Is there anyone who is a birder (has a life list, good binoculars and guide books) and cruises? What destinations worldwide are "must see" ports for birding? I am a North American birder with little international birding experience.

Thanks for posting.

Not real "birders" but enjoyed seeing a lot of exotic birds in Kenya, Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand and at a Bird Zoo in Singapore

Scarlet macaws on the wing in Puentarenas, Costa Rica! Lots of other birds, too.

Cheers, Anne

I can't really answer your question, but curious about what you consider good binoculars. I'm a bit of a birder, although my "life list" is a bunch of informal notes in my guide.

I'm entranced right now with the birds on the gulf coast of Florida; got myself a new guidebook even. Plus I'm going on an Alaskan cruise in 2012 so I'm thinking of bettering my nice old 7x35 Bushnells, which have served me well for almost 40 years.

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Wendy,

I work part time for LL Bean in Tyson's Corner VA, and I sell binoculars. Nikon Monarch 8 X 42 are VERY good optics for a good price (around $300). The best binoculars (IMHO) are hand crafted by Swarovski. Expect to pay $2200 for an 8.5 X 42. They are works of art...very bright and true.

Florida and Texas are truly North America's best for bird diversity. Take your binocs everywhere. On our Alaska trip on Regent I saw loons, puffins, eagles and murrelets from my balcony! And whales. It was spectacular.

Good birding,

Paul

Thanks Paul, good to hear that recommendation since I'd already read a recommendation of that very pair of binocs elsewhere. Are they reasonably light (without being too light, of course?) I do intend to take them everywhere--on our brief trips recently we've seen most of the shore birds in Florida already, but I've not identified them all yet. The loons are very familiar to us, since we have them at our summer home on the Ottawa River (a major flyway for Canada Geese, btw.) I will definitely try these binoculars before I buy them. Thanks again.

Wendy,

You might also want to take a look at the Zen-Ray 8x42 ZRS HD (Summit) binoculars. I have the 2009 model of these and have been very happy with them. They are about $100 less than the Nikon Monarchs. Although I have not compared them to the Monarchs, I have read a number of reviews from former Monarch users who thought the Zen-Ray optics were superior to the Monarch optics. I'd advise checking them out.

While I would not call myself a 'birder' by any stretch, I have become quite fond of the various birds we have seen on our travels.
I guess that I wish I knew more about what I am looking at.
I loved the birds in S Africa & New Zealand was filled with bird life.
I use a camera with a long lens rather then the spy-glasses that birders tend to use while checking off their life lists.
But I have surly seen some wonderful critters.

Doug

The S African "Go-Away" bird (can't remember it's true name) hangs in my office.

Thanks Dave, I will look at these too. I will find a store and get my hands on these two--the way the binocular feels is really important, at least to me.