I'm with you, Jerry! In fact, unless someone asks me to be more specific, I just call them "birds."

I agree 100%. My point was directed at gun-grabbing or restricting what those so inclined would do because the citizen used an AR (read Armalite Rifle, not Assault Rifle...)

Sorry for the confusion.

I would agree! Between Stellarium and TPE, I haven't needed anything else.

I like The Photographer's Ephemeris for planning sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset photos. It is an affordable app for Android and Apple devices, and it is free to use online! It well help you plan where to position yourself to get specific objects or terrain in the foreground of your sun/moon shots, and when you place the location pin on the map, it will give you the latitude/longitude of that location.

Here is the online link: app.photoephemeris.com

There is a Tutorial section on the page, but if you're a visual person like me, there are a number of TPE videos on YouTube as well.

Have fun!

Had strict gun control been in place, the gentleman across the street from the church probably would not have had the AR-15 with which he shot this asshole in the leg and abdomen. It was because he was shot by an armed Sutherland Springs resident that he only made it a few miles down the road before running off the road and subsequently putting a bullet in his own worthless skull. Who knows where/how far he would have gone with the ammunition and weapons that he still had in the trunk?

The thicker bill and feathers (hair) extending down onto its bill really push it toward the raven side. I was really surprised at the difference in the voices of the two. Ref my link to the Audobon site above to listen to recordings. Crows caw while the raven has more of a grunt.

I agree! The last time I launched it, I was informed that a new version had been launched. I really like AP, but haven't had a chance to see what was included in the newest version.

Having clean contacts is important. I run mine through the washer at least once a week...

Great shots!

I'm no expert, but according to this Audobon article, my vote goes to raven...
http://www.audubon.org/news/how-tell-raven-crow

I was on my junior high school yearbook staff in the mid '60s, and I ended up being the one with the camera most of the time. I used manual mode 100% of the time because there were no auto modes! We developed and printed our own, and I've been hooked ever since then!

Nice reply, Snap! Thanks for sharing this.

Exactly! Seems a lot of people think focal length and FOV are one and the same, even when they're not.

Beautiful shot, Ken -- nice job!

The old memory trick for minimum handheld shutter speeds suggests that you use a shutter speed at least as fast as the reciprocal of the focal length of the lens you're using. That fits for your 50mm lens, since 1/50" would be the slow shutter speed limit. In the case of your 400mm telephoto, this method would suggest that you not shoot any slower than 1/400". Good luck, and welcome to the group!

Just a thought -- buy the largest size laptop that is still comfortably portable and use a large external monitor when you're working at home. Not only is the large external monitor easy on the eyes in Photoshop CC, but the laptop screen is a great place to place your menus, other running apps, etc. Happy shopping!