trailplanner
New member
Just back from walking the England Coast Path (also Cornwall Coast and South West Coast Path) from Teignmouth to St Ives. Thrilled to see a Golden Oriole at close quarters on the Lizard Peninsula after spending an hour watching Choughs play on the cliffs - such comical flyers. Travelling as a backpacker, meaning lightweight, I carried an Opticron Explorer 8x32 ED-R Monocular, which worked well. Notable birds on the walk - Kestrel, Buzzards, Stonechats/Chiffchaff (the background song of the coast), White Throat, Wheatear, Fulmar, Black-Backed Gulls and the delight of hearing Great Northern Divers calling and coo'ing at 6AM on lonely stretches of south Devon coast, in the still morning air. First Cuckoo at Zennor.
I have now purchased a Nikon Monarch ED82 Fieldscope, after years of prevarication, which was waiting for me when I got home. With my eyes, the performance is astonishing with the MEP 20-60 eyepiece. Sitting on top of a Gitzo 2452 with a GHF2W Fluid Head I think I have made a good choice, without needing to take out a mortgage for the top-end scopes. Now to go back and spend more time along the coast and estuaries.
I have now purchased a Nikon Monarch ED82 Fieldscope, after years of prevarication, which was waiting for me when I got home. With my eyes, the performance is astonishing with the MEP 20-60 eyepiece. Sitting on top of a Gitzo 2452 with a GHF2W Fluid Head I think I have made a good choice, without needing to take out a mortgage for the top-end scopes. Now to go back and spend more time along the coast and estuaries.
