares and redwings around aswell.
I keep forgetting what time of year it is. The weather has been so spring-like that I keep listening out for Chiffchaffs when they probably won't be back up here for another month yet. The sparrows have been collecting nesting material today for an optimistic early start on baby making.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Posts
On a positive note - you got an image that proves what you saw
What I would say however is that the 'two device' method would never be the favoured approach to capturing images. Birders only use this method at distance to capture what they've managed to ID through their scope. For a start there is no autofocus on the scope, so you're relying on you getting it spot on before you offer up the second device (either phone or i-pad) and then you need to align it properly. And then there is the problem of shake if you haven't got a custom mount for your second device because there will be no 'image-stabilisation' (anti-shake) through the scope.
Far better to just use a 'cheap' bridge camera to capture your images. You will have autofocus and image-stabilisation. I know this can seem very off-putting for many but most modern bridge cameras are really easy to use and can give you a massive 50x zoom. I use a Canon SX50 which cost me £399 8 years ago but which can now be obtained second-hand for around £150. These are a few images (cropped) taken in the garden or from the house with this camera - the last two through the kitchen window glass:
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
The blue tits regularly take little bits of twine too
Might be a little wren @purplerallim, although I think they like more dense cover than a maple might give? We used to have tree creeper on the field maple in the garden round the corner I don't know anything about their nest sites though.
I remember a tiny nest falling out a cherry tree at the last house, but it was much tidier than that one. Not sure who it had belonged to.
They're unbelievably perfect though, aren't they?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...