Foto at top: Gitzo tripod and Wimberley tripod head with Nikon MLC V3 + FT1 adapter (“F-mount To System 1”)+ Nikkor 300mm f/4D TC-14E with 35mm equivalent 1135mm, a top quality Phase Fresnel lightweight telelens with home made sight, stirdy when carried in backpack, home made loupe viewer, hat, dark gloves, remote control. As old as the lens may be, this combination still is an optically perfect setup with equivalent up to 1620mm and great image quality.
The photo also illustrates that we almost always use: hat and dark gloves and occasionally remote control to avoid vibrations unstabilised equipment. We always use at least some grade of (improvised) camouflage. Most shy birds including endangered species will notice any unnatural move or sound or uncovered (moving) hand in their environment.
Also: and if it makes sense, try to remain silent whatever people next to you or around you are saying or doing. Birders sometimes tend to get social and start talking at certain occasions in the middle of beautiful quiet nature…
These are our so called three “grades” of camouflage:
- standard camouflage: hat, green jacket and trousers.
- substantial camouflage: hands (gloves) and face covered with camouflage towel
- total camouflage: completely covered: hide, screen, car, that kind of things …
Some examples of total (improvised) camouflage:
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