I am quite happy with the ASUS Zenbook I purchased from B&H 3 years ago. 8GB RAM i5 proc and 256GB SSD. A newer model is barely in your high end $979. These are well built, quiet and have long battery life off of power. Other models with bigger screens are available for $750, but I haven't had first person experience with them.
The colors in the first picture are fantastic (second is super too).
I'm glad you have some distance from the fire itself.
In North Idaho, where we are now, the fire danger is high but not extreme thanks to moderating temperatures, but a soaking rain without Lightening would be great in your parts and ours too.
I've been on three. Butterfly houses. NO MORE. Never going in one again. I was extremely careful and still managed to stop on two. Much too traumatic for me. I'll enjoy other's pictures.
They fledge so fast, one minute they are there and the next gone. I really like the shot, and it highlights the nesting material too which i always find interesting.
excepting for the Snow version (#1), your capture is FAR superior to the others. Sequim? I hardly ever go north on the Olympic Peninsula. Maybe that should change as I really like weird.
I'm in full agreement with keeping it at 05:00 Eastern. The community is worldwide, so no matter when it occurs in the day, one group/timezone or another will possibly find fault.