Every birder needs a field guide and a
birding binocular and for many birders and bird watchers that is all that will ever be needed. Watching birds in the backyard or at the feeder is one thing, though; trying to identify a tiny shorebird across a distant marsh is another. A
binocular is a wonderful a tool, for sure, but there are times when a birding binocular does not supply enough magnification to do the job. This most often happens with birds that are either too small or too distant or both, such as shore birds, marsh birds or birds far out on the lake. In this type of birding, a close approach is either not possible or not advisable. For these times and for these birds, we need a
spotting scope. A spotting scope is simply a small telescope designed to be used by day. A
spotting scope has some fundamental and important differences compared to a telescope used at night for astronomy, so be sure to read my article How to Buy a Birding Spotting Scope to see what these high powered birding tools are all about.
