Nikon Digiscoping at the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
The Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival just launched today with hundreds of birders from all over the nation pouring into this mega-hot birding destination. Names like Kenn Kaufman, Kevin Karlson, Michael O'Brien, Shawneen Finnegan and more are amongst the leaders in what many consider to be the all-star line-up of tour leaders for any given festival. It is like this every year and makes for some interesting finds and some wonderfully educational opportunities.
My only day not leading was today, so I took the chance to visit Sabal Palm Grove Audubon Sanctuary near Brownsville, TX. This small park hosts many great species as residents and has hosted a plethora of rarities in the past such as Masked Duck and Gray-crowned Yellowthroat. I took the opportunity to try out a new camera called the Nikon D3100 with my Nikon 85mm EDG Fieldscope. The D3100 has video capabilities and I thought I'd share a familiar valley bird on film with you. I think you all will discover I need some serious work with my cinematography skills, but video tells so much more than a photograph when you can see the bird's habits. This overcast, dark day didn't provide the optimum light, but I will take what I got for my rookie session with this camera.
My only day not leading was today, so I took the chance to visit Sabal Palm Grove Audubon Sanctuary near Brownsville, TX. This small park hosts many great species as residents and has hosted a plethora of rarities in the past such as Masked Duck and Gray-crowned Yellowthroat. I took the opportunity to try out a new camera called the Nikon D3100 with my Nikon 85mm EDG Fieldscope. The D3100 has video capabilities and I thought I'd share a familiar valley bird on film with you. I think you all will discover I need some serious work with my cinematography skills, but video tells so much more than a photograph when you can see the bird's habits. This overcast, dark day didn't provide the optimum light, but I will take what I got for my rookie session with this camera.
This Great Kiskaee was hanging out on an open perch in search of dragon and damselflies to eat. This common Rio Grande Valley resident is a mexican flycatcher that adds to the wonderful color of this region. The bold yellow breast and belly can be seen easily even out the corner of your eye. The brownish back includes maroon tips to the remiges on the wings. Not much more to the ID of this bird than those two factors. Other similar tropical species like the Social Flycatcher (a smaller version of the Kiskadee) or Boat-billed Flycatcher (larger bodied and billed with no rufous in the wings) would be considered mega-rarities in this area. This is an active bird that when perched usually perches open and high. If you don't see it first you most certainly will here it say it's name "Kis-Ka-DEEEE," or the shortened version "DeeeeEE," from sometimes, pretty good distances. Make sure to look for them near water and keep and open ear.
I will have more for you in the coming days! It seems that blogger will only allow me to post one video to this file which is why I can't share more in this one post. My apologies. Good Birding to all!
I will have more for you in the coming days! It seems that blogger will only allow me to post one video to this file which is why I can't share more in this one post. My apologies. Good Birding to all!
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