Chainsaw cam - cutting up logs

First try with the GoPro camera attached to the chainsaw, cutting up a rack of logs using our Husqvarna 570 with a 28" bar on it:

Here's an older video of the same process, with me explaining how it works:

Mike

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2011 Moth Trap and BBQ

A couple of weeks ago we had some friends round to the woods for a night of moth trapping and identification. Before we got started though, it was a really nice day for butterflies too. Here's a Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus):

and a Peacock (Inachis io):

Before we get on to the moths, there was also this mass of larvae of some sort, found in water that had collected in a wheelbarrow. Any ideas?

While we waited for it to get dark, there was plenty of time for a BBQ and sitting round the camp fire:

The new air supply into the fire pit is working very nicely now:

Here's a view along the pipe:

As dusk approached, we got the moth traps set up. Two of this design:

And this battery powered one which Rod had built - you can examine the moths in it without having to bend down, which is good if you have a bad back!

The other two ran off a generator, as they use 125W each!

Holly thought it would be good to try out the rope swing in the light of the moth trap, which was good fun!

Once a bit of time had passed, we went to check the traps. The light is very bright, so you get this typical posture where everyone has a hand out to block it:

Here's the moths then...

Rosy Footman (Miltochrista miniata)

Black Arches (Lymantria monacha)

Two Black Arches together:

Rosy Footman with Black Arches:

Riband Wave (Idaea aversata)

Drinker (Euthrix potatoria)

Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala)

One I'm not sure of, despite having a list of those ID'd! Any ideas?

Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli)

Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria)

Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum)

There were quite a lot more, but I didn't get photos of them all. You can see photos from past moth traps at our wood at these links:

2008 moth trap
2009 moth trap (starts with a great photo of Black Arches!)

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42mph cycling down Battery Hill, Fairlight, East Sussex

I've been busy training for the London to Brighton bike ride that I'm doing in Sept, and yesterday I rode along the coats from Rye to Pett Level (about 9 miles) and from there through Fairlight and up Battery Hill to the coastguard station in Hastings Country Park. The main bit of the hill took me about 13 mins to cycle up - it's a similar size to to the Ditchling Beacon hill on the London-Brighton ride, which is why I'm training on it.

Of course the really fun bit is riding back down it at high speed, which is what this video is all about. I've filmed is using a GoPro camera attached to the forks. Enjoy:

and if you liked that, here's another video of different parts of the route, including other camera angles and some cygnets!

I also have a whole load of pictures from the wood from the past two weeks, hoping to catch up and blog them soon....

Mike

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