The boss was feeling in a good mood yesterday and let us out early for Memorial Day. So where does any self-respecting, unattached female in her mature years go when she has a few hours to burn? Why to the nearest mud flat in a local marsh, spotting scope in tow, that's where.

I hadn't set up Gus (my Nikon 82mm ED spotting scope) more than a few minutes when the show began. Behind me, a bobolink opened with its R2D2 song, and was quickly joined by the hoarse croaking of a Yellowheaded Blackbird.

Anyway, by the time the show ended two hours later, I had delicious views at 75x of Blue-wings, Mallards, black Ducks, Great Egrets, a whole rookerie of G. Blue Herons, Green Herons, Semi-Palmated Plovers, Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeer, E. Bluebirds, Kingfishers, Cormorants (who dined on bullheads in front of me), Tree Swallows, Orioles, Goldfinches and ... well, you get the idea.

I might add, I had a visit with a nice gentleman who was also birding. He was very nice, though a bit young for me. Sooner or later, though, I will find Mr. "I am also a birder" Right one of these trips. Good birding, like a fine wine, should be shared and what the heck, I'm not that homely!

Blessings to all!

My weekend almost always involves birding or astronomy, but this weekend I had to catch up on shopping and other chores, so I had to settle for any birds I could see while looking for a dress. Okay, it might seem mission impossible, but I long ago learned that birds show up when you least expect them, even in high traffic areas. Since my purse is full to overflowing with absolute essentials (don'task), I always carry a beautiful Nikon 5x15HG monocular. It's about the size of my pinkie, but, oh, what fabulous optics. Crystal clear views all the way to the edge and great eye relief.

With this monocular, I have scanned large shopping centers for good clothing stores. I have looked two stoplights ahead to see street signs. I have checked out hunks ... well, never mind. I have also logged many birds at busy intersections! My traffic light list contains, to name a few: Merlins, Kestrels, Red-Taileds, a Peregrine (downtown Chicago), Swainson's, a Ferruginous (near a vacant lot with prairie dogs) and, of course, many Purple Martins and other swallows.

So, if you see someone in an old Geo a little slow to rush ahead at a stoplight, it might be me. I might have a good bird spotted. Instead of honking and waving with one finger, you might want to ask to look through my little Nikon monocular. Who knows? You might be able to add another bird to your list! (Or maybe a hunk ...)

Had another one of those, "How far can I see questions?" today. Always amazes me that people ask that question. What they really should ask is "What can I see?" Yesterday was a good example.

I always keep a spotting scope next to my couch in the living room to search for birds outside my large, glass sliding living room door. Thirty yards away is an ash tree. The bark makes for an interested and varied target when viewed through my Nikon 82mm ED. I was casually scanning the surface of the tree when I noticed an ant. At 25x, there was no question it was an ant, even at this distance.

I zoomed in for a closer look. To my scopes credit, at 75x, I could see individual legs and antennae.

How far can I see with the Nikon? On a target as small as an ant body, I could probably see out beyond thirty yards, but probably not at 100 yds. On ant legs, I could see out to thirty yards, but I doubt I could do it at fifty yards, even at 75x.

On something the size of a galaxy? Well, with my scope I can see a little farther - millions of light years, actually. Not bad, considering a light year is about 6 trillion miles.

It's been suggested to me that I ought to have a spotting scope surgically attached to my head as much as I look through one. Antwatching? They could be right.

Hi

As my first entry, I would like to introduce myself.

My name is Joanie and I am the product specialist here at OpticsPlanet.com I originally was hired to do some writing for the website due to my background in writing, but was eventually offered a job here in Chicago. The decision to leave my beautiful Portland, Oregon was difficult (and I still miss Oregon, so), but the opportunity to help others with questions about optics, birding, astronomy and related subjects proved too much to resist.

Adjusting to the pace of life here in Chicago and adapting to a young, but rapidly growing internet company has not been easy, but now, after almost nine months on the job, I firmly believe that I have one of the best jobs in the world. There is nothing like the satisfaction of knowing I helped another person get started in birding, astronomy, photography and so on. And, yeah, working with the finest optics in the world isn't too bad, either. Ha!

I am a zen vegetarian with a love of earth Mother and all things natural and basically a non-material person, except for my optics and bicycle. If I won the lottery, I would get new tires for my old Geo, then give the rest away. This may seem strange, given that I ride a bicycle even in the snow, but I have been putting off buying car tires for a long time, now. I just consider cars an affront to Earth Mother and I drive only when necessary. When I do, it's fairly slow (anything is slow compared to the way people drive here.) . It's a wonder to me how these Chicago drivers can see birds alongside the road when they drive so fast. Ha!

I and am now at a stage in my life where I find myself alone. I am grateful, though, that this job keeps me too busy to get lonely, but someday I hope to find a (tall, dark and handsome) companion to share my love of birding and astronomy.

These two pursuits, and others as well, have consumed me from my earliest years. I have written a small book on astronomy (now out of print) and am a contributing writer for BirdWatcher's Digest as well as newsletters for various organizations. I have also been a seminar presenter on optics and also beginning birding. Be warned, though, that when I get in front of a crowd and begin talking optics, it is hard to shut me up. What the heck, though. What good is knowledge if it can't be shared?

Much of what I know has been learned out in the field over the last forty plus years of using optics, but much has also been learned behind the counter of a major retailer of optical equipment. I ran the optics department in the store for twelve years and behind me was the gun department, so I also know firearms. Although I don't hunt anymore and even find it hard to kill a spider or fly, I did hunt and target shoot competitively in my youth. These days, though, you are more likely to find me volunteering as a guide at a nature center or local observatory.

I have also been a science teacher at the middle school and high school level. I love kids, but hate paperwork or I might still be teaching. I've never fit the mold of the paranoid, factory mentality that so pervades our school systems these days.

Okay, so by now you've guessed I am to the left of liberal. I am so liberal, in fact, that I love everyone, no matter what their politics and background. Life is too short to fill it with the poison of hatred. Blessings to all.

Joanie