Re: [mou-net] Compact Binocular Advice Please
I agree with Debra jene Collum. National CamerA Exchange is amazing. Great service, great advice, great listening. I replaced my small 1980s era Nikon last year and could not be happier. On Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 1:19 PM Miller Johnson wrote: > Dear birders, > > I'm doing a bus tour in Italy next month that will not be for birding, but > I will have some free time most days. I normally carry my Swarovski 8.5x42 > bins when I travel, but I think they'll just be too heavy for the amount of > use I expect to get out of them on this trip. > > Do you have recommendations for smaller and lighter-weighted binoculars > for travel? I use my "big" binoculars most days but, as I age, I'll > probably have more use for a lighter pair long-term anyway. Budget is in > the $1000 range, but willing to go up if it'll make a big difference. > > Thanks for any guidance you can provide. Emailing me directly will help > keep the clutter off these list-serves, especially as we're going to be > getting a lot of traffic as spring seems to have sprung! > > Molly Jo Miller > Dakota Co > > General information and guidelines for posting: > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social > distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. > General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
Re: [mou-net] [Mnbird] Compact Binocular Advice Please
I would seriously recommend you go to National Camera Exchange. Ask them. They will show you what they have in your price range. You will be able to try them out. I was just there and the service I received was so excellent. It was worth the drive to the cities. “The world has changed. I see it in the water. I feel it in the Earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, For none now live who remember it.”― J.R.R. TolkienRev. Debra Jene Collum 124 Winona Street SE Chatfield United Methodist Church Chatfield MN 55923 507-923-1097 www.chatfieldumc.org On Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 1:20 PM Miller Johnson via Mnbird < mnb...@lists.mnbird.net> wrote: > Dear birders, > > I'm doing a bus tour in Italy next month that will not be for birding, but > I will have some free time most days. I normally carry my Swarovski 8.5x42 > bins when I travel, but I think they'll just be too heavy for the amount of > use I expect to get out of them on this trip. > > Do you have recommendations for smaller and lighter-weighted binoculars > for travel? I use my "big" binoculars most days but, as I age, I'll > probably have more use for a lighter pair long-term anyway. Budget is in > the $1000 range, but willing to go up if it'll make a big difference. > > Thanks for any guidance you can provide. Emailing me directly will help > keep the clutter off these list-serves, especially as we're going to be > getting a lot of traffic as spring seems to have sprung! > > Molly Jo Miller > Dakota Co > ___ > Mnbird mailing list > mnb...@lists.mnbird.net > http://mail.lists.mnbird.net/mailman/listinfo/mnbird_lists.mnbird.net > General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
[mou-net] Salt Lake Area Conditions, Migrant Arrivals, March 5
Well, this is going to be a strange year. Between Big Stone Lake, the Whetstone River, Minnesota River Headwaters, Marsh Lake, and down to Lac qui Parle State Park (Watson dam), I observed the following duckish species over the weekend: Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Redhead, Canvasback*, Ruddy Duck, Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Common Merganser**, Red-Breasted Merganser,*** Hooded Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Northern Pintail, Wood Duck. *Flock of 8 on the Minnesota River, viewed from bridge off county highway 15 due south of Odessa/Refuge HQ. **Large concentration (roughly 30) actively diving/feeding far out in the NE reservoir, viewed from berm road (scope) off Hwy 75 along the dam. ***At least 3 male RB Mergansers visible through scope alongside the aforementioned Common Mergansers. 1 lone, croaking Sandhill Crane flew over Ortonville Sunday morning around 10:00 AM, too high for me to see. Ring-billed Gulls, Northern Harriers, Western Meadowlarks, and Killdeers have also just recently appeared. SHOREBIRD HABITAT, MIGRATION OUTLOOK There is minimal shorebird habitat in the area. There wasn't enough snow cover to leave pools of standing water in tilled fields. Pothole wetlands are not showing much shoreline. Salt Lake, for instance, will only have a few feet of mudflats, best viewed from the SW corner. The Minnesota River between Ortonville and Marsh Lake is pretty low right now. Some of the most easily-viewed mudflats will be along river banks this year. There should be some decent river channel viewing at several points within Big Stone NWR, and also around Marsh Lake and the Lac qui Parle State Park dam. Cory Lake, at Hamlin WMA in southern Lac qui Parle County, may be one of the more productive sites for spring shorebird viewing. (It can be challenging there in the summer due to shoreline vegetation). The lake is undergoing a drawdown and could pool up with some temporary water if we get some precipitation in the next 2 months. It may end up being one of our few expansive mudflats this year. The forecast is calling for warm temps and south winds again by the weekend, so I'd expect another big wave of movement. Jason Frank Ortonville General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
Re: [mou-net] Compact Binocular Advice Please
Hi, The following is a link to a somewhat updated version of the Swarovski 8x25 binocs I've had for 8-10 years: https://www.swarovskioptik.com/us/en/hunting/products/binoculars/cl/cl-pocket/cl-pocket-8x25-ii They are light, fall easily around the neck, and are surprisingly bright and crisp for their size. They have become my day-to-day binocs over the years as I age. I really like them. For context, my other optics are a Vortex 12x50 and a classic pair of Swift 10x42. I like the higher powers for waterfowl. I also have a Vortex spotting scope with a 30x - 80x eyepiece. The Swarovskis are also a handy option when I'm kayaking, and anytime I have a camera with me. Mine came with a handy, compact pouch that has a belt loop (which is easy to secure to a belt, having a velcro closure on the bottom). In a pinch the 8x25s easily fit in the pocket of most of my outerwear. Good luck choosing, and enjoy your trip! Best, Mike Koutnik On Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 1:19 PM Miller Johnson wrote: > Dear birders, > > I'm doing a bus tour in Italy next month that will not be for birding, but > I will have some free time most days. I normally carry my Swarovski 8.5x42 > bins when I travel, but I think they'll just be too heavy for the amount of > use I expect to get out of them on this trip. > > Do you have recommendations for smaller and lighter-weighted binoculars > for travel? I use my "big" binoculars most days but, as I age, I'll > probably have more use for a lighter pair long-term anyway. Budget is in > the $1000 range, but willing to go up if it'll make a big difference. > > Thanks for any guidance you can provide. Emailing me directly will help > keep the clutter off these list-serves, especially as we're going to be > getting a lot of traffic as spring seems to have sprung! > > Molly Jo Miller > Dakota Co > > General information and guidelines for posting: > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social > distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. > -- Mike Koutnik Mobile: 612-963-5551 m.a.kout...@gmail.com LinkedIn: mkoutnik General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
[mou-net] Compact Binocular Advice Please
Dear birders, I'm doing a bus tour in Italy next month that will not be for birding, but I will have some free time most days. I normally carry my Swarovski 8.5x42 bins when I travel, but I think they'll just be too heavy for the amount of use I expect to get out of them on this trip. Do you have recommendations for smaller and lighter-weighted binoculars for travel? I use my "big" binoculars most days but, as I age, I'll probably have more use for a lighter pair long-term anyway. Budget is in the $1000 range, but willing to go up if it'll make a big difference. Thanks for any guidance you can provide. Emailing me directly will help keep the clutter off these list-serves, especially as we're going to be getting a lot of traffic as spring seems to have sprung! Molly Jo Miller Dakota Co General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
