My trip to Germany

Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) photographed by Jeff Bouton

Digiscoped through a Leica APO Televid 77 spotting scope with 20x wide angle eyepieceTaken with Leica D-Lux3 camera, near Giessen, Germany 12/9/06

It was my first trip to Europe P.B. (post birding) and I knew I wouldn't have much free time on this work trip, so I kept my birding equipment to a minimum: 2 pairs of binoculars, a spotting scope and tripod, three different eyepieces, my digiscoping adapter, and 2 different cameras (complete with 4 batteries and 5 memory cards).

I know what you're thinking, "THAT's LIGHT?!?..."

As a product specialist to the birding market for Leica Sport Optics, my job usually requires I carry nearly our full product line and all of the accessories as I travel from bird festival to bird festival throughout the country and beyond! This usually includes as many as 13 binoculars , two telescopes, brochures, tablecloths, backdrop, lamps, handouts, etc. So yes, by comparison this was light. This was also a very different type of trip. My usual trip involves going to some of the greatest birding destinations at the peak time to see the greatest variety of birds. HO, hum... someone has to do it! ;)

This trip was so different because it was a first opportunity for me to visit Leica's headquarters in Germany to see first hand where our product is designed and manufactured, since I accepted the position in 2004. More importantly though this trip provided an opportunity to learn more about and celebrate Leica's 100th anniversary of manufacturing binoculars! In early December we debuted our anniversary show complete with displays of historic binoculars and sport optics innovations from the past 100 years. Some really interesting stuff...

Of course I'd be lying if I said the birds weren't a highlight for me, and those who know what a birdbrain I am would know I was lying if I said otherwise!

Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinniculus) photographed by Jeff Bouton
Digiscoped through a Leica APO Televid 77 spotting scope with 20x wide angle eyepiece
Taken with Leica D-Lux3 camera, near Giessen, Germany 12/9/06

Jet lagged, and worn out from a sleepless flight, I was perked up by my first life bird viewed out the plane window as we taxied to our gate at the Frankfurt airport. A Common Buzzard perched just off the taxiway! More would come as my transport whizzed NW toward Braunfels on the famed autobahn. I was trying my best to absorb glimpses of the birds I saw as we sped by: Common Woodpigeon, Fieldfare, Blackbird, Eurasian Kestrel.... "OOOH, what was that gull?"

Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) photographed by Jeff Bouton
Digiscoped through a Leica APO Televid 77 spotting scope with 20x wide angle eyepiece
Taken with Leica D-Lux3 camera, near Giessen, Germany 12/09/06

Out my hotel window it continued: Great Tit, Blue Tit, Rook, Jackdaw, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch... Isn't birding grand?

Exhausted, I still couldn't sleep knowing life birds were just outside the door. So, I decided to take advantage of the waning light and walked down to the small pond I noted on my way in to town. As the sun fell below the hills, I was treated to one last highlight. A gorgeous male Red-crested Pochard sat in this tiny pool. A fantastic way for me to finish my first day in Germany!

Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) photographed by Jeff Bouton
Digiscoped through a Leica APO Televid 77 spotting scope with 20x wide angle eyepiece
Taken with Leica D-Lux3 camera, Braunfels, Germany 12/9/06