Digiscoping with Nikon Fieldscope ED50 and FSB-U1

4rd - 10th May 2009

Irene from Sandakan Photo passed me the Nikon Fieldscope ED50 together with a new universal adapter FSB-U1 from Nikon Malaysia when I was in Sandakan last week hehehe as I've been eyeing this scope after trying it last year during the Sandakan Bird Fair and impressed with the sharpness and colour renditions the little scope delivered.

Nikon Fieldscope ED50 with 13-40x MC II zoom eyepiece while cruising along Kinabatangan River.




My current digiscoping kit now which is lighter than the big brother, Nikon Fieldscope ED82.

After tested it heavily on rain and shine, the Nikon Fieldscope ED50 lived up to its reputation as being the best compact scope at this moment which is waterproof up to a metre when immersed underwater, fogproof and uses ED glass to minimized colour fringing.

Using the 13-40x zoom eyepiece with the Nikon Fieldscope ED50 allowed me to get lots of details on 40x max, even though the field of view is a bit narrow, but for IDing birds from the distance, the scope did not disappointed me hehehe :)

Check this website regarding comments and reviews of the Nikon Fieldscope ED50 at Bird Forum;

• http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=112452
  
• http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=94667
• http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=100537
• http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=98959
• http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=86933
• http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=51343
  

My only concern with this little scope is the tripod mount which looked like a cheap plastic. There are few birders who had a problem with broken tripod mount and discussions regarding this is available here;

• http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=80876

The scope is selling less than RM 2500 body only and the weight without eyepiece is around 460g and came along with its stay on case. Light carbon fibre tripod is a nice combo with this scope :)


Meanwhile, the new universal adapter FSB-U1 which I tested on the field needs to be improved in order for Nikon to get their share in universal digiscoping adapter market with other brands such as Swarovski, Kowa and SRB-Griturn;

1. The hinge is a bit loose when I swung out the adapter. Feel a bit unsecured while carrying the scope in case you knock on something i.e tree trunk or branches.
   
2. It swings out for 90 degree only to the right which is a bit troublesome for left sighted birders. They won't be able to use the adapter and it would be much better if it swings out to 180 degree like my SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter.
3. Only usable with Nikon DS eyepiece and the eyepiece sleeve is not changeable. So if you are using your Zoom or MC eyepieces for viewing, you need to purchase the DS eyepiece to start digiscoping.
4. Pricey for local Malaysian market, selling for more than RM 1000. If the price around RM 500 - RM 600, I will buy it first !

Best things about this adapter is;

1. Quality materials used for making this adapter.
2. Feel heavy which is good to minimized vibrations as seen from my digiscoped pictures.
3. Can used it while raining too without worrying it will get rusty.
4. I setup my Fujifilm F31D camera on the adapter took me less than a minute hehehe. Adjusting the vertical and horizontal knobs is easy and fast. Once I got the exact centre for my camera lens on the eyepiece, it stay put forever.
5. No vignetting at all with my Nikon DS16x eyepiece on the Nikon Fieldscope ED50 (24x on Nikon Fieldscope EDIII and 30x on my Nikon Fieldscope ED82).
   

Overall I like this universal adapter and useful for birders who preferred to view and shoot at the same time rather than the fixed adapter which required to unscrew the adapter to view through the eyepiece.

Highly recommended !

For those who are interested, this scope and adapter is available at

Sandakan Foto (S) Sdn Bhd
Labuk Road: Ground Floor, L12, Block C,
Bandar Kim Fung, Batu 4,
Sandakan.

Tel : 089-238728
Fax :089-216728
Email :sknfoto@pc.jaring.my

Look for Irene, and you will get discount for the Nikon Fieldscope ED50 if you mentioned my name :)

Price list:

• Nikon Fieldscope ED50 = RSP RM 2358
• Nikon DS16x eyepiece = RSP RM 1108
• Nikon DS27x eyepiece = RSP RM 1258
• Nikon MC II Zoom eyepiece = RSP RM 1428
• Nikon universal adapter FSB-U1 = RSP RM 1238
  

90 degree position without the camera

On the Nikon Fieldscope ED82

Few images taken with the Nikon Fieldscope ED50 and FSB-U1 :)

Bornean Blue Flycatcher

Hooded Pitta

Red-naped Trogon

Rhinoceros Hornbill

Happy birding folks.

Bornean Bristlehead Mission

28th April - 1st May 2009

Stayed at Sepilok Nature Resort for few days together with John and his wife Carol. John's mission of this trip was for the Bristlehead which proved to be too difficult this time at Sepilok Forest Reserve than usual.

On Tuesday when John arrived, one of the Ranger on duty during the feeding time of the Orang Utan saw 8 Bornean Bristlehead nearby the Platform A in the morning. Earlier before, Gabili saw Giant Pitta trapped among the fallen logs under the walkway !

Spent early morning until evening at Rainforest Discovery Centre and heard it responding to the call once late Wednesday from the Trogon Tower, but could not see the it. Another day passed by without the bird ...

On the very last day this morning, decided to walk along the Bird Trail together with James who accompanied us and luck was on our side when we heard the bird calling from the canopy of Menggaris tree on the way back to the platform.

So we walked as fast as possible to the platform and exactly at 0800 hrs in the morning, saw 3 Bornean Bristlehead with perfect view through my scope after intense search and waiting since last Tuesday. The hard and smart work paid off hahaha :p

It was one of my best trip so far and managed to record new lifer for me, the Rufous-tailed Shama singing nearby the old Bird Tower at Sepilok and total species seen was 99 birds altogether.

John need to complete another 17 families :)

Some of the shot during the trip digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn adapter and Fujifilm F31D from the Bristlehead and Trogon Tower :)

Female Rufous-collared Kingfisher

5 Slender-billed Crow looking after their nest

Oriental Pied Hornbill

Grey-capped Woodpecker

Crested Serpent Eagle with its meal, Bronze-backed Snake

Red-eyed Bulbul seen daily

Purple-throated Sunbird

Black-headed Bulbul

Dusky Broadbill

Violet Cuckoo quite vocal these time

Green Imperial Pigeon at the same perch every morning

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

Yellow-eared Spiderhunter

One of the nest of this Black-naped Monarch and has 2 chicks now hehehe and thanks to Alphon

Wild Orang Utan

Rufous-tailed Shama :p

This is John enjoying the view of his dream bird !

I will be off again this Sunday to Kinabatangan River, Tabin Wildlife Reserve and Danum Valley Forest Reserve until the 10th May.

Happy birding folks !

Birding With Colin And Pam

17th - 23rd April 2009

Had a great time birding with Colin and Pam at Kinabalu Park, Kinabatangan River and Tambunan Rafflesia Centre for a week and during that time, managed to see 182 species with 28 endemics for Borneo.

Key species seen :

• Bornean Ground Cuckoo - Twice seen within 2 days in row at the river ! Thanks to Kecil, the boatman who navigated along the river perfectly for this species.
• White-fronted Falconet - A pair along the river.
• Red-breasted Partridge - Few individuals seen and then crossing the trail.
  
• Whitehead's Trogon - 2 males and 1 female.
• Giant Swiftlet - Saw twice in a day at Timpohon Gate flying very low and my lifer too hahaha :p
  
• Bornean Barbet - 1st bird seen at Tambunan.
  
• Whitehead's Broadbill - Nearly gave up on this. Thanks for the help from Andy and Cameron :)
• Fruithunter - Saw the nest and while walking on the other trails after breakfast, saw a juvenile being fed by the parents.
• Everett's Thrush - No luck at the usual stack out trail, on the way back from Power Station in the evening, saw 1 hopping on the side of the road and Colin managed to get a record shot hahaha :p
  
• Whitehead's Spiderhunter - Seen twice in flight only ...

Some of the shot taken during the trip, digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn adapter and Fujifilm F31D

View of Crocker Range from the Timpohon Gate

Mt. Kinabalu in the evening from Kundasang Town

Nice hotel with excellent rooms and wireless Internet too :p



Juvenile Fruithunter

Whitehead's Trogon

Whitehead's Broadbill on nest

Kecil, the boatman has an Eagle eye !

Cruising along the longest river in Sabah, Kinabatangan


Scarlet-rumped Trogon digiscoped along the access road to Gomantong Caves


Buffy Fish Owl, the commonest species found on the river


Gunung Alab road


Happy birders, Colin and Pam from England

My next trip would be in Sepilok for the Bornean Bristlehead from the 27th April until the 1st of May.

Happy birding eveyone :)

Birding With Kontiki Group From Finland

3rd - 6rd April 2009

Went to Tabin Wildlife Reserve one day earlier before the group arrived, I did not waste any opportunity to search for fruiting trees and birding around the restaurant and at Tomanggong Road the next day with Maldin.

The big surprised was, when I checked in to my room, Malaysian Blue Flycatcher greeted me with a smile hahaha :p

Malaysian Blue Flycatcher

But it rained the whole afternoon until 5pm, but few birds still active that time such as Lesser Green Leafbird, Black-winged Flycatcher Shrike and this Buffy Fish Owl suddenly perched not far from the restaurant and back to to forest after few minutes.

Buffy Fish Owl with one eye opened

The next morning, started early in the morning with Maldin and birded until 10am before I met with the group at Lahad Datu town together with my best friend, Osman who are leading the group from Mt. Kinabalu then to Kinabatangan River.

Maldin


My favorite hill for Raptors !


Hehehe enjoying bird from the pickup and this is me with new lifer, Tiger Shrike !

On the way to the lodge, saw Oriental Darter, Crested Serpent Eagle and Brahminy Kite with a pair of White-crowned Hornbill, Lesser Coucal and Bornean Pygmy Elephant as a warmth welcome to the group as we were approaching the resort.

After tea break, drove to Tomanggong Road and walk back to the lodge around 6pm. After dinner, searched for Brown Wood Owl and Barred Eagle Owl did not yield any result.

Using a truck as the main transportation between the lodge to Tomanggong and Core Road

Access road to the Core area

Looking for Green Imperial Pigeon

Next morning, more birds were seen such as Lesser Cuckoo Shrike, Little Bronzed Cuckoo, Purple Throated Sunbird, Rhinoceros and Wrinkled Hornbill with Verditer Flycatcher and Fiery Minivet.

Black-capped Babbler and Black and Crimson Pitta really gave the group something to cheered up after waited nearly 30 minutes for both species to appeared hahaha and then my first Hose's Langur was spotted by Osman as another addition for the group :)

A pair of Black Hornbill

Rain ...


Asian Fairy Bluebird with Cicada

Raffles's Malkoha enjoying the morning sun

On my last day with the group, saw Wreated Hornbill, heard Helmeted Hornbill and a pair of Changeable Hawk Eagle with a juvenile. The smallest raptor in the world, White-fronted Falconet was another bonus for one of the birder which he did not see when they were at Poring Hotspring.

Stopping at the lake, Lesser Adjutant seen soaring high up on the sky then drove to Lahad Datu town in rain.

Crested Goshawk

Diard's Trogon

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha

Good birding as usual at Tabin Wildlife Reserve. The management did a very good job maintaining the lodge after big flood that happened in early February. Thanks to the Manager, Fernando and other staffs for ensuring the enjoyment while birding at Tabin hehehe.

I will be birding with the group again this Friday for their target, Malaysian Plover and my friend recently informed me, the parents has 1 chick now ...

Happy birding !