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Ireland's Wildlife

Irish wildlife, nature and biodiversity

You are here: Home / Archives for Wildlife Reviews

Wildlife Product Reviews

The review section features independent reviews of the latest wildlife books, optics, outdoor clothing, gadgets and accessories to help enhance your wildlife watching experience.

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 Leave a Comment

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 Leave a 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

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

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

Hawke Frontier HDX 8×32 Binocular Review

December 16, 2019 by Calvin Jones Leave a Comment

Hawke Frontier HDX 8x32 Highly Recommended by Ireland's Wildlife

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

XP Pen Deco 03 Graphics Tablet Review

May 22, 2019 by Calvin Jones 2 Comments

XP-Pen Deco 03 Tablet Review

A graphics tablet may seem like an odd thing to be reviewing on a wildlife and nature site, but in today's increasingly connected online world the content we create plays an incredibly important role in helping us reach and engage with more people. Whether you're a wildlife photographer, artist or just a keen enthusiast who wants to share your love of wildlife with the world, … [Read more...] about XP Pen Deco 03 Graphics Tablet Review

Hawke Frontier EDX 8×42 Binocular Review

April 27, 2019 by Calvin Jones 12 Comments

Hawke Frontier EDX 8x42 Binocular Review

Pros: Superb image quality and premium build quality deliver excellent all-around performance. Contemporary design looks great, is ergonomic, lightweight and a delight to carry and use for extended periods in the field. Top notch accessories complete the package.Cons: Minor observations rather than real "cons" -- lack of thumb indents feels a little strange if you're used … [Read more...] about Hawke Frontier EDX 8×42 Binocular Review

New Lumix G90 mirrorless camera announced by Panasonic

April 18, 2019 by Calvin Jones Leave a Comment

LUMIX G90 with kit lens

Regular readers of Ireland's Wildlife will recall that I've been using Panasonic's flagship micro-four-thirds format stills camera, the Lumix G9, for about a year now, and I've been very impressed by the results.It's an extremely capable camera, with lenses to match, and is ideally suited to the kind of photography I do: mostly wildlife, but also mostly on the move, while … [Read more...] about New Lumix G90 mirrorless camera announced by Panasonic

Book Review: How to Be an Urban Birder

December 11, 2018 by Calvin Jones Leave a Comment

One of the best things about birding is that you can do it wherever you happen to find yourself. Whether you're in your own back garden, travelling to the remotest corners of the globe, or simply popping out to the shops, birds are everywhere, and there's always the potential of seeing something interesting. That's why I have three pairs of binoculars in my personal birding … [Read more...] about Book Review: How to Be an Urban Birder

Review: Wunderbird Clothing for Birders

December 3, 2018 by Calvin Jones Leave a Comment

Wunderbird: outdoor clothing for birders

Wunderbird is a startup company creating a unique range of clothing designed especially for birders and wildlife enthusiasts. Their clothing is lightweight, breathable, quick drying and has a number of special features specifically aimed at birders.They sent us one of their "Peregrine" long-sleeved T-Shirts to try out... here's how we got on.Do birders really need … [Read more...] about Review: Wunderbird Clothing for Birders

Book Review: The Great Big Book of Irish Wildlife Through the Seasons

November 24, 2018 by Calvin Jones Leave a Comment

The Great Big Book of Irish Wildlife Through The Seasons by Juanita Browne

When it comes to conservation there is nothing more important than reconnecting our children with the natural world around them.Young children are fascinated by living things and have an innate curiosity about the animals, plants and other organisms they share the world with. I see it all the time when I visit primary schools under Ireland's fabulous Heritage in Schools … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Great Big Book of Irish Wildlife Through the Seasons

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  • 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
  • Swarovski Optik NL Pure 10×42 Binocular Review
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  • Vanguard VEO ED 10×42 Binocular Review

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