Wingpilot, you live in AK and so can use the P900 around that wonderful state. I am primarily a wildlife photographer (particularly birds) and so need the zoom, but also really want the ability for wide angle shots for scenics and landscapes. I have had mine for 4 years now, and took it to Gambell, Prib's, Denali, Kenai, Barrow, Madagascar and South Africa. I think that it is an outstanding camera for its versatility. Granted the image quality is not as good as some DSLRs, but if I were to return to Europe for four months and only had room for one camera, this would be it. No RAW, but it does have GPS built in, and it is relatively compact when compared to a full-sized DSLR. I also have the P1000 which has an amazing zoom (gets pretty grainy past 2000mm), RAW capability, but has no GPS built in. I have been happy with this camera (P900), and even my wife ended up with one for the Madagascar and South Africa trip.
I ordered mine in August and am still waiting. I contacted B&H to inquire on when they might be getting some more in stock, and they said that the manufacturer has no new information on availability.
So, just a slight change to the many answers provided earlier in the discussion regarding wind and weather in NM. I am a current resident just to the northwest of ABQ, and have lived here for 18 years. Previous to that I lived in southern Arizona for 16 years. We DO have strong winds in the spring, lasting from March into late May. The winds set up the weather pattern that will eventually bring rains in July through September. I think that I might disagree with comments on "May should be fine in terms of wind and dust." Some of the worst dust storms I have ever seen here in NM have been in May. Just providing local comments from someone living here, and if you practice camera safety and caution, changing lenses in protected areas (like in the car) should not present problems. You will LOVE your visit, and welcome to the Land of Enchantment!!
Hi All - Sorry to be a wet blanket, but this is a female Spotted Towhee, an uncommon to fairly common breeder to northern Nebraska. The streaked scapulars and back feathers are the give-away. Female Eastern Towhees do not have any markings on the wings or back except for the white base to the primaries.
I think it might be a Guira Cuckoo from Brazil.
Yes, a recently fledged Northern Mockingbird. The yellow around the base of the bill (aka the gape) indicates that it is a juvenile and probably a few weeks out of the nest. Greater Roadrunners only make it as far northeast as southern Missouri....
Bruce -
Nice image! BTW, this is a Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) and not a House Sparrow. Song Sparrows are fairly common to common summer residents in your neck of the woods, but depart to the south for the winter.