Generic Cable Release!

Thanks to Calvin Kunin for giving me the ‘heads-up’ on this generic cable release from Photosolve.com. They claim it provides a shutter release for nearly ANY still camera (whoo hoo!). It comes with a tripod screw and adjustable shutter release-mounting arm. Best of all, I spoke with a representative at Photosolve and he indicated the tripod screw is tapped with ¼” 20mm threading so that you can still use it even if you go with one of the bracket-style digiscoping arms.

Ya know...I'm pretty proud of the cable release I built from spare parts, but I think I might have to buy one of these...

Madison Audubon Field Trip this Saturday

October 8th - 7:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

The main focus of this field trip will be sparrow species, including White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow and many others. We will also be looking for any late warblers, flycatchers, thrushes and other fall migrants. Meet at the Dane County Unit of Pheasant Branch Conservancy, which is about a mile-and-a-half north of Century Avenue in Middleton on Pheasant Branch Road. This is the third parking lot for the conservancy on the right as you drive north out of Middleton. The field trip will begin at 7:15 a.m.

If you have questions, please email trip leader Mike McDowell.

Pheasant Branch image © 2005 Michael Allen McDowell

New Fall Arrival - Dark-eyed Junco

Our first DARK-EYED JUNCO of the fall/winter season paid a visit to our feeders this morning. Even though Wisconsin winters have been milder the past several years, they remain a test of psychological endurance to me. The sprightly juncos and their lasergun-sound calls make winter's passing just a little more bearable - we provide the birdseed and they provide the entertainment.

The breakfast crew also included a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, NORTHERN CARDINAL, BLUE JAY, CHIPPING SPARROW, MOURNING DOVE, HOUSE FINCHES and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES. Two YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were foraging for insects around our maple tree.

Addendum:

While reading at the patio, I observed these additional species this afternoon:

Purple finch
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
American Robin
Common Grackle
Tree Swallow
Chimney Swift

Dark-eyed Junco image © 2005 Michael Allen McDowell

Nocturnal Migrant Towerkill in Madison

From John Idzikowski:

"I have put together a web page on the large towerkills that occurred in September in Madison on 2 nights. I hope this page will serve as a source of basic information and awareness as monitoring of towers in Wisconsin begins next spring, perhaps leading to effective changes in present tower lightingand future designs. This funeral, almost memorial page contains images of dead birds."

Link: Nocturnal Migrant Towerkill in Madison

Link: Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP)

A few new digiscoped pictures!

(click on image for larger version)

PALM WARBLERS are all over the fields of Pheasant Branch Conservancy these days. This is a sure sign that fall passerine migration is drawing to a close for another season. I've been using the new Swarovski adapter sleeve and digital camera adapter - wow, does it ever simply the process of going back and forth from viewing to digiscoping. I sure wish they had come out with it 3 years ago when I first got my scope and camera...oh, the frustration it would have saved me!

Anyway, I have some new digiscoped birds to share:

Palm Warbler

Palm Warbler #2

Nashville Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Lincoln's Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

All images © 2005 Michael Allen McDowell