OK. I've been held back from birding for nearly two months with minor
health issues (scleroderma and cold weather just don't mix) and now I
see others are slowing down a bit, so I'll let you in on the birding
technique I've been practicing indoors. Yes, binoscoping is a technique
Alan thought up last summer and perfected on a Grasshopper Sparrow and a
Bobolink we watched from the car in Iowa on the way to our lifer
Henslow's Sparrow. (I used the scope for that shot!) Binoscoping has
been a great technique for documenting birds when they're too close to
get out of the car, or when it would take too much time to set up the
scope. The quality isn't as good as digiscoping because the weight of
the binoculars increases hand shake. Indeed, I'm writing with my voice
activated software because my wrists are tired. Nevertheless, it's a
fun little technique to work on for those moments in the field when you
want a little more magnification than your camera supplies.

By the way, I saw my 1st yard Lincoln Sparrows this morning way up in
the treetops trying to break their way through a barrier of juncos. I
hope little guys keep trying, but the juncos attend the feeder fairly
consistently except when House Sparrows, Song Sparrows, and the Towhee
discourage them.

Happy yard birding!

Patricia