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Schenk Forest, re: Digiscoping, Colt's Foot



Hi Carolinabirders,

After far too long between birding trips, spent yesterday late morning/ 
early afternoon at NCSU's Schenk Forest. Not much going on bird-wise. 
Only probable migrant showed up when I pished at some passing chickadees: 
a young Black-and-White Warbler appeared, and hopped down a tree trunk to 
within about four feet of me! Didn't have my camera ready, of course... 
Also, while following a Blue Jay with my binoculars, had a Pileated 
Woodpecker suddenly loom into view; I almost always hear these before 
seeing them, but this one was silent. Nearby a Hairy Woodpecker was 
chiseling away at a big shelf fungus, not a usual target. And at one 
point I heard a bunch of chickadees and titmice mobbing a predator, but 
when I checked the nearest tree hole for a Screech Owl, I instead saw the 
edge of a large snake about 25 feet off the ground! 

The place was very busy with people, and literally everyone but me and 
one couple had dogs along. All but a couple of these dogs were unleashed 
despite at least three "dogs must be on leash at all times" signs. Looks 
like Raleigh is in dire need of a dog park... Most common creature was 
some kind of Satyr (butterfly), ridiculously abundant. Next most was 
immature Five-lined Skinks with bright blue tails, the most I've ever 
seen in a day. One Fence Lizard, one Red-spotted Purple. I was actually 
there scouting it as a possible destination for the Wake Audubon 
dragonfly walk, but the weather wasn't ode-friendly. I saw only three 
odonate species: Ebony Jewelwing, Fawn Darner, and some kind of Dancer.

After Eric Harrold's note about the nefarious exotic plant Colt's Foot 
appearing near the Blue Ridge Parkway, I found a couple of websites with 
further information on the species. See
http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf/rir/weeds/coltsfoo.htm
and
http://www.ovma.on.ca/Weeds/colt.htm

At 09:38 AM 9/4/2001 -0400, Steve Perry wrote:
>
>Since the postings by Blayne & Anne Olsen, and Roger Shaw, has anyone 
>tried digiscoping yet?

I've digiscoped only once to date, actually last winter, well before the 
postings here. I have a Swarovski AT-80 with a 20-60X zoom, and an 
Olympus Camedia digital camera. I found that if the camera's optical zoom 
is on its normal setting, the digiscoped pictures are framed in a black 
circle; I have to zoom the camera in to take a clean picture through the 
scope. But I did get one really beautiful picture of an Anhinga's head 
and neck using this method, at "Ding" Darling NWR. The only reason I 
haven't experimented more often is that the digital camera is a shared 
item between my fiance and I, so I don't bring it birding unless she 
comes along with me.

Okay, I'd better go find my slides and practice my talk for tomorrow 
night, and make sure it doesn't go on too long...

Good birding,

Josh


Joshua S. Rose
Duke University
Department of Biology (Zoology, R.I.P.)

jsr6@duke.edu
http://www.duke.edu/~jsr6/