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Ireland's Wildlife

Irish wildlife, nature and biodiversity

You are here: Home / Archives for Calvin Jones

Wildlife articles by Calvin Jones

Wildlife and nature articles by Calvin Jones, founder and managing editor of Ireland's Wildlife and founder and wildlife guide of Ireland's Wildlife Tours offering wildlife and birding holidays on Ireland's south coast.

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About Calvin Jones

Calvin Jones is a freelance writer, author, birder and lifelong wildlife enthusiast. He is founder and editor of IrelandsWildlife.com and founder and wildlife guide of Ireland's Wildlife Tours offering wildlife and birding holidays on Ireland's south coast.

Making the most of Spring Migration

March 1, 2021 by Calvin Jones 7 Comments

Grasshopper Warbler

Spring migration is an exciting time of year for birding in Ireland.During this relatively brief window from early April until the end of May birds are on the move. There's a changing of the guard as our winter visitors, like waders, ducks, winter thrushes and the occasional exotic visitor like the bohemian waxwing, depart for their breeding grounds further north, and we … [Read more...] about Making the most of Spring Migration

Garden Bird Nestbox Resources

February 16, 2021 by Calvin Jones

Blue tit approaching a nest box

After feeding our garden birds, the next best way we can help them is to provide them with safe sites to nest and bring up their young.On this page we've gathered some links and resources to help you provide nest boxes for your garden birds.Why provide nest-boxes for garden birds?Populations of many of Ireland's bird species are in sharp decline, even for some of … [Read more...] about Garden Bird Nestbox Resources

Sofirn SC31 Pro LED Torch Review

February 1, 2021 by Calvin Jones Leave a Comment

200m throw SC31Pro from Sofirn

Pros: High-performance compact rechargeable LED torch. Variable light output and versatile functions. Convenient integrated USB C charging of 18650 Lithium Ion battery (included).Cons: Can get hot in Turbo mode. "Anduril" user interface can be a bit of a handful to access more advanced features.The Sofirn SC31 Pro is a great little all-'round light, with an impressive … [Read more...] about Sofirn SC31 Pro LED Torch Review

Rare Marsh Harrier breeds successfully in Ireland again

January 19, 2021 by Calvin Jones 2 Comments

Marsh Harrier Breeds in Ireland Again

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

Doogee S96 Pro: an ideal rugged smartphone for outdoor enthusiasts

January 15, 2021 by Calvin Jones Leave a Comment

Doogee S96Pro Rugged Smartphone Review

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

January 3, 2021 by Calvin Jones Leave a Comment

Wearing the Regatta Rivington Wellington Boots

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

November 4, 2020 by Calvin Jones 2 Comments

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

November 4, 2020 by Calvin Jones Leave a Comment

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

October 29, 2020 by Calvin Jones Leave a Comment

Swarovski Optik NL Pure 10x42 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

September 29, 2020 by Calvin Jones 1 Comment

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

September 25, 2020 by Calvin Jones 1 Comment

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

August 5, 2020 by Calvin Jones Leave a Comment

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

August 4, 2020 by Calvin Jones Leave a Comment

Humpback whale off Ireland's Wild South Coast

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

July 23, 2020 by Calvin Jones Leave a Comment

RSPB ID Spotlight Series Review

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

July 2, 2020 by Calvin Jones Leave a Comment

Irish White Tailed Eagle Population Boost

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

April 16, 2020 by Calvin Jones 3 Comments

White-tailed eagle live 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

February 26, 2020 by Calvin Jones 1 Comment

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

January 14, 2020 by Calvin Jones Leave a Comment

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

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Recent Additions

  • Making the most of Spring Migration
  • Garden Bird Nestbox Resources
  • Sofirn SC31 Pro LED Torch Review
  • Rare Marsh Harrier breeds successfully in Ireland again
  • Doogee S96 Pro: an ideal rugged smartphone for outdoor enthusiasts
  • Regatta Rivington Mens Wellington Review
  • Sofirn IF25A LED Torch Review
  • Book Review: Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe

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