For true nature lovers there will always be one premise in bird watching above all else: watch without disturbing. Of course, those of us who spend many hours in the countryside will sometimes cause a bird to take flight, always unintentionally. On reaching a summit, on a change of slope, when passing a line of forest or scrub…. There are several occasions in which this can happen, but there are many more in which we can avoid it.
Nowadays optical equipment is of a high quality and will allow us to carry out most of our bird watching from a safe distance, enjoying but without disturbing the birds. Based on my experience as a nature guide, I would like to give you a few tips on how to choose the different types of optical material available on the market.
Binoculars, bird watching
The binocular is the most versatile tool used for this purpose. Binoculars are comfortable, light, provide a clear image and can be used for both static observations and hiking. If we are going to do most of the observations from a vehicle, we can opt for heavier models, but if we also want to use them for walking routes, we must find a balance.
We often wonder about the ideal size and here are my recommendations. If we are going to focus on bird and wildlife observation in general, we should ideally use 8 to 10 magnification binoculars. If we are beginners, we can opt for 8x magnification binoculars, which are easier to use. However, in most cases I recommend 10 magnification, as we will often be able to see the birds at a long distance and this will allow us to differentiate them better. As for the diameter of the objective lens, there are also multiple sizes, but perhaps the most versatile is 42. If we need a very compact binoculars we can use 32 and if we are going to have them always in a vehicle we could go up to 50 or even more.
Your best choice
In short, if you are just starting out and are going to buy your first binoculars, I think 10×42 is the most versatile size. There is also a wide range of birding binoculars available nowadays, ranging from 70/80 euros to whatever you want to spend. High-end models make the difference in low light conditions. Sunrise, sunset, cloudy days… and this is where most of our observations will take place, so I leave it up to you to choose according to your budget.
Telescope, the best choice for bird watching
If you are going to stay for a long time on a lookout or an elevated area from which you have a good field of view, a spotting scope will be the best tool. A spotting scope will give you more magnification and therefore allow you to observe birds at really long distances. It may seem obvious but it is important to use the telescope with a tripod…. You can try to use a “hand-held” telescope but it will be extremely difficult to get the most out of it. The most basic models are usually sold with a simple tripod, but if you go for high-end models, they will almost always be sold separately. Don’t worry, though, as mounting brackets will generally be standard on most birding models.
It is important that you buy a model aimed at bird watching, as they have different features to astronomical telescopes. They usually have between 15 and 60x magnification, although some higher-end models can go up to 80x or even higher. As in the case of binoculars, there is a wide range of prices, but in order to have a minimum of quality I do not recommend buying telescopes below 300 euros.
Thermal scopes and photo-trap cameras
If you are passionate about nocturnal wildlife observation, I will briefly describe these two tools below. Photo-trapping cameras are ideal for detecting the presence of mammals whose habits tend to be mainly nocturnal. With this type of camera we are not going to obtain “magazine” photographs, but we will be able to obtain photos of a certain quality and, above all, detect the presence of certain species.
They are very useful in conservation projects, although we can also use them simply as a hobby. If we have a piece of land and we want to know what kind of animals frequent it at night or even during the day. Simply place it in an area of passage and check the memory card. Some models even send the photos directly to our mobile phone in real time. In this case I can give you a general link where you will not only find the best options for photo trapping cameras, but you can also see other devices such as those mentioned above, so you can have a reference and even compare which one could be your best choice.
soul natura
If you want to observe this nocturnal wildlife live, thermal scopes have become an essential tool. Nowadays we can find thermal viewers of acceptable quality at a reasonable price. In this case, I have only used them a handful of times, so if you want to buy one, I recommend you to contact directly with Salva Castillo or his team from Soul NATURA. As experts in the field, they will give you the best advice according to your needs, so that you can purchase the best possible model for your budget. If you use the code TOPBIRDING when you shop on their website, you will get an additional 5% discount.
Tripods and birding accessories
If you already have mid-range / high-end equipment: camera, binoculars, telescope, thermal… it is very important that you have the best accessories. First of all backpacks or carrying bags… When we go wildlife spotting, we will often have to travel on “goat” trails to reach the best spots. It is very important that our equipment is carried in backpacks and padded cases to avoid possible bumps due to bumps in the road.
On the other hand, when we are out on the trails, there is always the possibility of tripping and there is no worse way to start a “hike” than by breaking or seriously damaging a piece of equipment worth several hundred or thousands of euros. And finally, rain can make an appearance: if our equipment is dry and safe, we can always make the best use of it and get the most out of it.
Finally I cannot close this article without talking about the importance of tripods. It is very important to have a quality tripod, especially when we want to take photos/observations at really long distances.
I hope you find this article useful and that you can continue to enjoy wildlife watching in the best conditions.
