Chthonic Wildlife Ramblings

A seascape for the shortest day

Brendan Moyle • Jun 21, 2017

• Auckland photos,
• clouds,
• Gale,
• Hauraki Gulf,
• landscape,
• monring photo,
• NZ photos,
• NZ seascapes,
• seascape,
• Waiake

Introduction It’s the shortest day in NZ today.  We’re also expecting more bad weather.  That augured well for some seascape photos down at one of the local beaches.  Normally the swells on the gulf around the beaches here are sedate. Unimpressive.  A good storm can give them an interesting dynamic.  After dropping kiddo 3 at school, I stopped by at … Read More

An evening at Stanley Point

Brendan Moyle • Jun 01, 2017

• auckland panorama,
• Auckland photos,
• cityscape,
• harbour,
• long exposure,
• NZ photos,
• Panorama,
• seascape,
• skytower

Introduction Monday night once again, required a trip down to Devonport with one of the kids.  I like to use this time to take some photos, while kid does his thing. This Monday though, was a graphic illustration of congestion costs. An accident on Lake Road led to its closure earlier. While it had since reopened, the roads were still … Read More

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The Beginner’s Guide to Freshwater Policy in NZ

Brendan Moyle • Jun 01, 2017

• Clean Water Package,
• e coli,
• freshwater,
• National Policy on Freshwater,
• nps-fm 2014,
• Resource Management Act,
• swimmability

Introduction Freshwater policy in New Zealand is undergoing a lot of debate.   Unfortunately with all the hyperbole and claims, it can be difficult to determine what it is that is being debated.  With the creation of the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management (NPS-FM for those that prefer abbreviations), Central Government has taken on a more active role.  This … Read More

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An evening at Bayswater

Brendan Moyle • May 26, 2017

• Auckland,
• Auckland photos,
• Bayswater,
• explore nz,
• long exposure,
• NZ photos,
• Panorama,
• seascape,
• skytower,
• Waitemata Harbour

Introduction Photography has been an intermittent activity of late.  It’s also been tricky this time of the year with writing tests, exams and grading, to get away with the camera.  I’ve been more inclined to go just for a run or bike ride to clear the head. Nonetheless, Monday gave me the opportunity to do some photography around Devonport.  One … Read More

A distant look at Cyclone Cook

Brendan Moyle • Apr 21, 2017

• Auckland photos,
• cyclone cook,
• Hauraki Gulf,
• NZ photos,
• seascape,
• seascapes,
• sony a77ii,
• sony a7R,
• storm,
• waves

The Cyclone Last Thursday (13th April) Cyclone Cook arrived.  As a precaution, places in Auckland closed. Including Massey’s Albany campus at 11.00 am.  In the end the path of the Cyclone (for Auckland) was a little too easterly and we escaped most of the havoc.  Bad weather also can generate interesting seascapes, so I decided to try my luck at … Read More

An evening at Maungauika

Brendan Moyle • Apr 12, 2017

• Auckland photos,
• basalt rocks,
• Cheltenham Beach,
• Devonport photos,
• Maungauika,
• North head,
• NZ photos,
• seascape,
• seascapes,
• sony a7R,
• sunset

At the entrance to the Waitemata Harbour, at Devonport, is Maungauika or North Head. The reserve can be appealing to explore in evenings.  On the west side, you get views of Devonport and Auckland itself.  On the east side there is a view of Rangitoto Island and the channel separating it from the North Shore.  With a couple of … Read More

The problem with cars

Brendan Moyle • Feb 15, 2017

• air pollution,
• Aotearoa Bike Challenge,
• auckland transport,
• car emissions,
• car pollution,
• congestion,
• cycling,
• go by bike day,
• particulates

It seems appropriate this time of the year to be talking about cars.  In London, pollution from particulates generated by motor-vehicles have contributed to a dangerous smog that have invited comparisons to Beijing. Here in NZ we have February set up as a biking challenge.  I’ve commuted by bike every workday so far. I may go the whole … Read More

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What difference will closing the Chinese domestic ivory market make?

Brendan Moyle • Jan 13, 2017

• china ivory ban,
• Chinese markets for ivory,
• CITES,
• elephant conservation,
• elephant poaching,
• ivory,
• wildlife crime

The recent decision by China to close its domestic ivory trade industry has been welcomed by many conservationists. Nonetheless, I remain skeptical it will be a significant move to curb poaching.  This is generally accepted to have peaked in around 2011, albeit it is uncertain whether wild populations can sustain the illegal off-take.  The overall picture is still murky.  While … Read More

Auckland Waterfalls: A collage

Brendan Moyle • Dec 10, 2016

• Auckland waterfalls,
• explore nz,
• Fairy Falls,
• Kitekite Falls,
• long exposure,
• nihotupu falls,
• NZ photos,
• NZ waterfalls,
• Omeru falls,
• waterfall photos,
• waterfalls

Over the last two years I’ve taken many more photos of waterfalls in the Auckland region.  There’s an amount I was never aware of over in the Waitakere Ranges.  I’ve visited many of these falls several times.  The trick (for photography) is go typically when it is overcast.  That way the clouds act as a giant diffusing filter for the … Read More

Crocodilians have long been good mothers

Brendan Moyle • Dec 09, 2016

• crocodiles,
• crocodilians,
• Diplocynodon,
• Diplocynodon darwini,
• evolution,
• fossils,
• maternal care

I like to keep informed about research on crocodilians, even if my work on them as waned in recent years.  As is usually popularly known, crocodilians (which includes true crocodiles, as well as alligators and caimans) survived the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction that wiped out most dinosaurs.  That leaves both birds and crocodilians as the only surviving archosaurs.  We know from living … Read More