There’s something a little bit special about a wildlife encounter. It taps into a childlike sense of wonder that all too often remains hidden beneath our sensible adult facade. For a brief moment, we’re transported to a simpler, more natural world and reminded of how we fit into it. It’s….

In November 2010, my wife surprised me with a pair of Swarovski Optik 10×42 SLC HD for my 40th birthday present. Since then we’ve been practically inseparable (me and the binoculars, I mean, although of course the alternative interpretation is also true). They were without a doubt the best binoculars….

For Christmas 2010, I received a copy of a book called Advanced Bird ID Guide: The Western Palaearctic by Dutch birder and bird identification specialist Nils van Duivendijk. It was (still is) a compact, paperback volume — all text, no images — covering every plumage of all 1,300 species and….

Over the last couple of weeks a truly remarkable bird has been making headlines in the national press across Ireland. The Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops), has been turning up in unprecedented numbers this spring, particularly along the south coast, making this the best opportunity ever to catch a glimpse of….

The Bird Photographer of the Year competition is an annual celebration of avian imagery that captures some of the most breathtaking photographs of birds from around the globe. The competition is open to photographers of all ages, from anywhere in the world, and features some of the world’s best bird….

Figures from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) confirm that the red-listed Corncrake has had its most successful Irish breeding season in 25 years with 233 confirmed breeding territories. The 2024 figure represents a 45% increase since 2018. The ground-nesting corncrake is a shy and elusive summer visitor that….

I’ve been using the superb Panasonic Lumix G9 Micro-four-thirds camera for my wildlife photography since I reviewed it here on the site back in 2018, not long after its release. It was… and indeed still is… a fantastic camera for wildlife. With the announcement of the Lumix G9II in late….

“Shark-infested waters” isn’t a term you normally associate with the Irish coastline, yet in late spring and early summer the Irish coast is one of the best places in Europe to see one of the world’s largest sharks. The basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) is the largest fish in the North Atlantic, and second….

Pros: Bright, sharp, high-contrast image that delivers plenty of detail at lower magnifications across a wide range of conditions. Large objective lens pulls in plenty of light through twilight and beyond, focus ring integrated into scope body is quick and accurate. Reasonably compact for a full-size scope. Excellent build quality….

Pros: Fantastic edge-to-edge image quality, sublime ergonomics, great low-light performance and a field of view to rival many 8x binoculars, coupled with outstanding build quality — the NL Pure 10×32 is an exceptional binocular up there with the very best. Cons: While they are svelte, the barrels on the NL Pure are….

When it comes to outdoor gear that can keep you comfortable in all kinds of conditions, and has the ethical environmental credentials many wildlife enthusiasts look for, UK based manufacturer Páramo is going to be up near the top of a very short list. I’ve been using Páramo rain gear….

Pros: Superb image quality that lives up the name. Exceptionally bright, pin-sharp image across the wide field of view. Smooth, accurate focus and outstanding build quality rounds off what is a very accomplished binocular that holds its own with the best on the market. Cons: A little on the large side for….