Last Walk with the Swarovski Bins

So my time with the Swarovski Binoculars has come to an end however I want to share my final experience with them...

A walk at my local patch...

My home is located in some beautiful British countryside in the heart of Cheshire. It is a stunning walk through the farmland and woodland and alongside the River Weaver, so I couldn't wait to use the binoculars out on my patch.

Before you even start the walk you have to cross a bridge over a railway line. The banks of the train line are covered in Bramble and Nettles, making great homes for both Lesser and Common White Throat. The view wasn't brilliant due to the bad weather; however the quality of the picture through the bins was brilliantly clear and I managed to pick out all the stunning features of the Common White Throat.

As we continued into the fields of my patch, we started to see some Corvids emerging from the freshly planted maze fields, most of which were Jackdaws, Carrion Crows and a few Magpies; but one of the birds was huge. Only noticing it when it took to the air I realised it was a Raven flushing all the Starlings which were also feeding with the other Corvids. 

So, so far a brilliant start even though the weather wasn't on our sides, seeing and hearing lots of different birds. I am almost onto the second part of talking to you about my walk, but first there is one other species of bird I haven't told you about which also (like the White Throats) breed on my patch.

This bird is in fact the spectacular Buzzard, probably the most frequent bird of prey we see here, but a bird I could never get tired of seeing and especially hearing. That haunting call they do to each other makes me feel so alive and alert. Unfortunately today there was no light which meant we couldn't see all the gorgeous feather colouration, but I still got great close up views through the Swarovskis.

Now, my second part of my walk brings me into a large mixed woodland, alongside the fields I have just been talking to you about.

This wood is home to lots of different species of bird (and other wildlife) and as you probably know most of those species are currently breeding. I observe this area very closely and it is always handy when you have a pair of binoculars with you, as it gives you a better view of the bird and how it's behaving, without getting too close and disturbing them.

I am doing a bit of nest recording in this wood (it is private so I am lucky to have permission to do conservation work and enjoy all the beautiful wildlife here) and along our path we were seeing that most of the adult birds are gathering food, which suggests most of the birds now have chicks . 

Most of the more recognisable bird nests I am currently observing include Blue Tit, Great Tit, Black Bird, Great Spotted Woodpecker, and a Dunnock. These birds are also ones I like to watch and enjoy along the walk.  I am never in any hurry to search out rarities, but what I have found is that if you enjoy watching the common species, every now and then a rarity will find you.

My favorite bird to observe at the moment in the woods has to be the Great Spotted Woodpecker, a common bird breeding here. Like the last couple of years I have found the nest of the Great Spotted Woodpecker, this year right by the side of my feeding station, just before we start the main walk through the wood.

Of course we can't forget all the other birds we saw along the walk, including the lovely Tree creeper a usual suspect we see hanging about near the feeders. The chattering Long Tailed Tits (my favorite of the tit family) often join us on our walk, flitting from tree to tree above our heads. 

So my last walk with the Swarovski Binoculars has been a massive success, with 26 species of bird recorded just today. They have traveled everywhere with me including to Norfolk and back. 

My last day with the Swarovski bins was spent as I think it should be; on my local patch making the most of all the amazing wildlife right on my doorstep.

Thank you so much A Focus on Nature and Swarovski for the opportunity to see that bit further. It will be hard letting the bins go, but they are now heading off to Ewan Miles on the Isle of Mull. I can't wait to see what he records with them.

Wild Bird Wednesday