In the field – Hoopoe – A blog by nhbs

Conservation volunteering to regenerate public grounds for butterflies and amphibians

In early November, NHBS colleague Dan volunteered with Chagford Conservation Group and the Chagford Parish Council to regenerate public grounds for wildlife – find out about his volunteer work below.

When strolling through your local public green space, take a moment to consider its value—not just as a recreational space but as a haven for wildlife. Behind the trees, shrubs, and ponds lies a delicate balance that requires care. Who ensures these spaces thrive for the benefit of both people and nature?

As you dig into the depths of your mind for answers and speak to fellow locals, you’ll discover that your wander patch has a past, present and even the future of your local wandering patch.

My front door patch, Padley Common, in Chagford – Dartmoor, has a variety of most of the above. Deciduous woodland, grassy fields aligned with stone walls and tree banks, areas with bracken and gorse, an area thick with young trees, streams and even some boggy areas.

One cloudy but warm November morning I joined the Chagford Conservation Group to help clear an area that was taken over by young willow and silver birch growth. Reading this with conservation specs this may cause a frown. Cutting trees for conservation? The purpose of this venture, commissioned by Chagford Parish Council, was to restore the grounds to more favourable conditions for butterflies. Under the direction of Devon Wildlife Trust personnel, we cleared young willow and silver birch growth from the common. These trees, if left unchecked, would outcompete light-loving wildflowers and raise water uptake, drying out the damp grasslands needed by marsh fritillaries. This species depends on devil’s-bit scabious for its larvae. Its population in England has declined by 66% since 1990. Maintaining open, flower-rich meadows not only benefits butterflies but supports a host of other pollinators and insects.

Under the direction of Devon Wildlife Trust personnel, the Chagford Conservation Group and the Chagford Parish Council volunteers rolled up their sleeves and cleared a section of the common.

The cleared trees didn’t go to waste. They were repurposed into leaky dams that were fitted into streams that run through the common. These benefit the landscape in surprising ways as they allow water to pass through but slow its flow, reducing erosion and flood risk downstream. By creating side pools and wet areas, leaky dams also provide habitat for amphibians and aquatic insects.

With three organisations involved and so much goodwill from the local community, the day’s work saw the clearing completed and a series of leaky dams constructed. It was striking to see how effectively conservation targets can be achieved when vision, organisation, and community support come together.

Next time you wander through your local patch, take a moment to imagine its potential for wildlife. What small changes could make a big difference? Remember, with the right plan and a collective effort, even a single day’s work can transform a space—creating benefits for nature and leaving a legacy for future generations to discover as they explore their local patch’s story.

February 2025 update:

Last weekend I joined a local volunteering group for some more work on the same site – clearing brambles and gorse to enable new growth. On checking the leaky dams, I was delighted to see that pools created by these were now full of frog spawn!

Recommended reading:

Butterfly Conservation – The Warwickshire Approach This book documents, celebrates and shares the many successes the Warwickshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation has had in conserving rare butterflies over the past 25 years. It is a manual of techniques, tips and ideas that will help and hopefully inspire others to create and manage habitats and to conserve butterflies.

The Volunteers: A Memoir of Conservation, Companionship and Community
When Carol finds herself single and unemployed, she unexpectedly takes on the role of leading a quirky team of countryside conservation volunteers. Although their first days are rocky, she and her diverse group of volunteers bond over nature, finding friendship, purpose, and a renewed sense of belonging. The Volunteers is a heart-warming story about healing, community, and the redemptive power of the outdoors.

British Wildlife Magazine

Since its launch in 1989, British Wildlife has established its position as the leading natural history magazine in the UK, providing essential reading for both enthusiast and professional naturalists and wildlife conservationists alike.

Conservation Land Management Magazine

Conservation Land Management (CLM) is a quarterly magazine, widely regarded as essential reading for all who are involved in land management for nature conservation, across the British Isles. Each aspect of CLM is designed for those involved in managing land to achieve conservation goals and priorities.

Equipment in Focus: BirdMic Parabolic Microphone

The BirdMic is a compact, directional parabolic microphone. Intended for bird calls, BirdMic allows users to listen, record and identify species on their smartphone in real time with the help of a bird identification app, such as Merlin Bird ID. It is self-powered, easy to use, and requires no previous experience to get started.

BirdMic Kit Includes:

Parabolic dish (25cm diameter)
Omnidirectional microphone
Audio interface (to connect your smartphone, camera or field recorder)
Headphones
Hand grip
Windshield
Flash shoe adapter
Various cables and adapters for smart phone connection
Extension tube to attach field recorder
Carrying bag

Ideal for the capture of bird song, BirdMic features a high sensitivity (-24dB), low noise (S/N 80dB) omnidirectional microphone to provide crisp recordings with excellent clarity. It is most suited to sounds above 1,500Hz, making it ideal for bird song.

The parabolic dish is made from durable ABS material and amplifies sound through collecting and focussing sound waves – waves bounce from the inner face of the dish and are directed onto the microphone at the centre, isolated and amplified and transmitted to a digital recording device.

Attaching directly to the parabolic dish, the audio interface allows the connection of a smartphone which can also be mounted via the included brackets. Once connected, simply open an automatic ID app, like Merlin, to record birds in real-time. Headphones can also be connected for live monitoring.

BirdMic in the field

Tom took BirdMic along the banks of the River Dart to test the performance of the microphone and see how it compares to using just a smartphone.

We simply set up the Birdmic, plugged in a smartphone and turned on the audio interface. With an overall diameter of 25cm and a weight of 1kg, the whole set up was extremely easy to transport.

A screenshot of the Merlin app spectrogram — Spectrogram of bird song captured with BirdMic using Merlin.

Our thoughts

We were really impressed with the BirdMic! It was very simple to assemble and use, and worked well to isolate and amplify bird sound in different conditions.

At just 1kg, it is very lightweight – the overall design makes this parabolic easy to walk around with, and its handy size and weight minimises arm strain when holding the microphone. The highly sensitive microphone worked well and was able to pick up bird song from a much greater distance than a smartphone. The directional microphone makes it ideal for homing in on a particular song, and allows the user to pinpoint the birds location. This also helps to eliminate any underlying noise in the background of the recording – for instance, water flow, wind or traffic noise.

We feel the Birdmic offers great value and is very easy to use. It is an entry-level parabolic that is ideal for a keen birdwatcher, or birding and naturalist groups looking to capture, listen to or record bird sound. As a lightweight, sturdy recorder, there is also significant potential for educational purposes, and it could be utilised in outdoor education clubs and classes to encourage an interest in nature by younger generations.

Find the BirdMic available exclusively on the NHBS website here. Our full range of sound recorders can be found here.

If you have any questions about our range or would like some advice on the right product for you then please contact us via email at customer.services@nhbs.com or phone on 01803 865913.

Conservation volunteering with the Dartmoor Preservation Association

Last month, NHBS colleague Dan volunteered with the Dartmoor Preservation Association – read below to find out what he got up to.

Walking across Dartmoor, you feel centuries of history embedded in its rugged landscape. The open moorlands, rolling hills, and ancient stone circles are more than just features – they’re fragments of a rich past. Volunteering with the Dartmoor Preservation Association (DPA) reminded me how essential the work is to protect the unique heritage of places such as these.

Founded in 1883, the Dartmoor Preservation Association is one of Britain’s oldest conservation organisations and is focused on safeguarding Dartmoor’s landscapes, wildlife, and cultural heritage. The DPA works tirelessly to protect the moors ecological balance and preserve the archaeological sites that reveal Dartmoor’s deep connection to human history. The organisation advocates for responsible land use, defends against damaging developments, and promotes awareness of Dartmoors irreplaceable natural and historical value.

Among Dartmoors treasures, situated by Huccaby Tor near Dartmeet, stands a quiet reminder of the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC) – Huccaby Rings. A monument scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, it is one of many ancient sites on Dartmoor that were built to hold livestock, protect crops and / or to accommodate farmers and herdsmen.

It wasn’t too surprising that when I joined the DPA to help clear the ring of Gorse, I was joined by several archaeology enthusiasts, each keen to help preserve this window into Dartmoor’s ancient past and ensure that Dartmoor’s story lives on for future generations.

Conservation volunteering goes beyond hands-on work; it’s a commitment to protecting the legacy of places like Dartmoor. Each task – preserving historical heritage, supporting wildlife habitat, managing access – is a step towards safeguarding unique beauty, preserving cultural history and supporting wildlife.

I’m certain that you, the reader, also have a special place near you – whether urban or rural – that deserves this kind of dedicated care.

Find our more on the Dartmoor Preservation Society website.

Recommended reading

Dartmoor 365
A true gem of a book, it has a story about every square mile of Dartmoor, filled with captivating folklore, historical insights, archaeology, and nature facts. An intimate exploration of a unique part of the world.

NHBS In the Field – Song Meter Mini 2 and Micro 2

The second-generation Song Meter Mini 2 and Micro 2 are the latest additions to the Wildlife Acoustics acoustic recorder range, with the Song Meter Mini 2 available in both AA and Li-Ion powered versions.

I was eager to test the new Li-Ion version of the Song Meter Mini 2, which I set up alongside the Song Meter Micro 2 in early December. The aim of this deployment was to compare the performance of the two models, and as a self-described ‘bird nerd’, I was also very excited to capture recordings of the incredible birdlife that resides on Dartmoor.

Deployment

The Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion model holds six rechargeable 18650 lithium-ion batteries with a minimum of one required for deployment. In this case, I used four batteries in both devices which provided ample runtime for this short field test, and I inserted a 32GB SDHC card – unfortunately, I did not have access to a battery charger so the Song Meter Mini 2 began the deployment at 57% battery life. I set up the recorders in a rural Dartmoor village hoping for clear recordings.

Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (right) and Song Meter Micro 2 (left) set up with batteries and SD cards. — Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (left) and Song Meter Micro 2 (right) set up with batteries and SD cards.

One of the main strengths of Wildlife Acoustic’s recorders is their simple deployment and configuration using the free Song Meter app. Here you can select your preferred recording schedule and check the status of your recorder at any time while in Bluetooth range – this provides information on SDHC card capacity, battery life, recording mode, and number of recordings taken. For this deployment, I used a pre-set recording schedule to record birds for two hours around sunrise and sunset.

Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (right) and Micro 2 (left) status before deployment. — Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (left) and Micro 2 (right) status before deployment.

Both models now feature cable lock holes so that they can be safely secured during deployment – using a Python Lock, I fixed the device to a tree and left it to record for two days.

Results

Over 2 days, I had collected 33 recordings on each device. Both devices had ample battery life remaining and had used just 1.75GB of storage.

Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (right) and Micro 2 (left) status after deployment. — Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (left) and Micro 2 (right) status after deployment.

I analysed the recordings with a fantastic free desktop software called Chirpity. Using the BirdNET model, this software has an auto ID feature which simplifies analysis of sound recordings, particularly for large data sets. Using this software, I was able to identify a wide variety of garden bird calls including Robins, Blue Tits, Tawny Owls and many more. Examples of the dawn chorus from each device can be heard below.

Dawn chorus recording on Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion.

Dawn chorus recording on Song Meter Micro 2.

Spectrogram analysis of dawn chorus in Chirpity

Product Comparison

Both devices are impressive recorders in their own right – they produced clear and extensive recordings that captured a fantastic snapshot of the surrounding soundscape. On paper, the most obvious difference between these two recorders is the price, with the Micro 2 being much more affordable than the Mini 2-Li-Ion (@less than 1/3 of the price).

Furthermore, the Micro 2 is around half the size of the Mini 2-Li-Ion, its compact design is hard not to be impressed by, and it can fit easily into a pocket. Despite its small size, the Micro 2 features an incredible sample rate of 256kHz which allows you to capture good-quality high frequency recordings.

However, what you gain in compactness you lose in battery life. The Micro 2 has an estimated runtime of 280 hours compared to the Mini 2-Li-Ion which has a whopping 1,330-hour run time. The Micro 2 was deployed with a fully charged battery and finished with 76% battery life. Comparatively, the Mini 2-Li-Ion started and finished at 57%, an impressive feat.

Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (right) and Micro 2 (left) — Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (left) and Micro 2 (right)

Another key difference between these recorders lies within environmental noise. These devices were deployed in the run-up to Storm Darragh, and some of the recordings experienced a good deal of wind distortion. Although this is an extreme case, it served to highlight the difference a windshield makes. The Micro 2 has no windshield over the microphone and as a result, experienced markedly more distortion when compared to the shielded Mini 2-Li-Ion. This can be seen in the spectrograms below, which were taken simultaneously. The Mini 2-Li-Ion also has the advantage of a low-noise microphone which, to my ear, produces slightly clearer recordings compared to the Micro 2.

Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (right) and Micro 2 (left) wind distortion — Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (left) and Micro 2 (right) wind distortion

Comparison table of Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (right) and Micro 2 (left) — Comparison table of Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (left) and Micro 2 (right)

Summary

While both recorders allow you to experience the surrounding soundscape in new ways, they each offer distinct functionalities to achieve this goal.

The compact design of the Song Meter Micro 2, along with a recent price drop, makes this recorder a fantastic choice for enthusiasts who want to delve into bioacoustics. It has an excellent sample rate, good battery life and produces crisp recordings that are a joy to listen back to.

In comparison, the Song Meter Mini 2-Li-Ion is perfect for researchers. Its improved battery life makes it an excellent choice for both short and long-term deployments, and the low-noise microphone and windshield are ideal at producing clear recordings for subsequent analysis.

Interview with WILDGuides Publisher Rob Still

The award-winning WILDGuides collection is a series of comprehensive and practical natural history titles. Ranging from photographic field guides covering the wildlife of Britain, Ireland and Europe, to visitor guides and reference works on wildlife across the world, this authoritative, easy-to-use series contains some of the best identification guides to date.

Robert Still is the co-founder and publishing director of WILDGuides, and has contributed to more than sixty titles in the series. In his spare time, he is a prolific natural history author, ecologist and graphic artist. We recently had the opportunity to speak to Rob about the WILDGuides collection, including how each volume is produced, which titles are due to be published over the next few years and more.

Firstly, can you tell us about the history of WILDGuides and how the collection came to be?

I (Rob) had been working as a designer, using photoshop and producing somewhat rudimentary montages and cutouts for adverts since 1991. When the programme’s features really took off in the late 90s, my thought was whether these new capabilities could be used to produce ‘best birding’ moments, such as idealised scenes of multiple tanagers in the same tree, or a Sueda bush chock full of vagrant Phylloscopus.

From there, it was a short transition to figuring out if the technology could be used for field guides – hence the birth of WILDGuides, which started with a guide to Galápagos wildlife by Andy Swash published in 2000, followed relatively quickly by Whales and Dolphins of the European Atlantic (2001) and Britain’s Butterflies (2002) – this covered a relatively small number of species and all were easy to cut out. Britain’s Dragonflies (2004) followed and was the first book written by Andy prior to the expansion into the other taxa groups as seen today, alongside multiple evolutions/editions of the first titles.

For anyone unfamiliar with the collection, how would you describe them, and who are they intended for?

The books are intended for anyone who wants to put a name to something they encounter in the field. I would describe them as a guided, primarily photographic pathway that hopefully helps in that process.

Each work in the collection is a passion project of dedicated scientists, conservationists, and researchers. How long does it take to produce a title from start to finish and what kind of work goes into creating them?

It varies a great deal. Some have taken a good 10 years from concept to fruition, others have taken just a couple of years. However, a title typically requires a couple of photography seasons, as a significant number of the images in each book are commissioned and the specific image requirements often don’t come to light until the design process is underway.

How do you decide what makes a good subject for WILDGuides? What are you looking for when creating new volumes?

A good subject is really any group or taxa within a defined region – WILDGuides is looking to work with any experienced specialists to present that group in the WILDGuides way.

One of the strengths of the WILDGuide collection is the use of a unique ‘roadmap’ for each published topic, allowing users to navigate identification, and the book itself. Can you elaborate on the process of these roadmaps, and why you feel they are so important for these guides?

Sure, it is a relatively straightforward process insofar as it is simply the production of an identification pathway from start to finish. This is slightly disingenuous, as on occasion, it can be harder than one might think to unequivocally achieve this. It requires a team that really knows the subject being prepared, who is able to combine their field experience to focus on what really matters in the identification.

Their importance to the guide, I believe, is that they are an amalgamation of this ‘hands-on’ experience and so the pathway is both realistic and pragmatic.

Can you speak on the process of updating editions in the collection?

Obviously, nature is dynamic and lists of taxa within a region change. New, reliable field identification features come to light, improvements are suggested by our users and the exponential rise in available images means that there is now a good chance that better pictures (in terms of quality and showing the key identification points) become available. Consequently, we keep an update file covering all of these areas, and will update these editions when the time is right to do so.

What can we expect from the collection over the next couple of years? Are you able to share any new titles that are on the way?

Yes, the existing collection should improve over the coming years with the feedback and new images mentioned. WILDGuides is also looking to expand the series into other taxa not already covered to match the increasing diversity of species groups that people are looking at, with the hope that more accurate records are sent to organisations managing citizen science databases.

On the near horizon are updates to Britain’s Spiders and, at some stage, Britain’s Birds as well as new titles covering Britain’s Trees, Birds of East Africa and Birds of Madagascar, each in the style of Europe’s Birds. Further down the track we are looking at gaps, particularly in Britain’s series, that are relatively obvious to spot – so if any reader of this piece wants to be a potential part of that expansion, we’d love to hear from you!

Explore the full WILDGuide collection here

NHBS In the Field – Song Meter Mini Bat 2

The second-generation Song Meter Mini Bat 2 is one of Wildlife Acoustics’ latest additions to the Song Meter range. This recorder offers improved battery life and weatherproofing, thanks to the new hinged enclosure. Learn more about the improvements and differences in this newer model here. Wildlife Acoustics have now gone one step further offering both AA and Lithium-Ion battery models of the Mini Bat 2. The Lithium-ion model holds 6 rechargeable 18650 lithium-ion batteries giving it 2.5 times more battery life compared to the AA model.

I took the Mini Bat 2 recorder and set it up for a week in June. As I was only recording for a week, the AA model was more than fit for purpose. I had two aims in mind; firstly, I wanted to see for myself how to deploy and use this newer model, and possibly more importantly, I wanted to discover which bats were living just outside the NHBS office.

Deployment

I set up the device using a 64 GB SDXC card and eight lithium AA batteries (other AA batteries are compatible but may offer shorter battery life). I chose to set up the recorder outside of our office on a nearby tree situated alongside the River Dart. I hoped that the presence of insects along the river would encourage bats to fly close to the recorder. However, I did experience some issues with this location which I will discuss later.

SM2 mini bat open on a bench. — Recorder set up with batteries and SD card.

Like its predecessor, the Mini Bat 2 is configured using the free Song Meter app. Here you can select your preferred recording schedule and check the recorder’s status. Whilst in Bluetooth range, you can determine the current status of the recorder, including SD card capacity, battery life, recording mode and number of recordings taken. I used a pre-set recording schedule to record bats from sunset to sunrise (subject to triggering).

SM2 mini bat app open on a phone screen pre-set up. — Recorder status before deployment.

This model now helpfully features cable lock holes so that the unit can be secured – using a Python Lock I fixed the device to the tree and left it for a week to collect recordings.

What I found

By the end of the week, I had collected over 700 recordings. Despite this, very little battery life had drained and only 3 GB of storage had been used.

SM2 app screen after set up. — Recorder status after deployment.

I then removed the SD card and loaded the recordings into Kaleidoscope Pro. Unfortunately, I noticed a consistent disturbance present in all the recordings at around 20 – 30kHz. It was then I learned that the office has a ventilation fan, which unbeknownst to me, runs constantly (even at 3 am!). Not a bad reminder that when choosing your recording location to be aware of any possible noise disturbances.

Thankfully, this disturbance did not hamper my ability to analyse the recordings. Helpfully, Kaleidoscope Pro has an auto ID feature which allowed me to categorise the recordings by species. This feature compares each call pulse with reference libraries and generates a confidence interval from 0-1 called a “Match Ratio”. The more commonality a pulse shares with the reference data the higher the match ratio. I was delighted to discover that Kaleidoscope identified five different species just outside our office! My personal favourite being the Greater Horseshoe Bat, as we share a love of caves. Unfortunately, these species are now largely confined to south-west England and south Wales in the UK, so I feel very fortunate that I was able to record them.

Examples of the recordings can be viewed as sonograms below.

Two greater horseshoe bat calls shown on a sonogram. — Two Greater Horseshoe calls (Match Ratio: 1.000000).

Common pipistrelle calls shown on a sonogram as a bat flies away from the recorder. — Common Pipistrelle (Match Ratio: 0.875000) gradually flying away.

Product Opinion

The Song Meter Mini Bat 2 is an excellent ultrasonic passive recorder. The unit is compact and lightweight, making it easy to store and carry in the field. The set-up was easy thanks to the simple user interface on the Song Meter App, which you can easily navigate to configure and check on your device. The Bluetooth beacon came in useful throughout the week as it allowed me to see the battery life and SD storage without taking the device down.

The Mini Bat 2 has a highly sensitive ultrasonic microphone capable of capturing high-quality recordings up to 250kHz, covering a truly impressive ultrasonic range. The sonograms above show the clear and distinct waveforms created; characteristic of the different species recorded. The excellent recording quality also helps to simplify the sound analysis when using the auto ID function of Kaleidoscope Pro.

The Song Meter Mini Bat 2 is a great addition to the Wildlife Acoustics range and features many improvements over its predecessor. It’s easy set up and deployment, making it simple and engaging to use. With its improved weatherproofing and in-built Bluetooth beacon, the Mini Bat 2 is a brilliant choice for remote recording. Furthermore, the increased battery life means the unit can be used for short- and long-term surveys.

In summary, the Mini Bat 2 is a fantastic all-rounder with a wide array of configurations and capabilities making it an ideal recorder for both enthusiasts and researchers.

30 Days Wild: NHBS Update

30 Days Wild is an annual challenge organised by The Wildlife Trusts which encourages people across Britain to do one wild thing every day in the month of June. This year marks the 10th anniversary of 30 Days Wild, and the Trusts are celebrating with more people than ever. From dining al fresco to taking part in a beach clean, there is something for everyone with this initiative. NHBS are taking part in 30 Days Wild this year, and we would like to share how our staff are exploring the wonders of nature.

Here’s a selection of things we’ve done so far:

Jo has been working hard to grow strawberries at home and has finally managed to pick the first of her home-grown fruits!

Simon has been bird watching at Slapton Sands and Berry Head in the summer sun and has found some fascinating coastal species, including Guillemots and Cormorants.

We had a wildlife hunt on our office lawn – #NoMowMay and Let it Bloom June have treated us to an amazing diversity of organisms, including a Southern Marsh Orchid, a Painted Lady Butterfly and a Little Brown Mushroom.

Oli captured a fantastic image of a female Great Spotted Woodpecker while visiting a bird feeder in his local area!

In Brixham Harbour, Simon has been spotting cetaceans and marine mammals including Harbour Porpoise and Grey Seals!

30 Days Wild has been a great way for all of us at NHBS to explore nature. The initiative is a perfect reminder to take some time outside every day, take a deep breath and to smell the flowers. Follow our journey throughout June on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) – stay tuned to see some wildlife drawings, leaf rubbings and a busy bug hotel!

In The Field: Browning Strike Force Pro X 1080

At NHBS, we offer trail cameras from a range of different manufacturers. Among these is Browning, who offer high quality at a reasonable price. The Browning Strike Force HD Pro X was one of our most popular cameras, and we regularly recommended it to customers. It offered ease of use, affordability, and excellent daytime and night-time photography. Browning regularly update their range of trail cameras, and given that the Strike Force has been on the market for several years, it has likewise been upgraded to a newer model, the Browning Strike Force Pro X 1080.

Trail camera with camouflage facing the camera with white background. — The Browning Strike Force Pro X 1080.

We wanted to test out the new Browning Strike Force trail camera to ensure it lives up to the standards of its predecessor. Here we will detail how we tested this camera and what we found.

Set up

To test the Strike Force, we headed to an estate in Devon that is managed to improve the condition of wildlife.

The set-up was relatively simple; we found a clearing between two areas of scrub where we suspected that animals would pass through, and secured the camera to a small tree at around waist height using a Python Lock.

The Strike Force comes with a camera strap included which works excellently, but we would recommend purchasing extra security options like a Python Lock if you are placing your camera in a public place. The strap and Python Lock can fit around a tree or a fence post and be tightened to hold the trail camera in position.

I set the camera to default settings and then changed it to photo mode and set the multi-shot option to three photos. I wanted to leave the camera out for a significant length of time, and I knew that videos would drain the battery and fill up the memory card rapidly. The multi-shot mode would hopefully allow me to get a few pictures of an animal moving through the frame.

Results

After three months in the field, the results yielded surpassed our expectations. We knew from talking with the conservation manager at the estate that we might get some decent pictures, but the range of species was unexpected.

The trail camera captured pictures of a range of bird species including one of a buzzard in flight.

Buzzard in flying past bushes. — A buzzard in flight.

We were lucky enough to get an amazing shot of a deer reaching for a leaf from the swaying branch of a willow tree as well as an excellent night time photo of a deer.

Deer reaching for a willow leaf. — A deer reaching for a willow branch.

Deer in a field at night. IR image. — A night-time image of a deer using IR photography.

A herd of Belted Galloway cattle were spotted passing through the clearing.

Cows with white stripe walking through a field with bushes around. — A herd of Belted Galloway cattle pass by the camera.

A herd of striped cows pass by the camera with calves in tow. — A Belted Galloway calf.

This herd of cows were curious and ended up nudging the camera with their noses, causing the camera to face towards a bush. We then caught a glimpse of a fox with the infrared camera mode. The image is a bit overexposed due to the vegetation in the foreground.

IR image of vegetation in the foreground and the faint image of a fox in the background. — A fox passes through the clearing.

Despite the overexposure, many of the IR pictures were excellent.

IR picture of vegetation in the foreground with two deer in the background passing through a clearing in the vegetation. — Deer at night.

We even managed to get a picture of what looks to be a Barn Owl on the ground at night. While not very clear due to the overexposure, it certainly confirms its presence in the area.

Vegetation with a barn owl on the ground in the background in IR photo mode. — A sighting of a Barn Owl on the ground.

The cows came back and pushed the trail camera even further to the right so that it was pointing into a bush. Fortuitously, we managed to get pictures of a mouse, a Robin and a Wren.

An IR photo of a mouse climbing a stick in foreground to the right of the image and vegetation in the background. — A night-time photo of what looks to be a Field Mouse.

Robin sitting on a branch surrounded by vegetation. — A Robin sitting in scrub.

A wren sitting on a branch in scrub. — A Wren sitting in the same spot as the Robin.

In addition to the species featured above, we also captured pictures of butterflies, squirrels, pheasants, Wood Pigeons, a thrush and a Great Tit.

Performance

When sorting through the 5,500 photographs captured, I found that the vast majority didn’t show any animals. I suspect that this could be remedied by better camera placement, although this may be unavoidable if there is a lot of vegetation around the area you wish to monitor. The major downside of taking so many photographs is that it takes a long time to sort through, and could potentially fill up your storage too quickly if you set your camera to video mode.

The image quality was impressive, with high-quality images and limited motion blur. The most notable issue was the level of exposure in the images, mainly at night. This was largely an issue because a herd of curious cows nudged the camera so it was facing the edge of a bush. This is unlikely to be a problem in the majority of cases and, prior to this, the night pictures were excellent.

Longevity

We placed the camera in the field in mid-July and collected it in mid-October. As such we were able to get around three months of footage. Image quality was set to 24MP with 1.5–2.5MB of storage used per image and around 5,500 images in total. This meant that we only used around 11GB out of a total of 32GB of storage available on the SD card. Remarkably, when the camera was collected it registered 94% battery, demonstrating the longevity of the Strike Force in the field, especially when set to photo mode. I suspect that this camera could have been left for another three months in the field without running out of storage or battery power.

Verdict

Overall, our experience demonstrates that the Strike Force Pro X 1080 is an impressive trail camera with high-quality day and night footage and impressive longevity. While it perhaps doesn’t quite reach the heights of the Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 or the Bushnell Core DS-4K in terms of picture quality, a more affordable price and impressive performance make this camera highly recommendable for both professionals and hobbyists.

No-glow alternative camera – Browning Dark Ops Pro X 1080

The Browning Strike Force Pro X 1080 is a low-glow camera meaning that the glow from the IR bulbs can be seen by both humans and animals. A no-glow camera may be the best option if you are looking for extra security or photographing an easily alarmed species. The Browning Dark Ops Pro X 1080 is an ideal no-glow alternative to the Browning Strike Force Pro X 1080. While a little more expensive, it is stealthier, and humans are less likely to notice it due to its no-glow flash. The only disadvantage is the shorter 24m flash range of the no-glow bulbs compared to the 36.58m flash of the Strike Force.

Trail camera facing towards the camera with camouflage coating with a white background. — The Browning Dark Ops Pro X 1080.

Accessories

The Python Lock is an ideal accessory for your trail camera. It won’t stop your camera from being damaged but it will prevent theft and keep your camera securely fastened to a tree or post. The lock is anti-picking, weatherproof and vinyl-coated. We used a Python Lock, and it held the camera in place until a herd of cows decided to turn it.

Image of a coiled up python lock. — Python Lock.

Spare memory cards and batteries are also highly recommended, especially if you are planning to use your trail camera on video mode. These additions will help you keep your camera operational for longer. Lithium batteries are highly recommended as, even when they have low charge levels, they supply sufficient power to the trail camera. Users of alkaline batteries may find that their trail camera isn’t performing well at night; this is because the batteries are not supplying sufficient power for the IR bulbs to function correctly.

Get your Browning Strike Force Pro X 1080 from our online shop.

Hawke Digi-Scope Smart Phone Adapter

Getting into nature photography can be a daunting prospect. What camera do you buy? Which lenses do you choose, and what size should they be? How much should you spend? These are all questions that require a good bit of thought, and rightly so. However, what if you wanted to dip your toe in at the shallow end and use equipment that you may already have lying around to take decent photos at a fraction of the price? That’s precisely where the Hawke Digi-Scope Smart Phone Adapter comes in. I decided to put it to the test by taking images of local wildlife at a variety of ranges with two of Hawke’s spotting scopes and a pair of Kite binoculars. To do this, I used the Hawke Nature-Trek 20–60 × 80 and the Nature-Trek 13–39 × 56 scopes, and a pair of Kite Ursus 8 × 32 binoculars.

Hawke have established a name for themselves as producing reliable and rugged optics for the entry to mid-level markets and this optical adapter fits nicely into that niche, giving anyone with an optical device the option to transform their optics into a camera lens, when combined with a smartphone camera.

Out of the box – first impressions

The adapter comes packaged with a small instruction manual and some small foam sticky pads to place around the aperture clamp and prevent damage to the ocular lens of the optics you are using. Made from lightweight ABS plastic, the adapter feels light in the hand but not fragile. Stated compatibility on the box is for eyepieces 23–50mm in diameter, so make sure that the optics you plan to use meet these specifications. There is also a minimum and maximum size for compatible phones (width 66–95mm), but most currently produced models should fit fine.

Ease of use

The adapter is a simple piece of kit that is designed to fit around the ocular lens of a spotting scope, microscope, telescope or, most commonly, a pair of binoculars. The spring-loaded clamp then allows you to place your phones rear camera to the eyepiece and align them, in essence creating an inexpensive camera and physical lens arrangement. This will then allow your smartphone to take photos at ranges that the vast majority of devices on the market wouldn’t be capable of. Getting this alignment right can be quite fiddly but once found, the adapter holds fast, and the point of focus doesn’t drift. It’s important to try to remember to reduce/disable the auto focussing on the device as this can be at odds with the manual focus of the scope itself. Likewise, make sure to zoom the phone camera slightly to avoid giving a ‘scoped’ view to your photos, with a circular black border (see below).

In the field

Testing the adapter involved setting it up on the window ledge of a bird hide and using it while combing along the River Dart, allowing tests over variable distances to look and capture at different focus points and ranges. I often found that target acquisition with the scopes was a bit of a lesson in trial and error as any hand movement through high magnification lenses will be exacerbated massively through the screen. However, this will be greatly reduced by using a lesser magnification or a stabilising structure such as a tripod (or a handy fence post). The use of a phone in this case proved crucial as the post- processing from the device helped to mute the amount of disturbance to the final image from this unavoidable shaking. While there was some aberration introduced to the final photos, it didn’t mar the result too much or overly distract from the images (see below).

Using the adapter with a pair of binoculars was where the Hawke Digi-Scope really shone. Quick to acquire and quick to capture, the photos produced were, in my opinion, superb, making this an ideal tool for an enthusiast beginning their journey into nature photography. (see images below)

While the adapter itself is a lightweight bit of kit, whatever you mount within it will add weight to the back of your optics and upset any built-in centre of balance – much as I found out when, after attaching the phone, the scope made a determined attempt at see-sawing off the bird-hide window ledge. When not attached to the optics, however, the adapter is small and portable, fitting easily into a pocket without any discernible bulk or weight.

Taking pictures with the adapter was as simple as hitting the camera button on the phone and snapping away, making sure to adjust the focus using the scope/binoculars as needed (this took a bit of practice to get used to). I didn’t manage to get any images of animals moving at great speed (something a dedicated nature photography camera would have no issues doing) while using the scopes, as acquiring and holding onto the target while also focusing using the scope lent itself to more stationary birds (see image 9). The binoculars, on the other hand, were great for reactive type photography, albeit at much reduced ranges (e.g. image 10).

Photograph of a brown duck standing on one leg scratching the underside of its wing with its beak stood on a log taken through a lens. — Image 9

Motion photograph of a crow taking off in flight from a patch of grass scattered in autumn leaves. — Image 10

Conclusions

While using the Hawke Digi-Scope, it is important to remember that the phone you use, the post processing that it does, and the settings you enable will all modulate the end result in some way, and this is an unavoidable part of using your phone to take images with a non-attached magnification device. Unlike an expensive camera with light meters and other tools, this setup will never quite produce a true to life image with no introduced imperfections.

In terms of optics, the scopes performed well and were great in their own right; however, both the models I used were technically 1–2mm over the maximum specified eyepiece diameter. This was surprising as the mount seemed to fit fine (a little snug if anything), but also surprising as it begs the question as to why this adapter doesn’t fit the full range of Hawke products. This was not an issue with the binoculars as they have a much smaller ocular aperture.

It is just as important to stress this wasn’t a test of the optics used but rather the adapter itself and, in that role, it performed very well. It held the phone securely and the rubberised touch points prevented slippage, keeping both the scope and phone lenses aligned. But, as stated before, this was a bit of a fiddly procedure.

I do think that this adapter helps to bridge the gap between the more professional nature photography market and the more casual enthusiast who wishes to go and get some decent photos of what’s living in the area around them, and it will help to extend the reach of the average person’s smartphone camera by quite a distance. The speed of setup and lack of any frills really helps to make this adapter a portable, reliable workhorse or a spur of the moment image capturing tool. If you’re looking for an inexpensive bit of kit to add to your usual birding/hiking/survey gear alongside your pick of optics, this is the adapter for you.

The Hawke Digi-Scope Smart Phone Adapter is available at www.nhbs.com/digi-scope

In the Field – Hawke Endurance ED Marine Binoculars 7 x 50

Introduction.

Choosing the right binoculars for either your hobby or work is something you should spend time on. While using binoculars on dry land sometimes has challenges with poor weather conditions, if you then wish to use a pair of optics out at sea, you should consider some additional points.

Wind, changing light conditions and weight are amongst the deciding factors on what makes a good pair of optics but add variable movement and changing landscapes to the list of elements to assess a pair of binoculars and you need to review your selection even more carefully. I’m very lucky to be able to have access to a boat for cetacean spotting and surveying. With that in mind, I decided to put the Hawke Maritime 7 x 50 binoculars through a test. But one thing that always makes it a challenge is the sea state, coupled with fast-changing light and weather conditions. Many of the points outlined below still form part of the normal considerations for use on land, but I’ve tried to extend the thoughts to the case of ‘at sea’.

What to look for in a pair of marine binoculars?

Crisp image

I have found that some binoculars are let down, not by the amount of light going through the lens elements, but by the overall quality of the image. While a bright image is important, chromatic aberrations can cause issues with the identification of surface or flying objects, especially when they are near the edge of the field of view. When the sea state is above 1 (calm or glass-like), there is more movement in the wave height and the amount of time you have to determine the object on the far side of the wave is reduced. Is it a bird, or a dorsal fin? At certain times of the year, it becomes even more of a challenge when you have adult guillemots on the surface of the water with their black and white bodies that can look like the dorsal fins of cetaceans.

This is also important with the large field of view. Maritime binoculars are all about the amount of vision you have. If you are a skipper on a boat and need to make decisions that affect the safety of your vessel, then seeing more of what is at a distance from you is critical. The choice of a BaK-4 Roof prism also plays into the quality of the image as this design of prism is reserved for higher-end products, and it shows with the quality of the image.

Brightness

The overall brightness of the image in all weather conditions is a big help. Timed survey periods for cetaceans rely on the confidence of the surveyor in deciding what they have seen. Whether the light is behind you or in front, the subject brightness needs to be enough to see markings, details of any dorsal fin damage (nicks, cuts), and for the assessment of age. Typically, the youngest calf will have fetal folds on its body, and a bright image will assist in making out those factors to allow assessment of age as they lose these folds after about six months. The Hawke Endurance ED Marine binoculars come in two sizes of front element, the larger giving a brighter image, but at the cost of weight (see below) with the larger binoculars being over 50 per cent heavier than the smaller version. I tested the 7 x 50 version which did not disappoint in brightness and, in my opinion, worth the cost in weight.

Wide field of view

The difference between the two main pairs of binoculars in the range from Hawke is dictated by size. The smaller version (not tested) is lighter in weight and contains a smaller front element (less brightness compared with their larger version) but with a greater field of view. This may be part of your decision for the selection as it is worth remembering that the amount of extra view may not be as much as you first thought. A useful tip to remember is that one degree of field of view equates to about 17.5 meters at a distance of 1000 meters. So the difference between the two versions of the maritime product is just under 23 meters of view!

Waterproof

The binoculars have been rated IP67. Technically they are waterproof and can be immersed in water for a short period of time without any problems. Hawke have given consideration to this by adding a set of float-assisted neck straps. Coloured bright yellow, it makes it easy to spot should you accidentally drop them over the side of the boat. The strap will keep them afloat. Needless to say, I didn’t test this benefit! It is also worth keeping a cloth with you for wiping away the salt water as, no matter how durable a pair of binoculars can be, sea spray will eventually damage the product.

Weight

The 7 x 50 binoculars compared with many others are no heavier than the average. However, my view on weight is reflected by the circumstances of use. If you intend to use them on a boat, and the conditions are less than calm, then holding them with one hand while using your other hand for stability is a great test. Long periods of time holding them in one hand can start to strain the wrist. Using the neck strap is important.

Conclusion

I found the 7 x 50 binoculars to be a joy to use. Overall, the specifications have been well thought through, and provide the majority of what you would need to survey. They even produce a version with a compass built in, which I can imagine would be a further benefit for recording the sighting direction when surveying. They are comfortable to hold and generate a bright image, making it easy to identify the subject matter. It should also be noted that Hawke provide a lifetime warranty on product defects, which I feel is an outstanding part of the manufacturer’s services.

The Hawke Endurance ED Marine Binoculars can be found here. Our full range of Hawke Optics binoculars can be found here.

If you have any questions about our range or would like some advice on the right product for you then please contact us via email at customer.services@nhbs.com or phone on 01803 865913.