EDITOR'S CHOICE

The very best new stuff and exciting things for birders.

REVIEW: ZEISS SFL 8X40 BINOCULARS

ZEISS have announced a new flagship binocular range called The SFL.
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Building on the success of the Victory range, ZEISS engineers have put a huge emphasis around weight and performance on this new launch to give the SFL (Smart Focus & Lightweight) a USP which could plug a nice gap in the premium binoculars market for birders who are neither fully sold on the 8x32 or 8x42 options and boost these binoculars to the top of premium optic shoppers next purchase list.

​The question is, have they done it? Let's find out... 

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Latest news & Reviews

The latest news and reviews from around the birding tribes.
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REVIEW: VIKING OPTICAL OSPREY 8X42 BINOCULARS

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​​​​​​​​​Building on the success of the Peregrine range Viking hopes this Osprey ED flat field binocular, with extra low dispersion (ED) glass objective elements and dielectric coatings on the prisms will welcome a new standard not seen in instruments at this price point.
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BTO: PJ THE SUPER CUCKOO CLOCKS IN FOR SEVENTH SUMMER

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​​​​​​​​​Scientists at the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) have announced that PJ, a Cuckoo they fitted with a satellite tag back in 2016, has once again returned to his breeding grounds in Suffolk.
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REVIEW: SWAROVSKI OPTIK CL CURIO 7X21 BINOCULARS

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​​​​​​​​​Swarovski Optik recently sent us their newest product in the CL family of binoculars, the foldable and compact CL Curio 7x21 Binoculars.
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RSPB: BRITAIN'S BITTERNS MAKE RECORD BREAKING RECOVERY

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​​​​​​​​Bitterns have had another record-breaking year with 228 booming males counted in 2021. This is up from 209 in 2019, according to new survey results from the RSPB and Natural England (recording in 2020 was affected by the coronavirus pandemic). 
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NEW RESEARCH: SNIFFER DOGS BEING TRAINED TO HELP DETECT SEABIRDS

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​​​​​​​An innovative study, led by the RSPB, has been testing the ability of dogs to track seabirds that nest in burrows. The researchers having been testing their dogs’ ability to detect Manx shearwater and European storm petrels, and whether dogs can differentiate between these two seabird species.
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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: THE BEST UK NATURE RESERVES TO VISIT IN 2022

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​​​​​​With so many people now noticing nature and birds around them - as if for the first time, we thought it would be useful to post up our list of the best Nature Reserves to visit in the UK for those wishing to see a bit more of Britain in 2022 and enjoy some well deserved days out.
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REVIEW: ViKING OPTICAL BADGER 8X42 BINOCULARS

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​​​​​​The Badger range from Viking has been designed for the casual or birdwatching beginner and Dave recently had some time with the all-rounder, 8x42 model. At sub £100 - could this be the ultimate option for those who are looking for a cheaper binocular?

Without further ado - let's find out...
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RECORD NUMBERS: THE COMMON CRANE CONTINUES ITS COMEBACK AFTER THE LATEST BREEDING SURVEY REVEALS A RECORD BREAKING 72 PAIRS ACROSS THE UK

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​​​​​The common crane has continued its latest comeback after the most recent breeding survey revealed a record breaking 72 pairs across the UK in 2021 - its highest number since cranes returned in 1979 after becoming extinct in the 1600s.
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​EVENTS: GLOBAL BIRDFAIR ANNOUNCED FOR ​WEEKEND OF 15-17 JULY

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​​​​A major new birding event has been announced in Rutland, England for summer 2022 with the launch of Global Birdfair.
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CONSERVATION HEROES: UNCOVERING THE MOVEMENTS OF ONE OF EUROPE'S RAREST EAGLES

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One of Europe’s rarest birds of prey, the Greater Spotted Eagle, has been tracked by scientists to better understand its movements and the pressures it faces outside of the breeding season.
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REVIEW: VIKING OPTICAL KESTREL ED 8X42 BINOCULARS​

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​​​​​​​​​​The Kestrel binoculars from Viking Optical are a set of mid-range models that I have been keen to take a closer look at here at Birding24/7. With the promise of offering the same quality as many more expensive binoculars with high image clarity and a durable, weatherproof design - I took them out for a saunter through the local patch of woodland.
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​​BIRD FACTS: 5 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT ROBINS, THE NATION'S FAVOURITE BIRD

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​​​​​​​​​​​There’s so much to love about a robin. They’re easy to spot with their handsome red breasts, they’re people-friendly and they provide us with beautiful birdsong pretty much all year round. No wonder they’re the UK’s favourite bird, says the RSPB.
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CONSERVATION: ​NEW REPORT SHOWS THAT THE FATE OF SOME OF THE UK’S RAREST BIRDS ARE IMPROVING

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​​​​​​​​​​A new report shows that conservation work is helping to boost the populations of some of the rarest birds in the UK, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
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​​Review: LEICA NOCTIVID 10X42 'EDITION OLIVE GREEN' BINOCULARS​​​

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​​​​​​​​​Leica have been synonymous with manufacturing high-quality precision optics for many years now, and with their flagship Noctivid range receiving a recent colour update - we thought it was time to see if the Noctivid's can still keep up with the 2021 pacesetters.
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​​CONSERVATION: ​WHITE-TAILED EAGLE IDENTIFIED AS NEARLY 24 YEARS OLD, MAKING IT THE OLDEST KNOWN IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND

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​​​​​​​​A ring that is fitted to a White-tailed Eagle nestling that fledged in the Highland region of Scotland in 1996, has allowed the individual to be identified in the field as an adult bird in 2020, making it the oldest known bird of this species in Britain and Ireland, according to the British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) latest ringing report. 
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​​Review: VIKING OPTICAL PEREGRINE ED 8X42 BINOCULARS​

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​​​​​​​​​​Viking Optical have been growing and growing as a brand in recent years. We recently stopped by their head office in Ipswich for a closer look at the range. We left with a pair of Peregrine 8x42's and took them for a spin back on home turf, around the Lea Valley.
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​REVIEW: ​​​KOWA TSN-99A PROMINAR SPOTTING SCOPE

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​​​​​This was equipment that has been under wraps for a very long time and we had received only snippets of info about throughout 2020. So it was after some eager waiting for the box of goodies to arrive that I set off to the usual Lea Valley patch for several days birding, armed with the TSN-99A PROMINAR.
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​REVIEW: ​​BUSHNELL ENGAGE EDX 8X42 BINOCULARS

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​​​​Most people will recognise the Bushnell brand. A household name in the sports optics industry worldwide, with more than 60 years of experience earning a reputation as one of the leading manufacturers of binoculars.

Our first Bushnell binoculars test for a while comes in the form of the popular EDX model. The Engage EDX 8x42mm's to be precise.
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​CONSERVATION: ​HUNTING BAN IN SPAIN WILL SAVE ALMOST 1 MILLION TURTLE DOVES

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Authorities in Spain have agreed a one-year ban on the hunting of turtle doves, sparing an estimated 1 million birds that would otherwise be legally shot in the country.​​​​​
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​REVIEW: ​HAWKE FRONTIER APO 8X42 BINOCULARS

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​​​In complete contrast to our last binoculars review the conditions were somewhat warm and pleasurable as we took the intriguing HAWKE Frontier APO 8x42's with a 'flat field view' for a spin down the local patch. Here's our take on things...​
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new Gear: SWAROVSKI OPTIK EXPANDS ITS NL PURE RANGE WITH SMALLER, LIGHTER NL PURE 32 BINOCULARS

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​​The Tyrolean family-owned company has announced it is launching a smaller, lighter version of the binoculars in May 2021 - the NL Pure 32.​
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​REVIEW: ZEISS Victory sf 8X32 BINOCULARS

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It was an extremely wet Friday morning when we took the ZEISS Victory SF 8x32's down the Lea Valley for a long awaited review - but this gave us a rare opportunity to put a few manufacturer claims to the test...​​​​​
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challenges: 1 MILLION TAKE PART IN RECORD-BREAKING RSPB BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH​​

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Over a million people across the UK spent an hour watching the birds that visit their garden or outdoor space for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, double last year’s participation numbers.​
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review: OPTICRON AURORA BGA VHD 10X42 BINOCULARS

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​​The Aurora BGA VHD 10x42's have been designed on a new platform with an entirely new optical system by Opticron. We have heard great things about them and were keen to have a look. So off to the Fishers Green / Lea Valley patch we went...​
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Garden birdwatch: ​PLENTY OF REASONS TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT UK'S HOUSE SPARROWS

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​Saturday 20 March 2021 was World Sparrow Day and according to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), there are plenty of reasons to be cheerful for our House Sparrows.​
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NEW GEAR: ​OPTICRON RELEASES THEIR ALL-NEW AURORA BGA VHD 8X42 AND 10X42 BINOCULARS

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​Designed on a new platform with an entirely new optical system, the Aurora BGA VHD binoculars are on paper - right up there with the leading lightweight pro field binoculars available today.​
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​REVIEW: SWAROVSKI OPTIK NL PURE 8X42 BINOCULARS

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In February, I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to evaluate the new Swarovski Pure NL 8x42 binoculars and didn’t hesitate. From the moment I removed them from the box I realised that my optimism had been justified. ​
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Tech: ​NEST BOX LIVE LAUNCHes ON KICKSTARTER

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Nest Box Live is an innovative ‘smart’ nest box that sends notifications, records footage and live streams to social media. It’s packed full of technology that can track breeding patterns and monitor populations.​
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new gear: GEARING COMPANY LAUNCH THE 'FUTURE OF TRIPODS'​​

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The new Gearing Tripod System, featuring patented magnetic technology and highly customisable elements, is promising to change the game somewhat.​
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​conservation: CRANE POPULATION HITS RECORD-BREAKING HIGH AFTER BECOMING EXTINCT IN THE UK NEARLY 400 YEARS AGO

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Common crane numbers have hit record-breaking levels after becoming extinct in the UK nearly 400 years ago. Thanks to the efforts of conservationists, 64 pairs were present in 2020.​
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new gear: ​​STYLISH AND PRACTICAL NEW OUTDOORS JACKETS FROM COUNTRY INNOVATION HIT THE SHOPS AFTER A 2 YEAR WAIT

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Somerset based outdoors clothing specialist, Country Innovation are masters of their art. For 25 years, the brand has poured its heart and soul into design and development of clothing products for people who enjoy the great outdoors and have created specialist jackets for birders and wildlife watchers/photographers. ​​
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NEW GEAR: ​SWAROVSKI OPTIK RELEASE NEW COMPACT ALL-ROUNDER 

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Since the launch of its compact binoculars in 1989, they have become some of the company’s most popular products and evolved into the ideal companions for a wide range of activities. Now SWAROVSKI OPTIK has given the popular CL Pocket a whole new look. ​
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Extinction: ​THE NATIONAL BIRD OF CHILE, COLOMBIA, ECUADOR AND BOLIVIA IS NOW GLOBALLY THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION

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The iconic, Andean Condor, is the emblematic national bird of Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia. This majestic species now faces its biggest fight for survival as it stares extinction full in the face.
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Garden birdwatch: where have all our blue tits gone in 2020?

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Lockdowns have allowed many people to reconnect with nature in 2020, but evidence from the BTO's Garden BirdWatch survey has shown that some of our favourite garden species, such as the Blue Tit, have been struggling this year, possibly due to the unusually warm spring.
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NEW GEAR: ​SWAROVSKI OPTIK LAUNCHES NEW GEAR COLLECTION

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Already one of the world's leading manufacturers of long-range optics, SWAROVSKI OPTIK now offers more diverse equipment with the launch of their new GEAR collection. Products which now include nicely designed backpacks, gloves, beanies, flasks and other accessories - ideal for birding and wildlife watching in the colder months to come. 
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Rarity: Mega birding milestones on the Isles of Scilly

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The Isles of Scilly are famed for diverse, beautiful and often rare wildlife. Autumn migration is where the magic really happens and this season is shaping up to be a classic year, with sightings already including Black Kites, Spotted Sandpiper, Temminck’s Stint and an Alpine Swift.
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​NEW GEAR: SWAROVSKI OPTIK RELEASE NEW 115-MM OBJECTIVE MODULE

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SWAROVSKI OPTIK release 'first of its kind' new 115-mm objective module for wildlife watchers.
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Populations: ​IT'S OFFICIAL! THE WREN IS THE UK'S MOST COMMONEST BIRD

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In the latest report looking at the size of our bird populations the Wren tops the list with 11 million pairs across the UK.
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Conservation: ​​​WORLD'S RAREST DUCK BREEDS IN WILD FOR FIRST TIME

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A pioneering conservation project, to save the world’s rarest duck, has hit a key milestone well ahead of expectations.
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NEW GEAR: CANON LAUNCHES NEW IMAGE STABILISER BINOCULAR range

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Canon has announced the addition of two new products to its range of image stabilised binoculars - the 420g 8x magnification Canon 8X20 IS and the 10x magnification Canon 10X20 IS.
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How to: ​​BRITAIN IS BOOMING! BITTERNS ON THE RISE AND HERE'S WHERE TO SEE ONE

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Britain’s loudest bird – once extinct – has enjoyed its best year since records began, according to a new survey by the RSPB.
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CONSERVATION: OVER 10 HEN HARRIER CHICKS SATELLITE TAGGED IN SCOTLAND

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RSPB’s Hen Harrier LIFE project has fitted more than 10 young hen harriers with satellite tags this summer in Scotland. 

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Conservation: RECORDED MOVEMENT OF A STEPPE EAGLE OVER 20 YEAR PERIOD

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This map shows the movement of a Steppe eagle over a twenty year period. The bird had a tracker fitted in Russia and the solar device recorded right through to when the bird died twenty years later in the Valley of the Child in Saudi Arabia. 

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