Taken on 15/11/2001
Although American Wigeon isn't a huge rarity, and some of the other contenders for this month's prize might be technically superior, we liked the way Andy Mackay managed to capture this bird in a characterful pose and displaying a diagnostic feature of the species (the whitish underwing feathers). We also liked the fact that the shot was obtained using relatively inexpensive equipment, which is surely the greatest strength of the new technique of "digiscoping". Andy told us: "The photo was a videograb taken with a Panasonic NV DS55 camcorder through a Kowa TS611 scope, which I think proves that you don't have to have the latest Leica or 'big' Kowa to take decent shots (which is just as well as I can't afford one!!). I was fortunate that the bird was quite close, and the light was also good, and I was especially pleased when it wing-flapped. This was the best of several frames showing the underwing pattern." Andy also asked us to mention that copies of the shot (and others) are available for purchase at www.birdingpix.co.uk. As his prize, Andy chose a copy of our CD-ROM Guide to Eastern Birds. A shot showing the unmarked white axillaries
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