Wednesday 17 August 2011

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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Sunday 14 August 2011

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):

DSC_8436 Gatekeeper

DSC_8423  Gatekeeper

and a Peacock (Inachis io):
DSC_8412 Peacock butterfly

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?
DSC_8446

While we waited for it to get dark, there was plenty of time for a BBQ and sitting round the camp fire:
DSC_8455

The new air supply into the fire pit is working very nicely now:
DSC_8456

Here's a view along the pipe:
DSC_8519

As dusk approached, we got the moth traps set up. Two of this design:
DSC_8458

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!
DSC_8459

The other two ran off a generator, as they use 125W each!
DSC_8462

Holly thought it would be good to try out the rope swing in the light of the moth trap, which was good fun!
DSC_8465

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:
DSC_8468

Here's the moths then...

Rosy Footman (Miltochrista miniata)
DSC_8474 "rosy footman" "Miltochrista miniata"

Black Arches (Lymantria monacha)
DSC_8500 "Lymantria monacha" "black arches"

Two Black Arches together:
DSC_8561 "Lymantria monacha" "black arches"

Rosy Footman with Black Arches:
DSC_8511 Rosy Footman and Black Arches

Riband Wave (Idaea aversata)
DSC_8506 "Idaea aversata" "Riband Wave"

Drinker (Euthrix potatoria)
DSC_8516 "Euthrix potatoria" "drinker"

Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala)
DSC_8536 "Acronicta megacephala" "Poplar Grey"

One I'm not sure of, despite having a list of those ID'd! Any ideas?
DSC_8537

Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli)
DSC_8545 "Colocasia coryli" "Nut-tree Tussock"
Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria)
DSC_8548 "Crocallis elinguaria" "Scalloped Oak"

Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum)
DSC_8554 "Spilosoma luteum" "Buff Ermine"

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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Saturday 6 August 2011

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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