Welcome back to the Entryway to Birding blog! It’s hard to believe it is already August, but here we are. Fall migration started to pick up in mid-July as shorebirds, our earliest southward migrants, began to arrive. Later this month—likely late or mid-August—we can expect to see some warblers and other migrating passerines come through, so keep your eyes peeled and study up on those fall plumages.
One of the perks of fall migration is just how extended it feels. Spring can come and go in a flash, but fall migration lingers. You might be wondering how you can make the most of it as a beginning birder, and one of the questions that’s likely crossed your mind as you think about fall’s incoming shorebirds and waterfowl is, “Do I need a spotting scope?”
I can’t answer this question for you—only you can decide if it’s worth the investment. But in this week’s blog entry, I will address some things you should consider if you’ve been internally debating this question. I’ll also have some tips for how to make the most of your birding without a scope.
Let’s get started!
My scope, just the other day, out near the intersection of Patton Rd and Oak Rd, north of Waunakee. This is one of the best shorebird viewing spots so far this fall, but those birds are out there quite a ways. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
Spotting Scope 101
What exactly is a spotting scope? What can it do for me? How big of a difference does it really make?
Spotting scopes look like small telescopes—instead of the two eyepieces on binoculars, scopes have a singular eyepiece that you look through. They require a tripod to be set up; the scope attaches to the tripod head which allows you to swivel it as you view. For folks that bird exclusively from their vehicles, window mounts are available in lieu of a tripod. Either way, a scope isn’t designed to be a handheld optic like your binoculars—it needs a mount for stability.
If you’re rocking some binoculars for birding, you’ve likely got some 8x42 or 10x42 bins, which are going to magnify what you’re looking at by eight times (8x) or ten times (10x). Spotting scopes are going to take that magnification to another level. They’ll give you a range of magnification, usually starting in the 15-20x range while zoomed out, and the 40-60x range while all the way zoomed in. So what might look like a brown blob in your binoculars can turn into a bird with some clear, crisp field marks through a spotting scope.
Here are two pictures to help you compare what you’ll see with binoculars vs. a spotting scope. On the left is an image I took with my cellphone through my binoculars, and on the right is an image I took with my cellphone through my spotting scope. Can you see that blurry white blob in the center left picture? A spotting scope turned that blob into a beautiful snowy owl. Photos by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
Basically, a scope allows you to see birds that are far away. It’s not useful when it comes to birding on a walk in the woods—not only would it be a pain to carry, but you’d struggle to get it set on a small, fast moving bird, and your binoculars will serve you better. But if you’re looking at waterfowl out on a lake or shorebirds out on a mudflat in a flooded field, a scope absolutely comes in handy. And it can be a gamechanger in getting to know and ID those far-off birds.
I would not recommend starting off your birding journey with a spotting scope. Start with binoculars and get comfortable with them before you consider making a much larger investment. But if you’ve found that you’ve really got the birding bug and want to take your birding skills to the next level, then a spotting scope is something you’ll likely need at some point.
But, as with everything, there are some pros and cons. Let’s break it down.
The Downside
Scopes are expensive. If you’d like a quality scope that will give you crisp, clear image quality and good magnification, you’ll have to be prepared to pay for it. (I still remember my initial sticker shock when I looked up prices … oof. They get into four digits really fast.) At minimum, to get what one would consider a basic, entry-level quality scope, you’ll have to invest at least two hundred dollars—and at that price point, you’ll need to consider if the level of image quality you’re going to get is worth it. Depending on your level of interest and commitment, you might find that saving up for a more expensive scope is the better option. Rule of thumb: You should buy the absolute best you can afford.
Tripods are also expensive, and you’ll have to purchase one in addition to your scope. If you’re thinking about your budget, don’t forget to include the cost of a sturdy tripod. A tripod is not the place you want to cut any corners, either. A good tripod can make or break your scope experience—literally. If it’s too light or not sturdy enough, it may simply topple in windy conditions and break your scope in the process. Not to mention the shake from a flimsy tripod will prevent you from getting a clear image.
Here’s me pictured with my scope. I figured out a system for packing it and the tripod into a backpack so I could take it on longer hike-ins. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
A scope + a tripod = a hefty combo that you’ll have to lug around. Likely in addition to your binoculars. And in addition to your camera, if you’ve got one. If you’re gear-adverse and not thrilled about hauling around a scope, that’s something that might shape your decision. By and large, most situations that involve using a scope are easy-access spots where you’re likely stationary anyway, but there may be times when you need to carry it in and out of a destination. While I’ve love my scope for all the birds it lets me see, I get annoyed having to walk more than half a mile with it slung over my shoulder.
On the Plus Side
You will see more birds! And oh, you’ll see them very well. I remember how shocked I was when I first used a scope to look at waterfowl out on University Bay on Lake Mendota last winter. I had been looking at them with my binoculars and was practicing my IDs with what I could pick out based on profile and some distant field marks. But after my first look with a scope … I was blown away. These birds looked nothing like they did in my binoculars—the level of detail that I was able to see made them look completely different.
Being able to see those details gave me a much stronger appreciation of waterfowl. To be completely honest, when I first started birding, I thought waterfowl seemed kinda … boring. I couldn’t have been more wrong! I just wasn’t able to see them well enough with my binoculars to really appreciate how gorgeous they are and how neat their behaviors can be. A scope can help you appreciate the wonder and beauty of birds that you might rarely get to see up close.
When it comes to shorebirds, a scope can reveal birds that you may not even realize are there. There have been soooo many times I’ve scanned a mudflat with my binoculars and thought I saw nothing, whereas a scan with a scope would reveal a bunch of well-camouflaged peeps poking around in the mud.
I probably would have missed this gorgeous American golden plover if it wasn’t for a good look through the scope. Look how well his colors blend in! (As a side note, I took this photo with my cellphone through my scope. For those without a camera, a scope + cellphone can open you up to the world of digiscoping and allow you to document your bird sightings!) Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
Your ID skills will grow tenfold with a scope, simply because you’ll be able to see details that your binoculars won’t be able to show you. If you’re a new birder that is really looking to improve your identification skills and get more familiar with the bird species in our area, a spotting scope will help you accomplish that goal.
A Few Stray Points to Consider
If we were not in the middle of a pandemic, my thoughts on spotting scopes would be a bit different. Prior to the pandemic, I would have suggested that you get some practice with scopes with the help of some fellow birders. But now that’s a bad idea, as scopes are high-touch surfaces and sharing them is very risky. Most birders would still be happy to recommend you a brand, so it’s still worth inquiring (from a distance) for more info if you see someone with a scope or tripod you like.
Think about your level of commitment to the hobby. Are you a casual birder and planning to stay that way? Are you committed to the hobby but in no hurry to delve deeper? Or are you a beginning birder on a roll, ready to see new birds and see them now? (This was me.) Your answer to this question can help you figure out if you need to save up and how fast you might want to plan your budget.
Not having a scope does not mean that you aren’t a good birder. Your gear is not a status symbol, nor does it reflect your skills. No one is judging you for what you may or may not have. If a scope isn’t in your budget now, that’s fine. There is no rush. The glorious thing about birding as a hobby is that it can be lifelong. You’ve got a lifetime of enjoying birds ahead of you, with many, many future opportunities to potentially invest in a scope.
Notice how the eyepiece is angled up? This makes it easy to look down into your scope at a natural, comfortable viewing angle. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
If you do plan on purchasing a scope, you’ll have to decide between angled and straight. Here I finally have a definitive answer for you! Choose angled. You will have a much happier viewing experience. As you look at scope options and specifics, also make sure you aim for something water and fogproof, and ideally with a good warranty. Accidents will happen, despite your best intentions.
Getting the Most of Your Birding — Without a Scope
You can still enjoy waterfowl and shorebirds without a scope. It’s just a matter of finding the right place and right time to get good, close looks at these birds with your binoculars. Patience and persistence will have to be your game. Keep your eyes peeled for ponds, flooded fields, and mudflats along the sides of the road, particularly in rural areas, where you might easily pull off and get close looks. Staying in your car and using it as a blind is also less likely to spook the birds, so they may stay closer. I took the photo below from my car parked along the side of a rural road, and my binoculars got me great views.
Even if you can’t get as close as you’d like, your ID skills will still improve—you’ll get better at IDing birds from afar, which is a challenge for everyone! Before getting my scope, I had to get really good at picking out details in waterfowl profiles, and that still helps me today.
These pectoral sandpipers were along the edge of a flooded field, right off the road. I watched them from my car so to not spook them, but they were so close I didn’t even need binoculars! Finding close-up spots like this can take patience, but it’s worth it! Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
If you’ve caught the birding photography bug, then maybe you’ve already invested in a camera. Put that camera to use. Take photos of those far off birds, and use your zoom to get as close of a look as you can. The photos you take won’t be quality stuff, but they can be useful for ID purposes. When you bird with a camera, it’s not just about taking well-framed, good quality bird photos. Your camera becomes an ID tool. My photo roll is full of low-quality, max-zoom images of birds that I was trying to get a closer look at so I could make an ID. Your camera won’t solve everything, since you do still have to worry about image distortion, especially with varying lighting conditions, so you shouldn’t fully trust a questionable photo if you’re waffling on an ID. But it’s another tool in your belt if you’re without a scope, and you should take advantage of it if you can.
Are you without a camera, but do have a cell phone and binoculars? For the ultra-creative, desperate person (this used to be me before I invested in a camera), you can take pictures through your binoculars with your cellphone camera to maximize the amount of zoom you get. They make phone adapters to make this easier, but I’ve only ever done this by hand so I can’t speak to the adapter. Is this option a pain in the butt? Yep. Will it likely only work with a stationary or slow moving bird? Yep. But is it an option for the desperate bird-lover getting by on a budget who just needs to know what that far-off bird is? Absolutely.
I’m not going to tell you that you need a scope, nor am I going to tell you that you don’t need a scope. The decision is dependent on your level of commitment to birding as a hobby and the amount of monetary investment you’re willing to make. As a new birder, you have plenty of time to mull this decision over. There’s no hurry.
That said, if you are in the market—or plan to be in the market down the line—do your research. Shop around. Read reviews. Don’t impulse buy. Budget wisely. Be patient in your search. And buy the absolute best you can afford, as a quality scope will last you a lifetime.
Here are some must-reads to get you started with your research. There are many aspects about scope quality you’ll want to consider that I haven’t covered in my post, but these articles do a great job of breaking down the important details. Good luck!
The Audubon Guide to Scopes. Read this for a great breakdown of scopes for every budget range.
A Guide to Birding with Spotting Scopes. Read this for a great overall piece on choosing a scope specific to your birding needs.
How To Choose a Spotting Scope. Read this for a quick, easy breakdown of all the different factors you should consider while choosing a scope.
Guide to Spotting Scopes. Read this to get a good handle on all the scope-related terminology and the more technical aspects, but in layman's terms.
That’s all for this week, folks. Happy birding!
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Caitlyn is the Communications and Outreach Assistant at Madison Audubon. She’s crazy for birds because they changed her life. She’ll be back next Monday with some tips and tools for birders, new and experienced! Between now and then, she’d love to hear about the birds you’re seeing and hearing. Leave a comment below or email to drop her a line!
