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
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Garden Bird Nestbox Resources
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
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
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
Make your garden bird-friendly
In this guest post Tony Manhart, founder and editor-in-chief at Gardening Dream, shares his tips for making your garden more bird-friendly.Whether young or old, many people enjoy birdwatching. It can be a relaxing way to pass the time, and it is interesting to learn about the different birds that occur where you live. Making your garden more bird-friendly is a great way … [Read more...] about Make your garden bird-friendly
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
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
The hidden life of rivers
Earlier this year, in the midst of lockdown, Ireland's Wildlife Contributor Albert Nolan took his children to a river near his home to explore its hidden wildlife.We took the short trip to Toorenbrien Bridge, careful not to stray over our allotted 2km lockdown radius. Here there is a large parking space and the kids and I were going kick sampling in the river. This is … [Read more...] about The hidden life of rivers
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
New threats facing Ireland’s seals
To the untrained eye, a grey seal and a common seal may look the same, yet there are key differences. Grey seals are huge. Males can weigh up to 300kg and grow to 2.5 metres long, whereas common seals are almost a third of the size. Grey seal pups are distinctly covered in white fur. Common seal pups, on the other hand, are born with a brown, waterproof coat, making them … [Read more...] about New threats facing Ireland’s seals
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
How Planting a Wildflower Bed Can Boost Local Wildlife
Over the past hundred years or so, as farming practices have changed and urban sprawl has extended, the number of areas of wild grasses and wildflowers in Ireland and the UK has significantly dropped. Some organisations state that the loss of ‘unimproved grasslands’ is as high as 99% in Ireland over the past hundred years.WildflowersIt becomes obvious then, if we have … [Read more...] about How Planting a Wildflower Bed Can Boost Local Wildlife
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
New “Recommended” optics store on Ireland’s Wildlife
Our Recommended Optics "Shop" is now liveWe're in the process of going through our reviews for birding and wildlife optics with "Recommended" and "Highly Recommended" ratings, and posting them to a brand new section of our online shop imaginatively named "Recommended Optics".Some of our recently recommended birding and wildlife opticsYou'll notice the word … [Read more...] about New “Recommended” optics store on Ireland’s Wildlife
Certificate of Excellence for Ireland’s Wildlife Tours
We're delighted to announce that our guided wildlife and birding tours based on Ireland's Wild South Coast have been awarded the prestigious Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for 2019.It's a great endorsement, based on real reviews by guests who have spent time with us on the West Cork coast. There really is no better accolade.The great thing is that this is … [Read more...] about Certificate of Excellence for Ireland’s Wildlife Tours
