Notable Recent Sightings

05/03 Firecrest 1, Lake Vyrnwy
05/03 Short-eared Owl 1, Lake Vyrnwy
14/01 Pink-footed Goose 1, Dolydd Hafren
03/01 Waxwing 20, Meifod; also 5 Welshpool by canal on 01/01. Last: 6 Bwlch-y-Garreg 17/03
23/12 Waxwing Newtown College, first arrivals 04/12, 47 on 23/12, 67 on 01/01, 30 on 04/02
09/12 Cattle Egret 1 roosting with 8 Great Egrets and some Little Egrets, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas
02/12 Waxwing 21 Guilsfield, 12 Montgomery, 1 Welshpool, and 1 on 01/12 Llanfyllin
16/11 Dotterel 3, just west of Dyfnant Forest on RSPB land
16/11 Great Grey Shrike 1, on edge of Dyfnant Forest on RSPB land, last reported 19/01
15/11 Waxwing 25 or 30, just west of Lake Vyrnwy along the Dinas Mawddwy road
08/11 Great Northern Diver A juvenile was found near Anchor, rescued and released
30/10 Black Redstart 1 in garden at Hendomen, near Montgomery
06/10 Hawfinch 5 in treetops at Powis Castle, by main car-park
04/10 Cattle Egret Dolydd Hafren, a flock of c.30
29/09 Red-flanked Bluetail Dyfnant Forest: a county first
23/09 Manx Shearwater 1st year bird grounded in Llanfyllin; released at coast
03/09 Cattle Egret 10 at Cors Dyfi, rising to 32 on 05/09
01/06 Turnstone 1 at Caersws with Little Ringed Plovers
03/05 Wood Sandpiper 1 at Dolydd Hafren
18/04 BLACK-WINGED KITE 1 video-ed at Glan Mule, near Kerry: a likely FIRST for UK
07/04 Black Redstart Female on Carno roof
07/04 Little Ringed Plover Llandinam Gravels
25/03 Osprey Female 5F 'Seren' arrived back at Llyn Clywedog
25/03 Pied Flycatcher An early migrant near Llanfechain
22/03 Hen Harrier Female in flight near Berriew
15/03 Sand Martin 5, Dolydd Hafren
15/03 Golden Plover c.50, Heldre Hill, Long Mountain, nr Welshpool
05/03 Whooper Swan 1, between Caerhowel (Montgomery) and The Gaer, with Mute Swans
05/03 Pink-footed Goose 1, Caersws, with Canada Goose flock
05/03 Jack Snipe 2, Caersws
05/03 Hawfinch 24, Powis Castle, feeding behind orchard
28/02 Pink-footed Goose c.25, flying north over Welshpool
26/02 Merlin 1 male, chasing Meadow Pipit, Long Mountain near Welshpool
26/02 Pintail 3, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, 1 since 14 Feb
14/02 Hawfinch 1, Powis Castle car-park, very vocal
23/01 Jack Snipe 1, Moel-y-Garth near Guilsfield
17/01 Brambling 80, in beeches at Pen-y-Waen near Cefn Coch with Chaffinches
07/01 Hawfinch 2, bathing in puddle, Cwm Lane, Castle Caereinion
   
See Sightings Archive for older records

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

LCyD late afternoon

Thanks Brian for the blog re the terns. Called in to LCyd for an hour or so this afternoon -and in for a treat - still 1 Arctic and 1 Common tern there at about 4.15, and 2 yellow wagtails (both male I think)on the bank to the left of the hide. Also 2 oystercatcher, Shellduck, female blackcap and good views of a reed warbler singing in the reeds in front of the hide, as well as the usual birds. A good number of swallows and sand martins too. Looked hard for the Mediterranean gulls mentioned on the sheet but couldn't spot them.
On a different note - please can anyone give me any advice re what to think about when choosing a new tripod for a scope? Have had a Velbon CX 640 tripod for some years now, since first having a scope, but find it is not very stable and I get a lot of 'wobble/shake' if it is extended upwards to any height or if there is a breeze. Also, I guess the fact that much of it is plastic may make it less robust. Would welcome any advice as to what to look for in an upgrade ( have been promised one as a birthday present, but don't really know the pros and cons eg aluminium/carbon fibre etc.) I'm sure individual preferences will vary but feel sure that many bloggers will have much more expertise in this field than I have. Thanks.

10 comments:

  1. Hi Sue. You're right re the wobbling bit - tripods are one of those things where the more you pay the more stable the construction. A good solid aluminium tripod would do the job as would carbon although carbon, while lighter, are a lot more expensive. Things to consider - what height do you want the tripod to operate at, do you want to be able to take the centre column out and use with a hide clamp, is weight an issue, what weight do you want it to support (though with a scope that shouldn't be an issue in that market) what head do you want to use with it (head choice is as important as the tripod)? Personally I wouldn't look beyond either Manfrotto or Gitzo but really it's down to how much you have to spend - ideally find someone who has a decent range and go and try (Focus Optics are always good but a bit of a trek given they're over Coventry way).

    Aluminium - make sure you go for a tubular construction, more robust but slightly heavier than carbon but give good stability, pretty bombproof material

    Carbon - very light and stable but expensive, more subject to knocks and chips than aluminium so need a bit more care or protection

    Final point - to help stability in wind etc hang a weight (small rucksack, bean bag etc) from the centre column

    Hope this helps ... a bit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Mark. It is good of you to have given the time and thought to a really useful series of tips and advice. I can now think about the right things - especially what type of head to use (my Velbon is obviously a pretty basic model, and came complete with head - it was a surprise present many years ago so I hadn't realised that the head and tripod come separately).

      I think we can incorporate a visit to Focus Optics with a trip to our daughter in the East of England, so will now be able to try some tripods out bearing your comments in mind. Guess tubular alumininum would be a safer bet for me - I need something pretty bombproof!

      Thanks again - you've been a great help.

      Delete
  2. No problem Sue - had a Manfrotto aluminium pod for a while as you know but moved over to a Gitzo carbon - nothing wrong with the Manfrotto other than it didn't go high enough for me. Most tripods don't but this Gitzo does which has made a hell of a difference. In terms of stability though no difference between them. The real decision I think is over the kind of head you need for a scope, the range is vast and at the end of the day it comes down to personal preference - hence spend a bit of time trying them out. Focus is very good for that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mark - you must be constantly 'on the Blog'to have replied so quickly! have just checked out the Focus Optics website - looks great, and good to know they encourage customers to take their time so that personal preferences can be realised. Hope to get there within the next few weeks. Looking forward to a head that suits me!!!

      Delete
  3. Just nipped in for lunch so your reply was well timed - back behind the camera now as have got first redpoll in garden since we moved

    MW

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks again for all the help Mark - I absolutely LOVE your first pic of the redpoll.Glad they've now arrived in your garden.

      Delete
    2. Cheers Sue - will get better though! Just need the Yellowhammer to come seek us out - was only 200 yards or so up the hill from the back hedge so everything crossed

      Delete
  4. I recently purchased the Opticron pro birdwatchers tripod together with 701 Manfrotto pan head (2 way) OK it was a reccomended combination for my scope but I am pleased with it. I use a company online called `Sherwoods` but it is worth looking at a `price checker` site to maybe get the best deal.

    Regards
    Trevor Rogers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Trevor - it's really useful getting first hand experience. Will follow your advice, and check prices.
      All the best

      Delete
  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete