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Focalpoint News and Articles
Celestron TrailSeeker ED Binoculars : Review & Guide
Discover the Celestron TrailSeeker ED binoculars – lightweight, waterproof and equipped with ED glass for sharper, colour-true views. Perfect for birdwatching, hiking and wildlife observation.
Review: Swarovski ATS 65 HD Spotting Scope
The Swarovski ATS 65 HD delivers elite HD optics and vivid color in a lightweight, angled spotting scope. With smooth zoom, weatherproof construction, and user-friendly ergonomics, it’s a premium field tool—though close focus around 9.8 ft limits tight-range use.
Review: Vortex Razor HD 13–39×56 Spotting Scope
The Vortex Razor HD 13–39×56 is a compact HD spotting scope offering crisp edge-to-edge clarity, robust weatherproof build, and smooth focus. At under 29 oz, it blends portability with premium performance—though its 9.2 ft close-focus may limit tight-range use.
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Flutter By, Butterfly
This is a short photographic ID guide to common butterflies that are on the wing at the moment and which may be seen in your gardens or...
The Doc
May 4, 20205 min read
Look at The Moon
Look at the Moon, Look at the Moon, some birders will recognise that as a mnemonic to remember the call of Feral Pigeon, but last night...
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Apr 8, 20202 min read
Lock Down Listing
As a rule I spend very little time looking at (or for) any wildlife in our small garden. But the recent Coronavirus situation has...
pmh060661
Mar 27, 20202 min read
Get Out & Bird - You Know it Makes Sense!
Over the last couple of days, by coincidence, The Wirral has been my area of choice for birding, with a few tasty species attracting me...
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Mar 20, 20203 min read
Just what the Doc Ordered
Given the current climate and the possible future restrictions a visit out onto my local patch was needed, my first since completing my...
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Mar 16, 20202 min read
Keep Calm & Carry on Birding
With everything that’s happening at the moment it’s worth taking a moment to assess what to do next. We all want to be safe and keep each...
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Mar 13, 20202 min read
Photography without disturbance.
Most weekends find me out somewhere with my photography gear, although whether you'll see me is another matter. Most of my photography...
pmh060661
Mar 7, 20201 min read
Tis the Season to Get Birding
After the rainy days at the end of November, a few bright, cold, crisp mornings in December were really welcome. Especially as it meant...
The Doc
Dec 18, 20193 min read
How to Stop a Charging Elephant - Unplug It!
On a day off this week and with a couple of complimentary Chester Zoo tickets in my possession I decided that I would revisit the zoo, an...
The Doc
Dec 6, 20192 min read
Christmas Cake for the Birdies
A couple of nights ago I was chatting to Paul Brewster and he mentioned that he'd just finished mixing his Christmas Cake. Knowing that...
pmh060661
Dec 3, 20192 min read
Ready, STEADY, Go Birding with Opticron's new Image Stabilised Binoculars
Opticron produce some great binoculars and telescopes, but as yet haven't ventured into the world of Image Stabilisation, or IS, for...
pmh060661
Nov 18, 20192 min read
Beat the cold and warm you hands
I regularly spend hours sitting in hides photographing wildlife - one clue that I've been there is probably one or more of my gloves left...
pmh060661
Nov 11, 20192 min read
Wildlife Watch at The Newt & Coot!
I decided on a walk on my Newchurch Common Patch yesterday morning in the quite strong autumn sunshine, albeit with quite a heavy frost...
The Doc
Nov 1, 20192 min read
Septembers prize winning receipt number
We‘re a little late with drawing our September prize draw. Here’s the lucky winning receipt, so take a look at your receipts and drop us...
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Oct 17, 20191 min read
East meets West in God's Own County
With several days off and a planned trip away falling through I decided on a day out being a second best option, and it turned out pretty...
The Doc
Oct 16, 20193 min read
Don't Judge a Book by its Plover!
The beginning of autumn passage in birding is always an exciting time and often it’s the arrival of rarer waders that gets the heart...
The Doc
Oct 10, 20192 min read
“Great things come in small packages”
A glorious sunny morning, car packed and time for a trip to Yorkshire to drop of a new Opticron ES80 telescope for our good friend Paul...
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Aug 25, 20192 min read
More Feldy Fans
I've been using the Feldy Golden Balls for our garden feeders almost since they were first available from FocalPoint. This weekend I...
pmh060661
Aug 18, 20191 min read
Greater Manchester Bird News Summary June 2019
June 2019 Greater Manchester Highlights: An Alpine Swift was found trapped in a warehouse in Leigh and then released (21st). A Cattle...
The Doc
Aug 10, 20191 min read
I had to McFly for a Bustard!
Little Bustards are very rare visitors to the UK but luckily I saw one a few years ago in Yorkshire. When news of another one in...
The Doc
Aug 7, 20191 min read
Ducks & Snails & Puppy dog tails
We had the pleasure of visiting a lovely tranquil nature reserve called Gatley Carr. This is a voluntary organisation, aiming to develop...
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Aug 3, 20192 min read
A Tern for the Better
When news broke of a Gull-billed Tern not so far away from home it was tempting to go to see it. But, with the bird being pretty mobile...
The Doc
Jul 5, 20192 min read
A Haggis Hunt in the Highlands!
Last month we were back up in The Highlands of Scotland on holiday, based as usual in Nethy Bridge. Our first half-day was spent locally...
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Jun 11, 20197 min read
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