Search found 369 matches

by J-Miz
February 12th, 2012, 11:41 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: First Official Birding Trip
Replies: 8
Views: 2459

Re: First Official Birding Trip

Forgot double-crested cormorant (swimming birds). Yes on red-winged blackbird and great blue heron.
by J-Miz
February 12th, 2012, 11:40 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: First Official Birding Trip
Replies: 8
Views: 2459

Re: First Official Birding Trip

From my phone:
Turkey vultures
yes, western bluebirds
Lark sparrows
European starling
American coot
Canada Geese
Black-crowned Night-herons, immature and adult birds

Yes on Nuttall's woody.

*edited to omit something I saw in some other post!
by J-Miz
February 11th, 2012, 10:17 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: DOR Bird ID
Replies: 12
Views: 3184

Re: DOR Bird ID

I wouldn't recommend the Audubon guides, either (except Sibley...didn't even notice it has NAS on it). My two top choices: National Geographic FG to Birds, 6th Ed. Sibley Guide to birds. I own an earlier edition of the Nat Geo guide but have seen the 6th ed. It is awesome. Under $17 at Amazon. The S...
by J-Miz
February 11th, 2012, 10:09 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: My favorite bird feeder cam - Sabal Palm Sanctuary
Replies: 19
Views: 5378

Re: My favorite bird feeder cam - Sabal Palm Sanctuary

Here's my list of birds, in chronological order today (from Sabal Palm live bird feeder cam): Green Jay* Altamira Oriole* White-tipped Dove* Olive Sparrow* Golden-fronted Woodpecker* (male) Long-billed Thrasher* Northern Cardinal Black-crested Titmouse* *-denotes would-be lifer. The Altamira Oriole ...
by J-Miz
February 11th, 2012, 9:15 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: DOR Bird ID
Replies: 12
Views: 3184

Re: DOR Bird ID

Sheesh...it's odd enough to find a Surf Scoter as a DOR...but in the desert? I'm guessing they're probably common along the ocean. If it was stormy, that might have blown it off-course. Who knows, maybe Salton Sea gets a few of these ducks and perhaps it was moving on from Salton, got pushed down in...
by J-Miz
February 11th, 2012, 9:11 am
Forum: Invertebrate Forum
Topic: Off Topic: Plant Identification
Replies: 8
Views: 2191

Re: Off Topic: Plant Identification

Andy-- Are you volunteering to be bombarded with emails/pm's attached with plant photographs to identify? :lol: That's quite a thorough link...it tallied almost 13,000 plants in Ohio! Nice info and species information. In addition to my books, I like this site, and at least a couple of the links: ht...
by J-Miz
February 10th, 2012, 12:15 pm
Forum: Invertebrate Forum
Topic: Off Topic: Plant Identification
Replies: 8
Views: 2191

Re: Off Topic: Plant Identification

PNW--maybe I shall join then. Can't hurt. I'd like to get better acquainted with the local shrubs, trees, etc...not for medicinal value or for food.
by J-Miz
February 10th, 2012, 9:00 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: God's Country 2011...
Replies: 59
Views: 13105

Re: God's Country 2011...

Nice post! I won't bother mentioned stuff others already have, but I liked that "Who pooped in the woods?" t-shirt!
by J-Miz
February 7th, 2012, 3:21 pm
Forum: Invertebrate Forum
Topic: Off Topic: Plant Identification
Replies: 8
Views: 2191

Re: Off Topic: Plant Identification

I have several field guides (Peterson Trees & Shrubs, Peterson Trees, Sibley Trees, and my favorite, Trees of the Northern United States and Canada). I'm doing pretty good with trees (sorta!) but with shrubs I might need to pick up more references. Also, without leaves on shrubs, it is sometimes...
by J-Miz
February 7th, 2012, 3:13 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: First Herps of the Year in NE Ohio + One Non-herp Photo
Replies: 7
Views: 1344

Re: First Herps of the Year in NE Ohio + One Non-herp Photo

Very cool, Tim! I was out last Thursday and was hoping to bump into some snakes (didn't happen). The marshes were mostly frozen so I wasn't surprised I didn't see any Painteds.

Good job on the mink! I don't see many either but they are usually pretty accommodating when I do see them.
by J-Miz
February 6th, 2012, 5:26 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Let's play a game...
Replies: 7
Views: 2495

Re: Let's play a game...

Hunter- sweet shot. Must be a fun place to visit :) And bird names change all the time. Common gallinules used to be called common moorhens. Perhaps your other bird names were used in days past. This is how it works: birding is pretty popular. Authors create field guides. Many ornithologists are aut...
by J-Miz
February 6th, 2012, 5:15 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Some stuff from this weekend.
Replies: 6
Views: 1905

Re: Some stuff from this weekend.

Georgia rules! Awesome variety of birds. I think you get more bang for the buck with telephoto lenses the further south you go...
by J-Miz
February 6th, 2012, 5:04 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Bird photos from a birding noobie
Replies: 18
Views: 3594

Re: Bird photos from a birding noobie

Magnifico!
by J-Miz
February 5th, 2012, 9:57 am
Forum: Invertebrate Forum
Topic: Off Topic: Plant Identification
Replies: 8
Views: 2191

Off Topic: Plant Identification

Okay, so not on topic but I didn't know where else to ask (here or any other forum site). But I guess plant communities determine wildlife diversity, so maybe it is a bit relevant ;) For herp identification, we have fieldherpforum. For insects, bugguide.net is awesome. For birds, there are many site...
by J-Miz
February 4th, 2012, 5:00 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: how to preserve? need help
Replies: 7
Views: 2440

Re: how to preserve? need help

Not that it bothers me (because it doesn't) but you might want to make sure it is legal to take a road-killed bird. Here in Ohio (and likely the entire country) it would be illegal to do so (especially for a bird of prey).
by J-Miz
February 4th, 2012, 3:42 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: My favorite bird feeder cam - Sabal Palm Sanctuary
Replies: 19
Views: 5378

Re: My favorite bird feeder cam - Sabal Palm Sanctuary

Thanks Chris! Truth be told, I'll probably never make it to Texas, so this lets me enjoy some south Texas specialties from home! Too bad it is raining there right now :( Love the sound though...I'm sure I'll be hearing kiskadees sometime. And the Ecuador webcam is also cool. Too bad it is b&w. A...
by J-Miz
January 27th, 2012, 6:36 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 967835

Re: What was your last lifer?...

Chris--love that second kittiwake shot. Shows well the black nuchal collar and the black "M" in the wings.

Hunter--cool bird, that ant-tanager is. I love the neotropics!

Chris and Hunter--I hate you both for living in warmer, more species-rich climes.
by J-Miz
January 25th, 2012, 2:31 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Ecuador - the rest of the birds - Caution: Photo Dump!
Replies: 7
Views: 4532

Re: Ecuador - the rest of the birds - Caution: Photo Dump!

The neotropics have the most beautiful birds, IMO. I wanna go someday.

Awesome photos...looks like you saw a nice cross-section of Ecuadorian birds.
by J-Miz
January 17th, 2012, 2:59 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Salamander Photography?
Replies: 52
Views: 18378

Re: Salamander Photography?

This article may be of interest:

http://www.naturescapes.net/042004/wh0404.htm
by J-Miz
January 15th, 2012, 11:27 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Canon EOS
Replies: 2
Views: 1333

Re: Canon EOS

If you don't want to spend a bunch of money, then you can buy a used Canon DSLR. Here are a few models you might want to search for used (craigslist, various photography forums, ebay, etc): Canon XT Canon XTi Canon 20D Canon 30D These models have between 8-10 megapixels and are capable of producing ...
by J-Miz
January 14th, 2012, 7:14 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Canon Bodies
Replies: 20
Views: 8577

Re: Canon Bodies

Hate to be the one to nag, but here goes... I'd think about developing one hell of a lens arsenal first. For the price of a $2000 camera, you could own a (much) cheaper used body with $1600 or so to spend on glass. As well, lenses keep their value WAY better than camera bodies do. Nagging aside, I d...
by J-Miz
January 14th, 2012, 4:18 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Some Hummers from Ecuador
Replies: 10
Views: 3930

Re: Some Hummers from Ecuador

NOICE!

Gotta love the hummingbird diversity down there. I've never been to the neotropics, but I have seen videos (from Glenn Bartley and others) showing the activity and diversity of hummingbirds visiting Ecuadorian feeders. Absolutely mind-boggling.

Great photos, Chris.
by J-Miz
January 14th, 2012, 4:06 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Which lens to buy with a$800 budget
Replies: 12
Views: 4587

Re: Which lens to buy with a$800 budget

I'll agree with JJuLiAAn. What's most important...super wide-angle, a better typical zoom, or a telephoto for wildlife/birds? I'm a bit surprised that the 18-55VR isn't serving you well. I'm not a Nikon guy (Canon here) but I figure it should probably serve you well enough. Maybe a nice tripod (like...
by J-Miz
January 13th, 2012, 7:39 am
Forum: Reading Room
Topic: Arizona herps
Replies: 3
Views: 2598

Re: Arizona herps

by J-Miz
January 11th, 2012, 3:21 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Do Birders Ruin Birding?
Replies: 15
Views: 4893

Re: Do Birders Ruin Birding?

People ruin things. We have a cook at my dad's bar who sneers at anything anyone else tries to cook. I could see how someone would be put off by cooking due to his personality. Birders can be just the same. You definitely make some points. Birding does seem to be super competitive, and annually ther...
by J-Miz
January 10th, 2012, 3:59 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: How'd you get into it?
Replies: 23
Views: 5099

Re: How'd you get into it?

:x Jealous of that Harpy siting.
by J-Miz
January 10th, 2012, 3:54 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Birds found in 2011
Replies: 4
Views: 1923

Re: Birds found in 2011

Does look a lot like a Say's Phoebe.

Excellent variety. I'm interested in those Eurasian Collared-Doves. They occur in at least a couple spots in Ohio, but are very local and very rare away from the known locales. I know they are an invasive, but I still want to see them here!
by J-Miz
January 10th, 2012, 3:50 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 967835

Re: What was your last lifer?...

chrish wrote: Ecuador birds photo post to come....
F*ck yeah!
by J-Miz
January 8th, 2012, 9:29 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Really Stupid Question
Replies: 9
Views: 2732

Re: Really Stupid Question

If you can swing it, what I would get is a nice IPS monitor in the 1920x1080/1200 range. I know there's some good ones out there <$300. I think NEC makes some good models.
by J-Miz
January 5th, 2012, 8:18 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: S FL Bird/Parrot ID please
Replies: 43
Views: 6869

Re: S FL Bird/Parrot ID please

My aunt had a Sun Conure, until her son's dog ate it. Beautiful bird, very moody...and VERY LOUD. Its screeches were literally ear-piercing. I had the chance to acquire a Maroon-bellied about twenty years ago. Still remember his name...Clarence. Wish I had; it was such a sweet, gentle bird. Sad to t...
by J-Miz
January 4th, 2012, 6:57 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: A day in the life of a budding birdyologist
Replies: 4
Views: 1309

Re: A day in the life of a budding birdyologist

Very much jealous of the wildlife-watching possibilities you have in Arizona.

Your shrike is a Loggerhead Shrike, by the way. Cool birds!
by J-Miz
January 4th, 2012, 6:26 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: You gotta check this out...
Replies: 53
Views: 11428

Re: You gotta check this out...

I would agree with juv. Red-shouldered Hawk.
by J-Miz
January 3rd, 2012, 4:40 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Southern Ohio, 2011
Replies: 23
Views: 5757

Re: Southern Ohio, 2011

Sweet stuff! Too many goodies to single anything out, but is it just me or is that garter a beauty?
by J-Miz
January 1st, 2012, 12:14 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: ID Help?
Replies: 4
Views: 1011

Re: ID Help?

Bird in flight appears now to be a male House Sparrow. I ran it through photoshop and enough of its pattern is visible. It does appear larger, so I suppose it was closer to you than it otherwise might seem.
by J-Miz
January 1st, 2012, 12:12 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: ID Help?
Replies: 4
Views: 1011

Re: ID Help?

Hmm...that bird in flight is troubling me. Yes, your second bird (also in the first photo) is a Blue Jay. Your next appears to be a Dark-eyed Junco. The geese are domesticated; the first couple shots they apparently have much Graylag Goose in them. The last shot includes one that might have some Swa...
by J-Miz
December 29th, 2011, 11:44 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: How'd you get into it?
Replies: 23
Views: 5099

Re: How'd you get into it?

I got into birding as a result of my dad taking me and my brothers out for walks in the woods in our (then) rural-like suburban neighborhood. I'm not sure how I became fascinated with nature and my brother's not so much. As a youngster (five years old or so) I really liked dinosaurs and for some rea...
by J-Miz
December 18th, 2011, 5:54 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: all the viper species of Europe - an overview
Replies: 27
Views: 32277

Re: all the viper species of Europe - an overview

Agree...awesome post. I'll probably get tarred and feathered for this, but I often think of Europe as a bit lacking in cool wildlife (colorful birds, assortment of herps, etc). This post suggests otherwise :)
by J-Miz
December 16th, 2011, 12:52 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: December snakes in Iowa
Replies: 15
Views: 3398

Re: December snakes in Iowa

Wow...snake-hunting at 26F. You never quit, do ya? :)

Excellent find...helps hold you over until March or so, doesn't it?
by J-Miz
December 15th, 2011, 3:35 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Help me identify this snake skin
Replies: 22
Views: 3230

Re: Help me identify this snake skin

Thank you, VICtort and croteseeker...and everyone else!
by J-Miz
December 14th, 2011, 7:54 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Help me identify this snake skin
Replies: 22
Views: 3230

Re: Help me identify this snake skin

Sweet, thanks guys :thumb:

Beautiful snake, Justin!
by J-Miz
December 14th, 2011, 5:53 pm
Forum: Invertebrate Forum
Topic: Forthcoming guide to Northeastern Moths
Replies: 0
Views: 942

Forthcoming guide to Northeastern Moths

Just thought you entomologists might be interested (I am!):

http://seabrookeleckie.com/the-new-peterson-moth-guide/
by J-Miz
December 14th, 2011, 5:48 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Help me identify this snake skin
Replies: 22
Views: 3230

Re: Help me identify this snake skin

Red-tailed boa?
by J-Miz
December 14th, 2011, 5:46 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Help me identify this snake skin
Replies: 22
Views: 3230

Help me identify this snake skin

A customer at work brought in this large (approximately 11') snake skin that he had in his barn. Knowing I like snakes, he brought it in for me to keep. Not sure what I am going to do with it, but I am curious what species of boa/python this is. I haven't started researching it yet...and felt it wou...
by J-Miz
December 13th, 2011, 4:24 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: First Herp Pics w/New Camera
Replies: 2
Views: 1336

Re: First Herp Pics w/New Camera

:) Good for you, David! The T2i is an awesome camera, and your first shots look great. The good news is that you'll have months to practice before the herps start coming out again. I've never used flash in this respect, but I'd imagine you can lower the flash output somewhere in your menu (flash exp...
by J-Miz
December 9th, 2011, 11:50 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Costa Rica Field Guides
Replies: 6
Views: 1931

Re: Costa Rica Field Guides

The best bird guides to the country are: Birds of Costa Rica: A Field Guide. Richard Garrigues and Robert Dean. 2007. $20 on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Birds-Costa-Rica-Field-Guide/dp/080147373X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323459860&sr=8-1 Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. Stiles & Sku...
by J-Miz
December 8th, 2011, 2:22 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Noise
Replies: 16
Views: 4916

Re: Noise

Crocdoc--The photos were taken with a Canon EOS XS...which, if I'm not mistaken, has pretty much the same sensor as the Canon EOS XTi. I went ahead a peeked into the image's Exif.
If your choice is between high ISO noise versus low shutter speed blur, high ISO noise is MUCH better.
This.
by J-Miz
December 8th, 2011, 8:05 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: My Year in Photography (Herps + Lots of Extras, *DUW*)
Replies: 52
Views: 15302

Re: My Year in Photography (Herps + Lots of Extras, *DUW*)

Natalie, I'm in a similar boat...I love mixing nature and photography and enjoyed your post immensely. I really like all those macro shots; I haven't yet really explored invertebrate photography yet. The deer bot fly and the Norpac Rattler, I would agree, are very well lit. Nicely done! And I love t...
by J-Miz
December 7th, 2011, 3:45 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Noise
Replies: 16
Views: 4916

Re: Noise

What Canon DSLR is this? I think there should be a "High-ISO" thread in the photography forum...shots taken at 1600+. Pixel-peeping never seems to do the higher ISO's much justice...but if you normally just use your photos for online sharing or small-to-medium prints, I think the higher IS...
by J-Miz
December 6th, 2011, 5:55 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Birds of Bangkok (and a couple surrounding areas)
Replies: 9
Views: 3963

Re: Birds of Bangkok (and a couple surrounding areas)

I'd have to look those up, too...

but off-hand I know the long-tailed bird is a Shama (White-rumped Shama). At least I think so! The bird above it is a wagtail. The last bird I believe is a Coppersmith Barbet.