Twitchers, Ornithologists & Feathered Friend Fanciers #5

[AB Editor]

Hello, and welcome to the fifth edition of "Twitchers, Ornithologists & Feathered Friend Fanciers".

As usual the previous issues of this illustrious thread are located below.

Do any of you go on regular bird-watching trips? If so, what do you normally take along with you? I understand that you'd need binoculars and a flask of tea, but are there any other bird-watching "essentials" that you just cannot do without?

Issue 1

Issue 2

Issue 3

Issue 4

[NazNomad]

I was thinking just that, not 10 minutes ago ...

I'll take pics if and when something happens, but they will be photos of the TV screen, so don't expect anything too spectacular.

Now, if I had a TV card on any of the computers here, I'd stream a live feed to the web - but I haven't, so that will remain a back-burner idea for now.

[vivandorron]

Naz...Keep the thought in mind because you know that it is possible to get reasonable photographs from a TV screen. :-

http://www.flickr.com...86868@N05/5471362043/

My apologies for having introduced my furry family into what is a feathered featured thread.

Ron.

[NazNomad]

The problem I have - it's an old 28'' CRT and not a new-fangled type of telly, therefore the screen refresh rate is messing with my shutter speed.

[NazNomad]

Well, it's pretty dire, and absolutely not a good indication of the quality of the picture when viewed on the TV screen, but ... http://img121.imagesh...img121/6527/cam1h.jpg

[NazNomad]

I need to construct a sentence using the words 'technique' and 'refine', I think :-))

[ladybirder]

Naz have you given up on me - don't blame you?

[NazNomad]

Nope, still mulling it over .. what's the least amount of visible wire you coud 'get away with'? Are the other residents into birds?
I'm thinking maybe a community project - get them all involved - nobody can complain.

[ladybirder]

To be honest not sure I could get away with any. If I was at the back of the building OK, but not at the front.

Only I have put up bird feeders and nest boxes in our bit of garden here. Also got a feeder on my window and when I put live meal worms in it last year to feed the blue tits and babies in my nesting box the chap below me complained about the bird poo on his garden decking!

Apathy reigns. Naz the community suggestion is lovely and I will float the idea by a couple of people and see what reaction I get. Maybe they'll surprise me.

Regarding the NB's on the RT wall do you think they would attract HM's? I don't think anybody would object to that. They wouldn't be interested enough to object! So negative - sorry.

[redman41]

Ladybirder !
I think you would upset your neighbours and your Landlord if you started dangling Cables down the side of the Building ! A joint project involving others would be a better idea providing of course that they have similar interests to yourself.
Unless you are Housebound, get out and about with a pair of Binoculars and a pocket Bird reference Book and enjoy the hobby that way instead.
good luck and happy birding

[vivandorron]

PHOTOGRAPHS.......Hi Naz....It's purely my opinion that you have done all you can to help ladybirder and I go along with what redman has said. I only hope that ladybirder is not upset by my remarks.

Now to your problem.:-) I am probably flying in the wrong direction, but I put forward a thought......If you have the necessary equipment to put images from your bird box onto DVD you could then possibly play the DVD on a computer and take a 'still' of the comp's screen. I have taken this afternoon a hand held shot of a DVD playing on my comp and the result is reasonable. :-

http://www.flickr.com...86868@N05/5546361541/

Set up with a tripod would no doubt be better.

Ron.

[ladybirder]

Redman41!
I'm really not intending to dangle wires down the side (or even the front) of the building, that's why I asked Naz about a WIRELESS camera. I would be the first to complain if somebody else did it. It would have been nice to watch my nesting bluetits inside the nesting box this year, that's all. But it seems it's not possible. And I am a birdwatcher, it's been a passion of mine for many years and I don't very often need a reference book, just my trusty secondhand Leicas. I didn't intend the camera to be a replacement for my hobby, just a nice addition. Thanks for your interest. And Naz of course.

[vivandorron]

ladybirder.....As I understand matters from what Naz has explained.....An electrical current is required to operate a camera within the nest box( be it battery or mains).

Batteries are in my opinion 'outers' and I think you agree on this point. Consequently you are then left in a position that to supply mains power to a bird box camera would require wiring and redman has commented appropriately.

Incidentally, until Naz had explained matters in detail, I was thinking that a wireless connection did not require an electrical supply to the actual camera within the bird box. Silly me of course.

Ron. ☺☺☺

Ron.

[mccfluff]

Ron - Naz has just asked to let you know he's in suspenders at the mo so that's why he's not replied :-(

[vivandorron]

Thanks mccfluff for the info......I am shocked by the news...Wish I knew why he's been punished by the Ed. I know that he doesn't suffer fools wisely; but I don't either. Perhaps I'm next on the 'hit-list'.!!

Ron.

[vivandorron]

UNIDENTIFIED BIRD......You will appreciate that this afternoon I was surprised to discover that one of our best contributors has been subjected by AB's Ed to 'Bird'. Namely, NazNomad who has been suspended without any reason being given for his imprisonment.

In my opinion it is axiomatic of British Justice that an explanation is given for all sentences imposed by 'Courts of Law' and, this being the case, there is reason for AB's Ed to give a reason for the prisoner's sentence. (Unless of course AB can operate outside of UK jurisdiction.)

Ron.

[Sir Alec]

An Observers Book of Birds is useful. I watch the birds I feed just from the patio window and occasionally I have to look up one I don't recognize.

[redman41]

RSPB Glaslyn Osprey Project
Both the Male and Female Ospreys have now been reported at the Nest Site and she should lay 2-3 Eggs next month which should hatch sometime at the end of May.
They will be around all Summer until they leave for their winter vacation in Africa.
The RSPB will set up an observation area from the end of March until the end of August equipped with powerful Scopes so that everyone can view the only Pair of breeding Ospreys in Wales.
Well worth a visit I would think as I have never seen Ospreys apart from on TV.

[seadogg]

Thanks Redman for a great excuse to come over to a favourite corner of Gwynedd..

Raft of 300 plus gulls 3 miles out this morning feeding and in a perfect circle give or take a 1 to 2 metre swell.. No fishing boats and no lateral movement like you might get with a shoal of fish. Suspect a seine net full of fish or a jettisoned catch. Scope was not resolving any other details at that distance. Anyone have other theories?

[redman41]

Where was your Observation point seadogg ? Are you North Wales based or are you in mid-Wales ?
Definitely Fish and Food for the Gulls, but as you say it could be a discarded Net or something too far below surface for Gulls to reach. Cannot think what else it could be.