Observed with my compact Bushnell binoculars.

AWESOME. Yellowstone National Park Lifetime Moment!

Who even knew that Bull Elks and Grizzly Bears could swim so well?

Let me tell you. The Bull Elk outswam that hungry Grizz and ended up grazing on the far side of the lake. Observed in a stunning moment at Riddle Lake late one September afternoon.

Imagine just sitting there eating your lunch on a log and watching this REAL LIFE adventure play out before you.

THAT is what WILDNESS is about.
THAT is why we carry our binoculars with us wherever we go.
THAT is why National Parks were created “for all to enjoy”.

Who knew that a grizzly bear would attempt to take down a bull elk for a meal?

But then, Who Else COULD? Maybe a pack of Wolves.

And to be there with my trusty compact Bushnell binoculars could be the only improvement. You see the last time I visited, we swapped binoculars for a day. And mine stayed behind for this adventure. Of course I still have binoculars, I simply was not with my Bushnells while they had this adventure! I simply listened as it was told.

Binoculars & Scopes

This is one of the topics in my K.I.S.S. Method of Better Birding ECourse which you can sign up for at this site. And I discuss it in more detail as part of those online lessons. The course is free online, though it can cost at least $67 to be presented at a local workshop.  So if you want to learn some of the prime tips for better birding experiences, you just might want to sign up for this course. (hint)

Participants in this ECourse will receive a free report on Birding Binoculars – My Guide to Selecting Bird Binoculars as part of the course. But I know many people do not have time to spend with going through an ECourse on birding when ALL they want to know is HOW do I Choose My Binoculars? What do I look for?

That is why I am sharing this brief introduction on Choosing Bird Binoculars with this video from the ExpertVillage at Massachusetts Audubon Society. Not only is it short, about 3 minutes but it is authoritative, coming from some of the finest birding experts in the world at Mass Audubon. Take a few minutes to review the video and then you just might want to take my Birding ECourse! (hint)



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Recently I shared about my favored Leupold Katmai Compact Binoculars, so you know I have a preference for compacts.   These are 10X32.  So they are a little larger, weigh a little more and have more magnification and more field of vision than the compacts do.

Remember what the numbers mean? The 10X means you see the object 10 times the size it is. The 32 means the size of the lens opening,  32 mm. You can see more about what these numbers mean here.

Gold Ring Binoculars YES.

Made in America. That is nice. I have heard birders discussing how that is a genuine sales feature because so many binoculars are made in in Europe.  I guess there is a bit of pride in having good optics here too.

Who uses them?
Birders, hunters, outdoors enthusiasts, security people, and more.

What are their special features?

• All Leupold binoculars are Waterproof and Fogproof
• Second-generation argon/krypton waterproofing
• Extraordinary brightness in low-light
• Anti-reflective lens coatings – Plasma Coat
• Interpupilary distance lock enables fast one-hand use.
• Comfortable, twist-up eyecups with long eye relief.
• Lifetime guarantee like all Leupolds

What are users saying about them?

I will share some excerpts from a  other user reviews here because I do not own a pair myself.

• After my research, I was down to Leica, Swarovski or Leupold Gold Ring.
• These have excellent clear image and good range and depth of field
• These are cheaper than the others in terms of money not quality.
• I got great clarity, good contrast, easy focusing and low-light use.
• I got what I wanted and more. Leupold is mine now!

Shop the best selection of binoculars worldwide at Binoculars.com!

I believe these Leupolds are a good buy.  Actually any Leupold binoculars will be worth your cash and time. Smaller and lighter than the popular size  10×42 binoculars.  It becomes a matter of personal preference when it comes down to making this kind of choice between all excellent quality binoculars.  10×32 is a nice compromise size.

Shop the best selection of binoculars worldwide at Binoculars.com!

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Binoculars have become very popular in recent years. They have moved beyond military, police and surveillance use and become a common piece of equipment for recreational purposes. Beyond bird watching, they are increasingly being bought for use in hunting, fishing, boating, camping, hiking, in fact they can add to the pleasure of most outdoor pursuits.

You can do most of these activities, in poor light or even in darkness. This makes night vision binoculars an attractive proposition. But they vary widely in price and function and you could easily make a costly mistake.

Firstly, there is a difference between binoculars designed to make the best use of very low light conditions and a true night binocular. If you will be operating at dawn or dusk, low light binoculars could suit your purpose. You can get an idea of how well a pair of binoculars will perform in low light from its Exit Pupil.

This refers to the diameter of the beam of light that leaves the eyepieces. Hold the binoculars at arms length and you will see the small circles of light on each eyepiece. To find their size, divide lens diameter by magnification. If the binoculars are 12×50, 50/12 equals just over 4mm. A higher figure means more light, but there are other factors.

For true nighttime performance, you need an infrared light source to be able to see when there is no natural light. The effective range of these varies, so buy what you need. For hunting, a range of 10 yards is useless.

Different optical devices have different uses. A monocular, sometimes known as a spotting scope, does just that. Do a quick sweep of the terrain or the sea. Spot movements in the trees.

A binocular feels more natural with two eyepieces, but still only has a single front lens.  It is a compromise. A true night vision binocular, with two front lenses, allows the adjustment of each eye to the night vision viewfinder. This is more comfortable for long periods of use.

Before deciding to purchase night vision binoculars, consider what your needs are. What lighting conditions will you mainly be dealing with. Will they be used often and for long periods. A true night vision binocular is an expensive item, maybe more than you really need to pay.

BUT to make them easier to find, I decided to post a list of them right here and now.  I will be sure to add this information to the links page as well.  I hope this helps you with your search for fine quality AND affordable binoculars for birdwatching.

Compact Bushnell Binoculars

Stokes Bird Binoculars

Favorite Binoculars Source

Leupold Compact Binoculars

Compact Bushnell Binoculars another review

Five BEST Bird Binoculars

Audubon Binoculars

Pentax Binoculars for Birding

Steiner and More

Another person asked me if I actually review these binoculars in person, like at a store.

The answer to that is yes and no. I do not often find the specific brands in stores near where I live.  But I DO find a wide variety of birding binoculars wherever birders are gathered. I make it a point to try them out, hands-on. I have done this for a LONG time. So with the exception of the newest digital models I have used or investigated most brands of binoculars in my career as a park ranger-naturalist.

So, yes, my reviews are authentic and personal.  And my birding ecourse is 100% home made and professional in content.

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If you’re like me, you probably thought they would only be necessary for someone who was an avid fisherman or bird-watcher, and that a regular pair of binoculars would be fine for your occasional binocular needs.  However, I learned last summer that waterproof binoculars can come in handy when you least expect it. I went whale-watching with my best friend on a day with very rough seas. I had been looking forward to this trip for years and couldn’t wait to get my first glimpse of live whales in the wild.

(Sometimes Birdwatchers go whale watching too!)Due to the poor visibility, we were three hours into our five hour tour before we saw our first whale. Our tour guide explained that because we had been at sea for three hours, we would only have about half an hour to watch the whale before we needed to head back to shore.
I excitedly got out my digital camera and started taking pictures when I realized that it was an impossible task. My glasses kept fogging up and my camera lens kept getting wet. I tried cleaning them, but before I could get the whale back in view, I was fogged up again, and my lens was wet. I was dejected – I had been looking forward to this trip so much. My friend saved the day for me – she handed me a pair of binoculars and told me to try them. I was so surprised when I could see the whale frolicking about so clearly!! She explained to me that I was using her waterproof binoculars, which she had brought along just in case we encountered rain. She told me they were made so that they would not fog up or be affected by water.

She told me that she had received them as a going away gift from her mother before taking a cruise. Her mother had been on a cruise the previous year and had been upset that she could not use her regular binoculars on many occasions because the lenses kept fogging up. Another passenger noticed and recommended that she get a pair of waterproof binoculars. Needless to say, she bought a pair at the next port and never had any problems with fog or spray for the rest of the cruise.

She decided to buy a pair for her niece, who is in a wheelchair and likes to watch birds from her deck. Her niece had mentioned that her regular binoculars would fog up a lot when she brought them outside in the early morning.

I didn’t know how handy waterproof binoculars would be until I bought my own pair. A few weeks later I was out canoeing with my brother. While he was enjoying the sunshine and fresh air, I was enjoying looking at the birds. Then, suddenly, another canoe bumped ours and I found myself in the water!    After fishing me out, by brother was surprised that I could still use my binoculars (which, thankfully I had strapped around my neck). I explained to him that they were waterproof and could still be used after they got wet. After that, he borrowed them every time he went fishing until I got fed up with it and bought him a pair of his own for his birthday.

Who knew a pair of waterproof binoculars could become such a necessary item!

by L. DeGruttola, guest author UAW.

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I am ready to upgrade my compact binoculars and this is what I am looking at. Since Leupold is in my Five Best Binoculars ratings and I love compact for most of my travels, this has the features I seek plus it is a bit more heavy duty than the compacts I use now. That helps when I am passing them to less experienced folks.

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These small pelagic waders (oxymoron here) like salt water. They are so much fun to watch because when they are feeding they swim around in circles. In my opinion they are almost shorebirds because they do linger near the shore, but just far enough away to require assisted viewing, like binoculars. On these trips I had other binoculars with me but my favorite pocket binoculars came through in the end and were handy right away while my partner groped through our packs for a pair with better magnification. If you are looking for something very useful and easy to tote, go for a pair of compact Bushnells. The quality is not the quite good and it is less expensive and easy to have with you wherever you go. Did I tell you that They are also very affordable?

Phalaropes breed in arctic areas and are found in warmer waters in summer, when they have brighter colors. They are from 6-10 inches long, so the binoculars and scope really help. The circular swimming at feeding time makes a whirlpool effect and draws small food items close to them.
These birds have been around since Pliocene and Oligocene times, according to fossil records. There are 3 kinds of Phalaropes, with common names slightly different in Europe. Wilsons, Red/Grey, and Red-necked are all identified as distinct species.

During their oceanic travels you need better binoculars than my favorite little ones. Marine binoculars are best. ~

If you are a marketer please do take a look, the launch is Jan. 13th at noon http://dobirds.webprosperity.com
It is a unique hybrid of mlm distribution and internet marketing tools in a well orchestrated suite. It is a money saver and a residual income builder.
Just thought I would mention it here in case some of my birding friends are also looking for second incomes in these tough economic times.

Meanwhile, other family things have interfered with getting my next binocular reviews out to you, I apologize.

My sister got RUN OVER BY A BIG DOG. That is not a joke. She broke her back on the pavement and has been recovering at my house for 6 weeks. Mom had a tumble but did not break any of her 93 year old bones. One rainy night I wrenched my back going out the ramp to the patio, slipped, almost fell and essentially RAN (holding injured cat)into ankle deep water. LOTS of rain and flooding here. Poor dear cat ran out of dry places in her protected shelter and climbed up on a box on top of the table. Meanwhile, the dishwasher broke down and that involved lots of deconstruction of the cabinets and installation of new ones(the one that died was a 30 year old portable one that my sister inherited!)

So… Lots happening, but not all of it is birds or binoculars.

People tell me that blog readers want to get to know you, so tell  stories of your life adventures. Here is a current one!

Shop the best selection of binoculars worldwide at Binoculars.com!

Popular and highest rated by customers are featured NOW at Binoculars.com .

I would be sleeping at the switch if I did not TELL YOU about them!

If you ever longed for a  pair of  Swarovski binoculars, NOW is the time for a great deal on fantastic binoculars.

Hey, if you buy a pair of Swarovski binoculars maybe I can too! How is that for motivation? Well, it is a bit of a stretch! But indeed the highest rated binoculars on sale is worth taking a look at.

There is also a section in their online store for the MOST POPULAR binoculars and those that are featured for 30% off year end sales.

Do take a few minutes to check them out. You just might find what you have been waiting for at a price you can afford.

And let me know how it goes. I shop there too.

Why do I shop there? Because of their products and service. They are the binoculars experts! I see the best selection of quality products. They carry top of the line binoculars, telescopes, spotting scopes, and more and generally offer the lowest prices around. Customer service searches and special features like Bill Me Later, 30-day satisfaction guarantee and dedicated low-cost shipping, are the icing on the cake.