Chthonic Wildlife Ramblings

No, the Ivory Trade in Australia and NZ is not “thriving”

Brendan Moyle • Oct 02, 2016

• black market,
• economics of wildlife trade,
• Elephant,
• elephant poaching,
• illegal trade,
• ivory,
• ivory trade

One can always tell when the parties to the CITES convention are meeting, or just about to meet.  Numerous NGOs start promoting their views and solutions to the problem to the media. It came as no great surprise to read this in today’s Stuff webpage “A first-ever comprehensive investigation into the sale of ivory and rhino horn in Australian … Read More

Sunday Seascape: 25 September

Brendan Moyle • Sep 25, 2016

• Auckland photos,
• Hauraki Gulf,
• Hauraki Gulf photos,
• NZ photos,
• seascape,
• Sunrise,
• Torbay,
• waiake beach

It’s not been a great weekend for outdoor photography in Auckland.  The steady rain and grey skies, without any dramatic storms, offered me few chances.  I did photograph the neighbour’s cat a couple of times, but it’s not really the same. These shots are thus, taken a little earlier in the week.  They’re of the sunrise at Waiake Beach.  On … Read More

Weekend sparrow antics

Brendan Moyle • Sep 18, 2016

• Auckland photos,
• bird photos,
• birds in flight,
• garden birds,
• introduced species,
• NZ photos,
• rain,
• sparrow

It’s been a while since I’ve done some bird photography.  It’s a shame because it is one of the subjects that kindled my interest in photography again.  As much as I enjoy landscape photography now, there is something about bird photography I enjoy. Maybe it is a throwback to when I was young, and my first encounters with wildlife were … Read More

The perception that cycling is dangerous

Brendan Moyle • Sep 06, 2016

• auckland cycling,
• auckland transport,
• cycling

I like to bike.  It is my favourite commuting option.  I started commuting by bike in the late 1990s when cycle lanes were non-existent in Auckland.  I’m still cycling. Yet despite working at a University where showers are available, where bike racks are provided, I’m still in a tiny minority.  The option to ride two-abreast for me is non-existent.  Statistically … Read More

Sunday Seascape – 4 September

Brendan Moyle • Sep 04, 2016

• bethells beach,
• NZ photos,
• o'neill's bay,
• seascape,
• sony a7R,
• sunday seascape,
• te henga

This week I got out to Te Henga (Bethells Beach) for some photography.  I’ve not previously managed to get out there, despite a couple of visits to Lake Wainamu.  One of the motivating reasons was the weather on Tuesday was near perfect in Auckland.  The clear skies and almost total lack of clouds in the morning also meant my waterfall … Read More

Just another manic #Friding

Brendan Moyle • Aug 26, 2016

• auckland cycling,
• cycling,
• Friding

It’s not been the best week for cycling in Auckland. It’s not that you can’t bike in the rain. But I got hit with some unanticipated wet stuff, so had to dry clothes off.  I was pleased to have a good day for biking today.  Well, good in the sense it has stopped raining.  The head-wind wasn’t as appreciated. We … Read More

Sunday Seascape 21 August

Brendan Moyle • Aug 22, 2016

• Auckland photos,
• Hauraki Gulf,
• Hauraki Gulf photos,
• nzphotos,
• seascape,
• Waiake

Sunday is my time for seascape photography. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out where the weekend goes.  But by Sunday afternoon it was time to visit a beach and absorb some of that lovely, NZ fresh air.  The cool weather means we have practically no heat haze at the moment.  That produces a nice clarity in images this time of … Read More

Sunday Seascape – 7 August

Brendan Moyle • Aug 08, 2016

• Auckland photos,
• Hauraki Gulf,
• Long Bay,
• long bay regional park,
• NZ photos,
• seascape

I got a new lens just before I went to China.  It’s a 135mm prime.  More specifically, it is the Sony 135mm f2.8 T4.5 STF lens.  The 135mm focal length has created a perspective I haven’t often used.  So part of the weekend goal was to practice composing photos at this length.  It also make sit easier to decide … Read More

Tigers and people don’t play well together

Brendan Moyle • Jul 25, 2016

• conservation,
• tiger,
• tiger attacks

The news this weekend included mention of the attacks on two women in China, in a tiger safari park. Tigers are very efficient predators.  The Amur (Siberian) tiger for instance, can grow up to 250kg.  It is the largest of the large cat species, and a very efficient predator.  In Asia they have long killed people, in numbers that … Read More

Sunday Seascape- 24 July

Brendan Moyle • Jul 24, 2016

• bay of islands,
• beer,
• hole in the rock,
• NZ photos,
• seascape photos,
• sunday seascape

Well, I got back in NZ on Friday.  It was just for a quick meeting in Beijing on Asiatic black-bear conservation. China is home to more than just pandas.  Although that’s easy to overlook given the amount of merchandise with bears on it.  I even found a decent beer there (Panda Eyes Red Honey Ale) using pandas.  No pandas of … Read More