Global BirdFair 2024 – checking out the gear at Lyndon Top

This weekend, at what is normally a campsite near Rutland Water nature reserve in the British midlands, Global Birdfair is taking place.

The event is a massive exhibition – in several enormous marquees (each big enough to host a royal wedding), devoted to different aspects of birding.

These include a couple of optics venues which, brilliantly, leave one side open so visitors can test the best telephoto lenses, the best monoculars, and the best binoculars for birdspotting through the side.

Reviews editor Gareth Bevan and I had the chance to get hands-on with major optics brands when we visited yesterday, as well as speak not only with sales people but volunteers and enthusiasts who explained which devices they preferred and why (as well as a few tips about what represented real value).

Andy at Park Cameras told us their stand had been very busy (and it looked it).

Optics are important for birders, but they weren't all there was – the event also has stage tents with famous speakers, moving into a more festival-like atmosphere later in the day with Seán Ronayne; Birdsong on Saturday night.

Another tent is devoted to bird art, and when visiting we were able to see artists adding birds live. Still more space was devoted to numerous opportunities to visit locations around the world (and the fact we left without tickets to Costa Rica is a matter of some surprise).

On one stand we even saw the team from Birda app – which we were told was 'a bit like Pokemon Go for real birds', while we also saw some of the new Birdfy bamboo feeder.

It's too late to book the Glamping, but it's not too late to attend the show. If you want to go, you can buy tickets in advance or at the door – see details at the BirdFair site.