For the first time in more than a century, not one, but two pairs of Marsh Harrier have bred successfully in the Republic of Ireland.The Irish Raptor Study Group (IRSG) confirmed in December that the rare birds of prey successfully reared young at sites in counties Galway and Westmeath during the 2020 breeding season. The last recorded breeding of the species in Ireland was … [Read more...] about Rare Marsh Harrier breeds successfully in Ireland again
About Calvin Jones
Doogee S96 Pro: an ideal rugged smartphone for outdoor enthusiasts
Pros: great spec, performance and battery life for the money in a phone that's built to survive more extreme conditions than you can. The Doogee S96 Pro will take all the punishment you throw at it and emerge unscathed, offering surprising peace of mind.Cons: screen resolution lower than most contemporary phones (works fine, but still...), may be a bit bulky if you have … [Read more...] about Doogee S96 Pro: an ideal rugged smartphone for outdoor enthusiasts
Regatta Rivington Mens Wellington Review
Pros: Great all-round wellington boot that's comfortable and functional. Adjustable girth via quick-release buckle is convenient and effective. Roomy enough for decent welly socks. Heavy duty, grippy soles great when you venture off-road.Cons: Neoprene lining a bit on the thin side, which feels less "premium" than other boots in this price range, and allows cold to seep … [Read more...] about Regatta Rivington Mens Wellington Review
Sofirn IF25A LED Torch Review
Pros: Super bright and compact. Massive versatility in light output and functions. Extremely lightweight and portable for a light this powerful. Great battery life. USB C in body charging for the included 21700 Lithium Ion battery.Cons: Heats up quickly at highest output level (built in thermoregulation safety feature kicks in). "Anduril" user interface a bit complicated if … [Read more...] about Sofirn IF25A LED Torch Review
Book Review: Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe
The Odonata, dragonflies and damselflies, is one of our most fascinating groups of insects. As adults, they're comparatively large and highly active, which makes them one of the most noticeable and easiest insect groups to watch.From spring, through summer into autumn, dragonflies and damselflies are on my radar whenever I'm out for a tramp around my local patch or … [Read more...] about Book Review: Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe
Swarovski Optik NL Pure 10×42 Binocular Review
Pros: The best binocular I have ever used: period. Exquisite ergonomics, incredible image clarity across the field of view... and what a field of view. The NL Pure takes immersive viewing to a whole new level.Cons: Slight detectable seam in the rubber armour where it meets on the inside of the barrels. No locking mechanism on the dioptre adjustment. … [Read more...] about Swarovski Optik NL Pure 10×42 Binocular Review
Vanguard VEO ED 10×42 Binocular Review
Pros: Excellent entry level ED binocular that ticks a lot of the right boxes for birders and wildlife enthusiasts. Lightweight, with reasonable field of view for a 10x binocular, the VEO ED delivers sharp high-contrast images. Great blend of high-end features at a very reasonable price point.Cons: Focus is a little too aggressive for my taste, and meant I regularly overshot … [Read more...] about Vanguard VEO ED 10×42 Binocular Review
Sofirn SP40 Headlamp Review
Pros: Convenient, lightweight and robust headlight with four very useful brightness levels. 1,200 Lumen "Turbo" mode ludicrously bright. Convenient recharging via micro-USB. 3000mAh 18650 battery included. Magnetic base makes for a convenient and versatile work-light when detached from the head-strap. Wide beam pattern ideal for headlamp and use and general area ilumination. … [Read more...] about Sofirn SP40 Headlamp Review
Fenix PD35 v2.0 LED Torch/Flashlight Review
Pros: Fantastically bright, versatile and compact every-day-carry torch/flashlight that's built to last. Eco mode of 3 lumen great for low-level task lighting and can provide an insane 430 hours (almost 18 days) of continuous light on a single battery. Battery charge level indicator is a handy addition. Rechargeable 18650 batteries work well. Also accepts CR123a Lithium … [Read more...] about Fenix PD35 v2.0 LED Torch/Flashlight Review
Humpback Whale Catalogue breaches 100 animal milestone
The Irish Whale And Dolphin Group's (IWDG) Humpback Whale Catalogue has broken the 100 individual milestone.On the 20 July IWDG researcher Nick Masset photographed two new Humpback Whales off the coast of West Kerry, and HBIRL#100 and HBIRL#101 took their respective places in the photo ID catalogue that documents every individually recognisable Humpback Whale recorded in … [Read more...] about Humpback Whale Catalogue breaches 100 animal milestone
RSPB ID Spotlight Series: Birds
Nothing beats a good field-guide when you're trying to identify a bird you don't recognise (or a field-guide app perhaps these days). But sometimes a traditional field-guide can feel unwieldy and a little cumbersome, especially for beginners who just need a quick reference to a particular group of birds.Enter the brand new RSPB ID Spotlight series of fold-out identification … [Read more...] about RSPB ID Spotlight Series: Birds
Irish eagle numbers boosted
Ten new White-tailed Eagle chicks arrived in Ireland from Norway last week to bolster population numbers as Phase II of the ongoing White-tailed Eagle reintroduction programme got underway.The ambitious reintroduction programme, a joint initiative between the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Golden Eagle Trust, began with the release of 100 Norwegian … [Read more...] about Irish eagle numbers boosted
Live White-tailed Eagle Webcam
Thanks to the National Parks and Wildlife service we can now follow the intrigues and antics of the white-tailed eagle pair nesting in Glengarriff Co. Cork live via their very own nestcam.Part of a reintroduction programme for the species that began in 2007, the adult eagles (male Blue W and female Black P) have successfully hatched a chick over recent days and it's a … [Read more...] about Live White-tailed Eagle Webcam
New wildlife ID tech announced by Swarovski Optik
Swarovski Optik, one of the upper-echelon brands for birding and wildlife optics, is branching out into the tech world with the release of in intriguing new piece of high-tech kit. The new dG (Digital Guide) pairs cutting-edge optics with digital camera technology, integrated WiFi and automated digital identification apps for birds and animals.The family-owned Austrian … [Read more...] about New wildlife ID tech announced by Swarovski Optik
Book Review: Ireland Through Birds
If a lifetime of watching wildlife has taught me anything it's that searching for specific species can be a pretty hit-or-miss affair.That uncertainty is one of the great joys of the natural world: the sense of anticipation, never quite knowing what you might see, makes every sojourn into the outdoors a new adventure. City or countryside, coastal wetland or upland moor, … [Read more...] about Book Review: Ireland Through Birds
Hawke Frontier HDX 8×32 Binocular Review
Pros: Outstanding build quality, excellent optics and superb ergonomics in a very affordable package. Image is crisp, bright and clear in the centre of the field, with plenty of detail and good contrast.Cons: Softening around the field edges is noticeable when panning with a moving subject or scanning a large area and can be a little distracting. While the HD handles … [Read more...] about Hawke Frontier HDX 8×32 Binocular Review
“Be Planet Positive!” Tree Council of Ireland urges Irish Primary Schools
The Tree Council of Ireland, supported by Tetra Pak, is calling on primary schools across the country to get involved in Tetra Pak Tree Day and plant a tree on Thursday, 3rd October 2019. The theme for this year’s campaign is “Be Planet Positive!”, with a focus on the things that primary school children can easily do in their everyday lives to help nature … [Read more...] about “Be Planet Positive!” Tree Council of Ireland urges Irish Primary Schools
David Lindo (AKA The Urban Birder) to open Cape Clear Wildlife Festival
Birdwatch Ireland's Cape Clear Bird Observatory celebrates its 60th birthday this year, and to mark the occasion the island is hosting a nearly two-week-long wildlife festival from Monday 02 September to Saturday 14 September.Well known British "celebrity birder" David Lindo, The Urban Birder, swaps his familiar cityscapes for the wide-open vistas of Ireland's most … [Read more...] about David Lindo (AKA The Urban Birder) to open Cape Clear Wildlife Festival
