How to use a spotting scope for birding

Once you are ready to choose optics to boost your enjoyment of birding, then the first step would be a pair of binoculars. The next skill to acquire after using binoculars is learning how to use a spotting scope for birding.

We suggest this two-step approach because knowing how to use a scope is easier once you have the fundamental bird-spotting skills in place. These skills are more enjoyable to acquire initially using binoculars.

By this time, you will also be more committed to your hobby of birdwatching and may have had sufficient time to save up some funds. This firm commitment is necessary because to get the best out of the new optics, as well as investing in your scope, you will need a tripod to stabilize it.

Once you are comfortable and confident in the use of binoculars and feel you are ready to upgrade to an extreme close up view of birds and wildlife at higher magnifications, then a good spotting scope is a great choice.

Binoculars are really important for birders because they are lightweight and help you find birds quickly. But one of the best things about using spotting scopes for birding are their immediacy. A good spotting scope puts you right up close to those birds.

Another great reason to embark on the learning curve of using birding spotting scopes in the right way is how it advances your bird identification skills. This is not only because of the increase in detail, but also because the best spotting scope performs well in low light.

With many birds more active at the very start and end of the day, in less than bright conditions, this is a key advantage.

Our top tips to help you get the best out of spotting scopes cover how to:

• find a good spot and set up your scope and tripod
• find the birds and aim spotting scopes correctly
• focus and zoom a spotting scope
• cope with atmospheric conditions
• carry your spotting scope and tripod
• avoid eye strain or fatigue

Spotting scope tips: understand the parts

Before you use your new equipment, take time to read what it can do and how to use it. Familiarity and ease with all the moving parts will make all the difference.

The most important parts to your scope are:

Ocular lens

The small lens closest to your eye – the one the eye looks through.

Objective lens

The larger lens furthest from your eye, nearest to the object.

Lens caps

Use them to cover and protect the ocular and objective lenses when you are not using them.

Eye cup

This can be extended if you do not wear glasses when using your scope. Usually they extend with a twisting motion. They may have different stops or settings that you can set according to the thickness of your glasses or how far away they sit from your face.

Focus adjuster

This may be in one of three formats:

• Single knob
• Dual knobs – first knob to get the focus in the right vicinity, second knob to fine tune
• Focus ring/barrel band – encircles the body of the scope

Zoom adjuster

Rotate to increase or decrease magnification

Sun shade

Shields the objective lens from sun or precipitation

Practice will make all the movements second nature. Once the movements are on their way to becoming automatic it is much less taxing to concentrate on applying them at the same time as dealing with the variables out in the field – like the environment and the birds themselves!

Add some support to your birding kit

An integral part of your kit for birdwatching using a spotting scope will be a sturdy tripod.

Once you’ve found yourself the best tripod for the job, feel free to check out this post, which will expand on some pro tips for setting up a tripod at the right height for a spotting scope.

Car window mount: birding with a spotting scope from a vehicle

Birding from a vehicle can be a good way for beginners to take their time getting the hang of the instrument in comfort, using the window as a support, or a specialized car window mount to steady the scope.

Using a car window mount can be more comfortable especially in inclement weather. Another benefit of the window mount is that it tends to cost significantly less than a tripod.

A car window mount is good because you can use your car as a blind.

A blind in birding is anything that you use as cover, to hide you from the bird. While birds might be startled by people, they somehow don’t get as scared by a car.

When the birds can’t see you, they will pay less attention. So it is easier to approach and set up your scope from the car without disturbing them.

How to find a good spot for bird watching

The place you choose to watch from is important because it takes a while to set up your scope. It’s best to choose somewhere that you are happy to settle in for a while so as not to waste time setting up then having to repack, move and set up again somewhere else.

Criteria to use to pick a good spot for birding

Choice

Having the option to watch in different directions allows you to cover a greater area and switch angles when bored.

Height

An elevated spot will give a better perspective.

Distance

You want to be at an optimal distance from where the birds are. This will strike a good balance between leaving them undisturbed but enabling your scope to capture the best images.

Visibility

Open, unobstructed views for a fair distance work best for scoping.

Comfort

Find somewhere that will easily fit both you and your tripod in a relaxed stance, preferably sitting down or resting your back or legs. If you can carry some cushioning too, even better.

Standing in an awkward position to look through your scope is more tiring and less fun.

Taller birders can find it a challenge to find a tripod that extends sufficiently to be comfortable when viewing. There are some suitable choices in this round-up of top tall tripods.

Practice with stationary objects

If you have never used a spotting scope before, it’s a good idea to do some practice. Just get in the habit of using the scope and focusing.

Using a stationary object for practice will help the processes of aiming and focusing to become automatic. The repeated movements will become familiar and fixed in your muscle memory.

It can take some getting used to but through practice, though, using the scope will become second nature.

Once you have become more proficient at switching from looking at something stationary with the naked eye to looking through the scope, watching for moving objects will be much easier.

It’s best to begin with the power as low as possible. This will give the widest possible field of view, which makes it easier to find objects.

So if it is a fixed-power scope with interchangeable eyepieces, start by selecting the one with the least power. With zoom eyepieces, reduce the zoom setting to its lowest.

You can switch up to more powerful magnification later once you’ve found the target. Increasing magnification will also reduce the width of your field of view.

How to look into the scope

• Take off the lens caps and any coverings on your scope so that you can access all the controls.
• If you are not wearing glasses, extend the eyecups (usually these twist out).
• If your scope has a built-in sunshade, go ahead and extend this if necessary. It’s usually needed if the sun is to the side of you rather than the rear.
• First look into the scope from a few inches away. From here, find the position where you can see a bright circle. This is the exit pupil.
• Keeping this circle within your vision, slowly move your eye closer to the eyepiece.
• Once your eye is closer to the eyepiece (but not touching it) you should reach a point where you can see your target. Ta-dah!

Moving the scope to pan

Hopefully, with the help of our guide to choosing a good tripod for a spotting scope, you will have selected a fluid tripod head with a smooth movement. This kind of tripod head that lets you move or rotate is best for a birding scope.

To pan left and right, look for an axis rotation lever or pan handle on the side of the tripod. Unlock the tilt and pan locks to allow you to move the scope. On some models the locks will be integrated into the handle.

Using this handle, it is easy to pan across and follow your target as the bird moves while keeping the image steady. Be sure to use the handle to move the scope, rather than directly moving the scope itself.

How to sight and aim spotting scopes for birding

Some scopes have a sight line to help with aiming. Otherwise, look along the barrel of the scope to line up the scope with the bird. It’s easier to do this if you have a straight scope. But plenty of practice with an angled spotting scope will help you to get used to this.

A good tip is to use large objects in the landscape as landmarks. These can help you to place the bird in relation to their location, moving your gaze from the big target to a smaller one.

Where to begin aiming

Begin far away looking faraway and finding the line of the horizon. Then, move the view nearer and find the subject.

Next try looking at large objects in the distance, such as trees or buildings.

As you progress, move onto large slow-moving birds, then flying birds near the horizon.

The first few times you use a spotting scope can be shaky but steadiness will increase with practice.

How to focus the spotting scope

Once you have found a subject to look at, the aim is to move the focus controls so that the image is totally sharp. The more quickly you can do this, the more chance you have of seeing the bird still in the position you spotted it.

So it is worth the practice to get really speedy at twisting the focus adjuster to find a clear, sharp image that is easy for your eyes to see without straining.

The focus adjuster may be in one of three formats:

• Single knob
• Dual knobs – first knob to get the focus in the right vicinity, second knob to fine tune
• Focus ring/barrel band – encircles the body of the scope

Zooming in on the bird

To scan for birds, a low magnification such as 20x is best because it gives the widest possible field of view. When you find a bird that you want to get a closer look at, try zooming in from your low initial setting to a higher power.

Increase the power of the zoom by turning the adjuster.

Alter the focus as necessary.

As the magnification increases, the field of view decreases. So if you would like to find a different bird, it’s a good idea to zoom out for a wider field of view. Then when you have found another bird, zoom back in again. Refocus if needed.

Pay attention to the atmosphere

Weather conditions will affect visibility through your scope. There are obvious obstructions like rain, fog, clouds or pollution.

The humidity in the air before and after rain reduces views. If there is a lot of moisture in the air, you can expect it to be difficult to see detail even at 30x on humid days.

The heat, too, can reduce the power of your scope by as much as half. Even with the sunshade on your scope, it may be hard to see detail in a bright glare.

Heat waves can make it a difficult matter to see things in your scope. The magnification of a spotting scope amplifies mirages and prevents you from seeing as far as usual. And the heat can affect the gases sealed inside the spotting scope

Many spotting scopes have gases like nitrogen or argon sealed inside them as a waterproofing and fogproofing measure. The heat can cause these gases to expand and contract, further distorting any image.

Take regular breaks to rest your eyes

Long use of the scope can cause eye fatigue unless you rest your eyes regularly. It’s not usual to use just one eye, or to be looking at a magnified image, so frequent five-minute breaks benefit your eyes. Resting your eye helps to stay fresh and alert.

It is natural that people favour one eye more than the other. On the other hand, if you can learn to use both eyes to view through the scope it reduces the risk of eye strain.

Keeping the rest of your face relaxed, or to realize when you might be squinting, also helps. Some birders find it helps to cover one eye, perhaps with a roll-down beanie hat, or even an eye patch, pirate-style! It’s up to your personal preference.

All you need to know about how to use a spotting scope for birding – sorted!

You’ll be able to see more bird watching with a scope than you could with binoculars. Most birders find that when they want to improve their skills but can’t get close to a rare bird to see it, a scope is a great tool to help.

Spotting scopes take more practice than binoculars to be able to find birds and view them in a clear, steady image. But it also brings you closer to details that you can’t see otherwise. This really develops your identification skills.

How to choose a spotting scope for birding