Photo of the day

[lowangle al]

I like the Merlin app too, it's very easy to use.

Great photos Marc. Correct me if I'm wrong, but It's obvious to me, that you are not using your iPhone.

 

[Erica]

Merlin app. I love it. It even worked without wireless, which I do not understand. But I've been able to use the song and note identifier without any wireless connectivity available, such as on remote trips.

 

[GDahl]

Merlin app. I love it. It even worked without wireless, which I do not understand. But I've been able to use the song and note identifier without any wireless connectivity available, such as on remote trips.

Erica. How is that even possible? Unless...the entire "compendium" of bird songs is downloaded onto your PC/phone when you download the app?

I've just used the Audubon app for birdibg IDs... i think I'll give Merlin a try. I've forgotten so much since my ornithology class ... we had to ID 50 songs to pass the final exam lol...

 

[Tsuga8]

Merlin app. I love it. It even worked without wireless, which I do not understand. But I've been able to use the song and note identifier without any wireless connectivity available, such as on remote trips.

I will note that Merlin doesn't work with your phone's GPS turned off. It will listen but not ID. I usually keep my phone's GPS off - took a long and frustrating while to figure out that's why Merlin wasn't IDing any calls. But, I do believe it works without service (and I agree GDahl, hard to imagine it downloads an entire library of birdsong to one's phone, but it must have!)

 

[Erica]

I only used it for song identification. Before you leave civilization, you have to download the data base for the location you will be in. So, my merlin is typically set for Florida and that won't work in Quebec. I had to download a Canadian date base.

Also, the microphone picks up calls that are way far away. Ones I didn’t even notice. I had been afraid you would have to get up close to the call. You don’t. I’ve identified many birds near my house that never come down from the trees with it.

 

[MichaelMerry]

We often use the Merlin app backpacking and rarely have service on those trips. It works great if you’ve downloaded the birds for the region you’re in. We did a long backpack in the Pennsylvania wilds at peak warbler migration and identified about 25 unique calls. Then on a 10 night trip in glacier national park in August, we ID’d birds we’d not even heard of!

The only limitation I’ve noted when using it in airplane mode is that you’re unable to save birds to your life list (if that’s your thing). We work around it by taking a screenshot of the app and manually adding them later after the trip.

 

[Marc Ornstein]

.

 

[Marc Ornstein]

I like the Merlin app too, it's very easy to use.

Great photos Marc. Correct me if I'm wrong, but It's obvious to me, that you are not using your iPhone.

You are not wrong. I don't even own a smart phone. Phones, in my opinion, are for making phone calls and sometimes text messages. I proudly own a simple, flip phone.
More to the point, my standard photo setup is a Nikon Z6III with a 28-400mm zoom. It's not for everyone. Some folks think I'm crazy for keeping an expensive rig, sitting on a pad in the bilge of my canoe but that is how I get the photos that I do.

 

[lowangle al]

You are not wrong. I don't even own a smart phone. Phones, in my opinion, are for making phone calls and sometimes text messages. I proudly own a simple, flip phone.
More to the point, my standard photo setup is a Nikon Z6III with a 28-400mm zoom. It's not for everyone. Some folks think I'm crazy for keeping an expensive rig, sitting on a pad in the bilge of my canoe but that is how I get the photos that I do.

I'd like to upgrade my equipment to something like that. When I went digital I went to point and shoots, always intending to get a real camera with a good lens again. Is that the only lens you need when out in the boat for wildlife shots.

 

[Marc Ornstein]

I'd like to upgrade my equipment to something like that. When I went digital I went to point and shoots, always intending to get a real camera with a good lens again. Is that the only lens you need when out in the boat for wildlife shots.

Most of the time, it is. The lens is pretty dang sharp, focuses quickly and is easy to handle, in the boat. It's also my hiking lens. I have a 180mm-600mm that I use for for "serious" wildlife photography. I've used it in the canoe, a few times but it is a bear to handle.

 

[gumpus]

neighbors

 

[Aslowhand]

I thought I'd share my impressions from today's paddling trip with you.

On the drive down to the lake....


on the lake...

At first I thought I was all alone, then I got company...

 

[GDahl]

I thought I'd share my impressions from today's paddling trip with you.

On the drive down to the lake....
View attachment 151740
View attachment 151741
on the lake...
View attachment 151742
At first I thought I was all alone, then I got company...
View attachment 151743View attachment 151744

Beautiful photos...where are you oaddljng?

 

[Aslowhand]

Beautiful photos...where are you oaddljng?

Lake of Thoune (Thunersee), Switzerland

 

[Marc Ornstein]

Silver River on Tuesday.

 

[Marc Ornstein]

A few more from Tuesday, on Silver River

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Any meteorologists here? What causes those red cloud and gray cloud streaks in the sky? The surrounding mountain peaks? Holes in Swiss cheese in front of the lens?