Nikon ACULON A30 10×25 Binoculars – Review and Comparison

Nikon A30 10x25 binoculars Box

Nikon A30 10×25 binoculars Box

When walking on trails, like I frequently do, it is nice to have binoculars on hand to view things that are seen. Having your binoculars dangling around your neck can sometimes be a nuisance and also start to hurt after awhile. Having the binoculars in a pocket for quick retrieval works out a lot better, especially when the target is fleeing.

I recently purchased a pair of Nikon ACULON A30 10×25 Binoculars and had the opportunity to provide a comparison with 2 other pairs of binoculars that I had on hand. The other 2 pairs were Bushnell Birders 7×35 that are 20 plus years old (my favorite) and also Celestron 16×32 (don’t like that one much). What I did was mark out 25 paces from an old grill that had a sticker on it. This way I could compare all three pairs. That is a good way to see what the binoculars are like, is to have them next to others.

Bushnell Birder 7x35 binoculars

Bushnell Birder 7×35 binoculars

The Bushnell 7 x 35 binoculars are pretty standard. These type of binoculars have been around a while. I have had several pairs similar to these given to me. I usually just put them in a vehicle or somewhere that I don’t have to remember to take binoculars. They are very easy on the eyes and have a good field of view.

Bushnell Birder 7x35 binoculars size

Bushnell Birder 7×35 binoculars size

The Celestron 16 x 32 binoculars have a really close up view as they are 16x, but are not real easy on the eyes. As I was looking through them, I had to squint and try to see a steady view. I have used these on my walks before and was not real pleased with this happening. I had always wished I brought my Bushnell binoculars with me. So after the first time I used them,  I just kept them in my pack and only used them if I needed to get closer, but not for general purpose. I had originally purchased these to get the 16x, but I didn’t think they would be hard to view.

Bushnell View at 25 paces binoculars

Bushnell View at 25 paces binoculars

The Nikon ACULON A30 10 x 25 binoculars are much different. Even though they are small, they are easy on the eyes like my Bushnell binoculars. I don’t have to squint, and seem to get a good view without trying too hard. I can stick these in my pocket and not have to take off my pack to get them. They are real clear just like the birders. They came with a decent strap so I can hang them around my neck in between having them in my pocket.

Celestron 16x32 binoculars

Celestron 16×32 binoculars

Celestron view at 25 paces binoculars

Celestron view at 25 paces binoculars

Nikon A30 10x25 binoculars

Nikon A30 10×25 binoculars

When I say “easy on the eyes”, I mean that I don’t have to try to see out of the binoculars. For some reason, the Celestron binoculars are hard to see out of. They are clear, but it just seems like the eye holes are too small. They are just a little small than the Nikon eye holes.

25 paces is about 75′. I could not “read” the sticker out of any of them, but could make out more as the magnification grew.

Nikon A30 10x25 binoculars View at 25 paces

Nikon A30 10×25 binoculars View at 25 paces

The Nikon ACULON A30 10×25 binoculars have some good reviews on Amazon.com.

Loggerhead Shrike – Calling and Making Noise to Attract Bugs

At the time, this Loggerhead Shrike was atop a pole that was in the yard and was calling and making noise to attract bugs. As I got closer I found it just continued no matter how close I got.

Once it saw something it liked it would just go down and grab it and come back up again. It kept making these sounds for a while until it finally went somewhere else.

Loggerhead Shrike Photos

These Loggerhead Shrike photos were taken June 2013.

Loggerhead Shrike

 

This bird (Loggerhead Shrike) was discovered on my back porch on the rail one morning and it caught my attention. I noticed that it was not moving. I got the camera out and was able to snap a shot or two and it flew off. After 30 minutes or so, I noticed it on a tree limb. It stuck out, because I don’t remember seeing any of these birds around before. I noticed that it would eventually fly down to the grass and capture something and fly right back up to where it was.

Loggerhead Shrike

Then it would wait patiently until repeating the process. Throughout the day I was able to get a few good photos and also watched it grab a few bugs along the way. Every now and then I would be able to see it attacking an insect of some sort.

Ever since this day, I have been noticing the Loggerhead Shrike almost everywhere I go. On a wire it looks like a mockingbird, until the light gets on it. Then you can see the mask and know the Loggerhead Shrike is just waiting and watching!

Loggerhead ShrikeLoggerhead Shrike with food

VIDEO – Pileated Woodpecker breakfast in Southwest Florida – Giant Woodpecker

This is a short video of a Pileated Woodpecker pecking on a pine tree. The pecking sound is very loud due to his giant size. They are sighted often here in SW Florida and are seen many times in pairs. The Pileated Woodpecker sound is very distinct and can be heard from a great distance. These woodpeckers are very large, and will shower tree bark as they are hunting for food.

 

VIDEO – Build your own DIY Automatic Chicken Waterer

 

Build your own Homemade Automatic Chicken Waterer. This is a walkthrough slideshow video of the process of the automatic chicken waterer. This project and concept can be used for many different applications.

Looking for Automatic Chicken Waterer Parts List?

VIDEO – Sound of a Pileated Woodpecker

This is a short video/slideshow of a Pileated Woodpecker. The Sound of a Pileated Woodpecker is very distinct and can be heard for a great distance. This is one of the largest types of woodpeckers. They make a lot of noise when pecking on a tree and can usually be heard off in the distance pecking away. The tree bark will often shower to the ground with the onlooker wondering what is up there causing all this disturbance.

What is interesting is when you hear a Pileated woodpecker call and then you can hear another one in the distance call, then another one even further out.