[xMenace]

Has anyone else had an attitude adjustment after first experiencing eye problems?

I made a concious decision to make the most of my remaining eyesight. One of the first things I did was buy a decent pair of binoculars and get out and enjoy nature. They were Nikon 8x42s and we're awesome, so I thought.

I am now a pseudo-birdwatcher and naturalist. I have about 180 birds on my list. I'm not into lists though. I'd rather just observe and enjoy. I find it ironic that someone will get into their suv and drive 500 miles to see a rare bird when it would be much better to stay home and not pollute the air

Well those binos succumbed to the elements a few years ago. They we'ren't water proof and cost more to repair than buy new. As money was tight, I settled for an inexpensive pair Bushnell 8x30's. Compact, but not very good.

Well a bit of money has fallen in my lap. Credit cards gobbled it up, but I decided to see if I could upgrade by optics. Migration season is here, and we are on a major flyway. I went into a local camera shop and they had a whole table of stuff on sale including a pair of Bushnell E2 Elites for $250 off! I didn't think too long. They are now mine. They aren't top of the mid-range binos, but for $300 ... wow! To get better I'm looking at $800-$1200.

Things look a bit wonky with the naked eye. All this **** has taken a toll. But when I look through these, things are absolutely clear and focussed. It's a realy joyful experience for someone like me.

Next stop: a digital SLR!

btw, what's your best sighting? Mine's an 80 ton right whale in a full breach about 100yds off the bow. Breathtaking! I'll see if I can find the pics of the other 4 breaches he made.

[notme]

Good for you John. I absolutely love birds! I have a hawk nesting in our backyard right now and we have all been enjoying watching the nesting process. The tree is actually in my new next door neighbor's backyard and they were going to cut it down. I called Fish and Game and found out it was illegal to disturb a raptor nest if there are eggs or hatchlings. I had to figure out a "nice" way to tell my neighbor as I didn't want to start off on a bad note. They actually were quite nice about it and the tree will stay until after nesting season in August. Whew!

I feed hummingbirds and junkos and finches in my yard. I would love to document and travel to see rare birds. I think we are both nerds!

I haven't been through what you have with my eyes. It is amazing how you stop taking things for granted. I think what you have chosen as a sport is a great idea. I hope you get your digital SLR soon. I have been playing with an older Nikon D100 (my Dad's) and my simple Canon Powershot S3IS. The Canon is fun because it is simple, but the D100 can take the most awsome pictures on the planet.

Can't wait to see some of your pictures. When you start taking them, make folders on Flickr so we can see too.

[Mich]

John, your post made me happy.

I love looking though binoculars too. Since my vision is semi-OK with glasses, I get used to dealing with fuzzy stuff without them, but with Binos--YAY! I see clear as a bell. (Mixed metaphor if I ever saw/heard one..) I have our old boat navigation binoculars which are Tasco 7X50 and can spy on birds like a champ!

I've also begun painting again, and experimenting with melted wax (I posted a poppy wax painting in Member's Photos.)

I bought a daylight-type lamp for very close work. (I sew too) and some mapreading I have to do with a magnifier.

Your idea for digital binoculars sounds good. We were given an amazing non-digital pair that are too strong and they actually need a tripod to hold them still enough. Needless to say, they weren't much good on a pitching boat deck.

Good luck. I hope you see a giant Ivory-Billed Woodpecker!

Mich

[mortis505]

some of the neatest things ive seen (sorry not in nature),

1985, San Diego Ca. The USS ranger, USS Constitution, and the USS Constellation all lined up bow to stern at the Naval base across the bay with the sun going down over the ship in the middle,

1986, Seattle Wa. The opening of the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field. 2 F-16's flying formation with the sun directly overhead. Made a nice aura effect. They also had a Fokker Tri-plane. (Think Baron Von Richtofen

1991, Langley AFB. Managed to snap a pic of a B-1 bomber with 2 F-15's on each side flying escort. Unfortunately that film was lost in a move out of the barracks.

(Nature Stuff)

The falls at Snoqualmie are a must see for anyone that visits the Seattle area. But even if its a clear day, you may want to consider a rain coat.

[Evermont]

Well, Ive seen a lot - but it never seems like enough.

This morning DW and I were treated to an up-close visit. I was looking toward the back door (all glass) and I saw a dozen small birds scatter just as a HUGE shadow swooped up the tree line. There were a few Robins and something small and highlighter yellow colored. We stepped out to see our neighborhood hawk circling in the back yard below the tree tops! His wingspan must be at least six feet. He lives around here because we've been seeing him off and on all winter. So cool!

[xMenace]

John's slideshow on Flickr

I can't find the slide of the breach I thought I got I'll have to do some more hunting.

grand manan - Google Maps

[notme]

You have a talent for photography xMenace. I love the pictures of the child. Nicely done!

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by notme

You have a talent for photography xMenace. I love the pictures of the child. Nicely done!

Thank you, but Photshop really helps too

Here's some desktop backgrounds I've created. I use them all.
John's Desktop Backgrounds

[caswellhb]

John,
I am so sorry to hear of your eye problems. However I love the attitude.
Goodness, I turn my back for a minute....................
Whenever I am in the US I am always astounded by the brilliance and beauty of the birds over there. They make ours look downright dowdy! I could spend hours gawping at the birds over there. Next time I must get a book to identify them and learn a bit about them.
Stay well,

Heather.

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by caswellhb

John,
I am so sorry to hear of your eye problems. However I love the attitude.
Goodness, I turn my back for a minute....................
Whenever I am in the US I am always astounded by the brilliance and beauty of the birds over there. They make ours look downright dowdy! I could spend hours gawping at the birds over there. Next time I must get a book to identify them and learn a bit about them.
Stay well,

Heather.

Lol.

For you noobs:

My eyes have been pretty good for over two years now, except for three tiny bleeders this winter - nothing to worry about he says. I've been fighting proliferative retinopathy for about 14 years including a vitrectomy in 2006 after a hemmhorage (<--hated word) left me blind in one eye.

I have constant reminders of my condition, and I'm finding this increased sunshine is making me grumpier, not happier. I still have 20/20 in both, but I can't escape the floaters, flashing, blindspots, blurriness, and decreased field of view ... except with my new binoculars!

[Evermont]

Doc suggested at Dx that I get an eye check. Last time was 6 years ago 20/20 in both eyes then, but got 'computer' glasses for eye fatigue. Sitting in front of a computer for 24 years will take it's toll. Mom says I have a family history of Glaucoma, Macular degeneration AND cataracts. Nice. Well, since my maxed out vision care benefits kicked in at new years I finally got to the optometrist. He says that I'm fine except that my distance vision has started to degrade. I'm now 20/30 left and 20/40 right, so glasses for driving he says.

Seeing is so important - I really want to keep it going as long as possible.

I never got a pic of that hawk but DW said she later saw three of them together. A family!

Here's a different intrepid Vermont winter vistor which she did get a pic of:

I'm pretty sure that there is a "Barred Owl" here's a different pic from "someplace on the web".

[xMenace]

Awesome. I've only seen barreds at night. I had an owl survey for about 7 years and have called many in. If you want some mp3's to try it out, now is a great time. DW thinks she saw one last week fly accross the highway.

Vermont has some awsome resources. I always think of Hawk Watches when I hear Vermont.
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
VINS Wildlife Services Department

Keep an eye out for snow geese too: Large flocks of SNOW GEESE passed through this week, including 100 at the mouth of Otter Creek, 515 at Cornwall Swamp WMA and 500 off Grand Isle.

[Evermont]

I'm not really a birder myself but I'm outdoors all the time so I run into lots of things. DW and I had a really cool screech owl encounter once on a day hike at Little River State Park in Waterbury (home of Ben and Jerry's). 10 minutes later we encountered a black bear cub frolicking in the woods.

The screech owl was very close and curious enough to sit still and watch us pass by. He was so BIG! When he finally flew off it was jaw dropping!

Also not far from here at Smugglers Notch there are perigrine falcon nesting sites. These awsome creatures were gone for many many years but have recently returned. The notch is a very popular spot, right near where I snowboard all the time, and hike a lot. It is also a popular spot for ice and rock climbing. Now people change their climbing routes so as to leave the falcons undisturbed. Vermonters are very eco-minded.

I've recently heard the geese overhead. I'll be seeing them any day now. I heard a black capped chickadee in my crab apple tree out front just this morning. For me, the thing that most heralds spring is the call of the red wing blackbirds that are so common in the area including the swampy area next to my yard.

Like this: red wing blackbird video (link)

[pegasus]

John, re: new binocs:

There's a "movement" around the world called freecycling. People give away and ask for amazing kinds of stuff--for free. It's very local, so people make arrangements to pick up and deliver. You post an OFFER: ... or a WANTED ... and sometimes people actually have what you want/need; a couple of years ago I was looking for a copy of MS DOS 6.0 (don't ask ), and a guy had a copy--still shrink-wrapped, w/warrantee, manual, etc. I just got a "new" microwave, and a couple of years ago I got a hundred+ 1950s 45s--Fats Domino, the Crickets, the Platters, etc. And there's one in your area; here's a link:

Freecycle™: Groups Around the Globe.

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by pegasus

John, re: new binocs:

There's a "movement" around the world called freecycling. People give away and ask for amazing kinds of stuff--for free. It's very local, so people make arrangements to pick up and deliver. You post an OFFER: ... or a WANTED ... and sometimes people actually have what you want/need; a couple of years ago I was looking for a copy of MS DOS 6.0 (don't ask ), and a guy had a copy--still shrink-wrapped, w/warrantee, manual, etc. I just got a "new" microwave, and a couple of years ago I got a hundred+ 1950s 45s--Fats Domino, the Crickets, the Platters, etc. And there's one in your area; here's a link:

Freecycle™: Groups Around the Globe.

That's exactly what I need. We have so much **** to give away