Please do not use "post comments" to ask for camera help and advice.
Use phone, Skype IM or eMail.

Monday, 30 January 2012

Ltl Acorn 6210 MC and Bushnell 119467 - Review - Part 2


fig 1  Left: Acorn 6210  -  Right: Bushnell 119467




First impressions: Having been conditioned to the Peli case style box of many trail cameras, I initially thought the Ltl Acorn 5210 was a bit quirky; but having used them for a while, I found the design quite practical.


The first incarnation of the 6210 was basically the upgrades in the 5210 box. Then for reasons unknown, the manufacturers did a complete redesign of the whole package whilst keeping the front design almost unchanged but with a slight increase in width and depth.


Fig 2  Ltl Acorn 6210MC



It's likely that the need to accommodate the extra set of four batteries, coupled with a desire to move away from the detachable back sponsored the changes. Whatever the reasons, I couldn't help but be impressed with the ingenuity with which the designers put so much into such a small unit and kept the weight down as well.

From a user point of view, the smaller and lighter the better, and I also felt that, with its bottom opening door the Ltl Acorn 6210 was going to be a lot more weather proof than its predecessor; and all the other front opening trail cameras such as the Bushnell.

Fig 3
Water ingress of the
Ltl Acorn 6210 LED array

I then received the news that one of these cameras had water inside the LED array (Fig 3) after only a few days outdoors; which is a serious issue and not something I wanted to hear at this stage

It could most likely be an ineffective seal where the array mates to the inside of the case front; but

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

New Ltl Acorn and Bushnell Trail Cameras - Review - Part 1

This is the start of a full review of these two cameras on behalf of Wildlife and Countryside Services and I will be posting my observations and results of camera performance over the next few weeks.

These wildlife trail cameras are the latest, top of the range models from Ltl Acorn and Bushnell and are very similar in specification. I will be directly comparing and trialling them under identical conditions.

They represent the very latest evolution in technical development of miniaturised, outdoor game cameras.



Bushnell Trophy Camera
Model: 119467 (internal viewer)

Size:  115mm x 160mm x 70mm
          4.5 x 6.3 x 2.75 inches
Weight: 320g (without batteries)


Ltl Acorn HD Video Series
Model:  6210MC (without MMS)

Size:  85mm x 141mm x 70mm
         3.3 x 5.6 x 2.75 inches
Weight: 245g (without batteries)


Ltl Acorn 6210M HD Video Series User Manual

Download manual
This is a pdf file of the user manual for the new Ltl Acorn Trail Camera Ltl 6210M which is now available.

I'm about to do a review of this camera and prior to its arrival I looked on the web for a copy of this manual without success; so I decided to produce my own.

There is a pdf user manual of the test series version of this camera but this is the up to date version. Useful if you're trying to make your mind up about a purchase.
Note: This camera is the real deal and not a clone.

Click here to view or download the manual

Bat Detector Reviews: Review: EM3 From Wildlife Acoustics Part 1 Of 3

The eagerly awaited review of the EM3
Review: The EM3 From Wildlife Acoustics (Part 1 Of 3) - Some preliminary thoughts, and first impressions -Well, it's finally here! The long-anticipated, new Echo Meter 3 from Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. is now available! I must state, first and foremost: That this new bat detector is revolutionary. It is the first hand-held, ultrasonic detector to feature a (live) sonogram display! 
I envision this feature being very welcomed by experienced hobbyists and Bat Workers/Researchers.
Besides being unprecedented, technologically advanced and scientifically useful - 

Bat Detector Reviews: Review: EM3 From Wildlife Acoustics Part 1 Of 3:

Monday, 23 January 2012

Scottish Wildcat (Felis sylvestris grampia) at Highland Wildlife Park

Male wildcat
Female wildcat 
Male wildcat
Last week I made a visit to the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig near Kingussie
Female wildcat
Wildcat faeces

The Highland Wildlife Park was opened in 1972 and, along with Edinburgh Zoo, is run by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (registered charity SC004064)


As part of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the Highland Wildlife Park is committed to promoting the conservation of threatened species and habitats; and it was in this context that I had asked Doug Richardson if I could visit their wildcats.

My contact with wild living cats has been limited to date, and I hoped that by spending some time with these cats, in their enclosure, I would get a better feel for their demeanour.


Wildcat faeces
The two cats pictured above are six and five years old respectively and although the male has a domestic cat genetic marker the female is believed to be pure. It was useful to be able to briefly study these cats close up, to photograph their markings and particularly, a couple of faecal samples (droppings) for reference.

My thanks to Doug Richardson (Animal collections manager) and David Barclay (Keeper) for making me welcome and for allowing me access to the wildcat enclosure.

Now for the hard work of finding them in the Glen Affric area.

I've seen one cat which was either pure or hybrid. Now all I've got to do is prove it.

Friday, 20 January 2012

Two Roe Deer and a Fox at the birch log



Two Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) at the log this time. If you look carefully at the head of the first animal, you can just make out the buds of new antlers which make very rapid growth around the end of January.

The second animal could also be a buck but no clear view of its head.

Both of them pull at the brackets this time but they are still not to their liking.



This Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) also passed by, using the same trail as the hare and pine marten have previously.



Badgers raiding bait at remote camera site



These badgers cleaned out all the bait at this site over a four day period. I say badgers (plural) because I think it was different animal at the end of the clip on day three.

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) found near Duror in Lochaber

Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) road kill at Duror, Lochaber.
I've just received a report from Juliet at the Highland Red Squirrel Group that the Grey Squirrel shown left was recently found near Duror in Lochaber.

Duror is in the Glendour Forest a few miles south of Ballachullish on the A828 Oban road and greys have apparently not been recorded in this area previously.

Anyone in this area is asked to watch for more greys and report any sightings to Juliet Robinson - Red Squirrel Conservation Officer Highland

Saturday, 14 January 2012

Pine Marten raiding local bird feeder for meat balls

A neighbour asked me the other day, if I could set a camera to discover what was taking meat balls from their bird feeder. This was happening at night and my guess was it would be a Pine Marten (Martes martes)

Thursday, 12 January 2012

Visitors at the Birch log

This Brown Hare (Lepus eropaeus) passes by every so often. It seems to be one of its regular trails

A Pine Marten (Martes martes) sitting on the log, scenting the air.

Still no feeding on the brackets apart from a couple of bites by the Roe Deer in the last post.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
This web site is about the wildlife, particularly the mammals, of the Glen Affric National Nature Reserve area in the north west Highlands of Scotland, UK; and the equipment I use to search for them, which is chiefly trail cameras.

I provide a technical support and parts service for the Ltl Acorn range of cameras and the income from this provides for the upkeep of this site and the purchase of cameras for my own surveying.

I hope you find the site useful and informative; and please contact me if you have any questions that I haven't already covered.