Trail Camera Reviews

I've been intending to review the trail cameras that I've been using and while I'm without transport seemed like a good time to start. These cameras are, left to right an Acorn 5210A 940nm, a Bushnell Trophy Cam 2010 model 119445 and a Hawke ProStalk PC2000.

Ltl Acorn 5210 940nm

The Acorn is what they call a lo glow version; and means that it's IR diodes emit at a wavelength of 940 nano metres which is invisible to humans and wildlife.

Shown left with the back removed to access the colour viewing screen (48 x 35.69mm / 2.36"), key pad and additional battery compartment, this design is a departure from the more usual "peli" style cases used by Bushnell et.c

Bushnell Trophy Cam 2010 model 119445


The IR diodes emit a visible glow but they also have  2011 Black LED models 119466 and 467


This model has a black and white (24 x 32mm/ 1.5") display which can be used for camera set up but not for viewing what's on the card. You have to carry a separate viewer for this or wait until you have access to a PC.

The 2011 Black LED model 119467 does have a (32 x 42mm / 2") colour viewing screen.

Hawke ProStalk PC200


This camera is the smallest and lightest of the trio and again its IR Diodes produce a visible glow.

The black and white LCD display screen allows set up of all the cameras functions, but no viewing of images or video.

It is an extremely compact, functional and easy to use design.



There will be more about these cameras over the next few weeks, together with comparison tests and plenty of examples of field results in all modes and conditions.

All of this will be added to the trail camera page along with specification sheets and analysis.

Autumn colours

 Autumn's well under way now and back as early as the 26th August the bracken (left) was turning at Corrimony.

This year has generally been fairly wet this far north and not, it seems, a good year for the development of some fruits. I've been checking fallen Hazel cobs recently and haven't found a kernel more developed than the one below which was 5mm across instead of about 13mm.

The Bird Cherry (bottom) on the other hand, is fully grown but these tiny seeds (3mm) are not going to help squirrels who would normally be enjoying the autumn Hazel crop.

I haven't seen any Rowan berries either, this year, other than one bush in a Glen Urquhart forest car park. I don't know what they're like in the wider area but people tell me there is a lot of fruit down south, which of course, has been a lot sunnier.

While on the subject of autumn colours, you may have noticed the change of colour scheme for these pages. I'd tired of funereal black and decided to brighten up the presentation. I'm not sure if I'm entirely happy with the way it looks so far, so there may be more changes to come.

Strike one van.

Sorry I've not been active for a couple of weeks. I've had a bad chest, ear, nose and throat infection which put a whole new meaning to getting your cents worth.

On top of that, last Thursday night a Roe Deer helped me total the van which means that I'm going to have to function without transport for at least a couple of months; as I just don't have the cash resources to go out and get an instant replacement.

I managed to avoid the deer but hit a very big wall on the opposite side of the road. It doesn't look that bad in the picture but it wrecked the wheel and tyre and crumpled the chassis, plus there's damage to the body further back. The wall didn't move!

I'm having to re-assess how and what surveying I'll be doing over the winter. Corrimony and Dundreggan
will have to wait until early next year and meanwhile, I'll be working mainly in the forest to the west of Guisachan which is shown below.

As well as Red Squirrels, I'll be looking for Wildcat using low glow infra red cameras on the remote animal trails in the area.

This is an area of well over 600 hectares, much of which is dense plantation and relatively remote; so I expect to be working in there for a long time.

Olympus Digital f2.8 50-200mm Telephoto Lens for sale

SOLD

Circumstances are forcing me to part with this lens which I really do not want to sell.

It is a four thirds fit, 100mm to 400mm equivalent to the old 35mm format with a maximum aperture of f2.8 and f3.5 at full telephoto.

It's in good used condition, gives excellent results and is available for sale on eBay

If you want to ask me anything about this lens please feel free to get in touch by eMail, phone or Skype

Save our Badgers

All the available scientific evidence suggests that plans to shoot badgers will do very little to prevent the spread of bovine TB in cattle, is not a long term solution and may well make the situation worse.
Find out more by visiting The Badger Trust and Save Me
You can also explore other options to our currently outdated practices by visiting Rethink Bovine TB and Bovine TB

SIGN THE PETITION TO STOP THE PLAN TO SHOOT BADGERS

Trail Camera Special Offers

I've made arrangements with Wildlife and Countryside Services to offer you some of their product range at special discounts. Their normal prices are very competitive anyway and this puts a bit of icing on the cake.

Items include the Ltl Acorn trail camera range,  the ProStalk PC 2000 trail camera, Kepler, Visionary Wetland and Prophecy binoculars, Ciel bat detectors plus Zoom and Roland digital recorders.

Over the next few days I'll be launching a new trail camera page with lots more information, user manuals to download and Ltl Acorn reviews.

Special offer products pages.

Insect life on aspens in Glen Affric | Alan Watson Featherstone's Blog

Insect life on aspens in Glen Affric | Alan Watson Featherstone's Blog:

I found this particularly interesting.

'via Blog this'

New Book Store page

At long last I've made time to sort out my reference books page by integrating my Amazon aStore into the blog.

There are four pages of my own selection of books such as those illustrated right and the menu also includes Photography, Science and Nature; and Scientific and Technical.

I'll be occasionally adding to and changing my personal selection with books I think may be of interest.

Visit my Amazon Book Store

Grey Dagger Moth caterpillar (Acronicta psi)

Every so often I come across a bug of some kind that captures my attention, either because of its appearance or behaviour; and I couldn't resist this spectacularly coloured caterpillar.

Problem is that on nearly every occasion I have to do a search to find out what it is. I've looked through a couple of books, one being the Collins Field Guide for Insects and the only caterpillar that comes close to this one is the Grey Dagger (Acronicta psi); but the colouring isn't right. The illustration shows white below the red spots and grey up to the yellow, whereas this specimen  is black; so if anyone can help I'd be greatfull.

When I do identify it properly I'll amend the post.

My thanks to the warden at Pensychnant Conservation Centre and Nature Reserve in North Wales who offered this information

It is a Grey Dagger caterpillar. It is not too surprising that it doesn’t concur exactly with the illustration in your book because caterpillars vary considerably between instars, making identification difficult.

Grey Dagger is a common moth but this is an uncommon record because Grey Dagger is virtually indistinguishable from Dark Dagger, so it is usually recorded as Grey Dagger agg. However the caterpillars are not alike so we can be certain that this is the Grey Dagger sensu stricto.

Corrimoney Falls - Squirrel survey map update

I've just updated the maps on the Corrimony page, which now includes the map on the left, showing more detail for the falls area.

Each red dot represents fresh or recent Scots Pine cone feeding remains.

I've also found the odd split Common Hazel cob from last year; which squirrels have been collecting from the river gorge and carrying up into the forest, before extracting the kernel's.