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It has occured to me for a while now that I have a lot of
difficulty keeping a steady view on a pelagic bird from a vessel in any moderate
kind of sea using my 10x40's. This may just be because I am 'unco', but I am
wondering about getting some 7x or 8x binoculars for birding from moving boats.
Does anyone have any views on the ideal pelagic optics? What about
image-stabilising glasses - are they just a gimmick?
The Fremantle North Mole has been turning on some good
birds recently, each time a good frontal system passes through. Those that I am
aware of include a Blue Petrel and an Antarctic Petrel by John Darnell, two Blue
Petrels in one session by Frank O'Connor, and for myself: a stunning close view
of Blue Petrel on July 26; Great-winged Petrel, Prob. Blue Petrel and a
Soft-plumage Petrel on August 10; and Giant Petrel (sp) on August 11 (the latter
was 'sp' because it was flying away from me and not because of any noted problem
in bill coloration!). Maybe not up to Magic Point standards but still pretty
exciting.
Roger McGovern
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