Chthonic Wildlife Ramblings

Sunday Seascape: 28 February

Brendan Moyle • Mar 01, 2016

• Auckland,
• Auckland photos,
• Hauraki Gulf,
• Long Bay,
• nzphotos,
• seascape

Technically I did take this shot on Sunday, even if it has taken a few days to post. As everyone knows, the weather in Auckland on the weekend got very wet.  I braved a trip down to Long Bay anyway.  Partly just to get outside.  In between showers, I got this shot of waves hitting the rocks at Granny’s Bay.  … Read More

Adventures on two wheels

Brendan Moyle • Feb 26, 2016

• Auckland Bike Challenge,
• auckland cycling,
• cycling

We’re in the last week of the Auckland Bike Challenge. In the end, I was the only participant in my department. The most common reason given for not participating, is that it was too dangerous.  Even the people who didn’t know I’d had an accident with a car, thought it was too dangerous. Oddly, this is the last thing that … Read More

Singing cicadas

Brendan Moyle • Feb 25, 2016

• cicada,
• cicada photo,
• macro photo,
• macro photography,
• nzphotos

One thing this summer has been notable for, is cicadas. Lots of them have been singing noisily for weeks.  Fortunately it’s not at the ear-bleeding crescendo you sometimes get in S E Asia.  It made them an easy target for some macro-photos also. I acquired a Sony a7R at the beginning of the year.  The main reason was the … Read More

Is better living really indoor living?

Brendan Moyle • Feb 19, 2016

• cycling,
• driving,
• urban life

I biked home yesterday.  This in itself is not unusual. I like to bike. And I took a longer route home.  While it was humid here in Auckland, it was also raining. That helped. I mean I got wet, but, that’s not a big deal.  I was the only cyclist over the 10+ km stretch I took.  Everyone else was … Read More

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Sunday Seascape: 14 February

Brendan Moyle • Feb 16, 2016

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

This is another shot taken at Waiakae Beach, possibly the most picturesque beach along the East Coast Bays.  The Tor and surrounding rocks generate many points of interest. A lee little-stopper was used to slow the shutter and create the blurring on the water. Click for original   Photo taken with Sony a900 and Minolta 17-35mm f3.5 G lens. Read More

Auckland Bike Challenge: Week 3 begins

Brendan Moyle • Feb 15, 2016

• Auckland Bike Challenge,
• cycling,
• cycling in Auckland

It’s a cooler week for riding. More schools have started back though.  Congestion from 8.00am is getting terrible. Cars were already backed up to Glenvar Road, on East Coast Rd when I started.  And past the QBE stadium from the Albany intersection.  Most of the time the cars weren’t moving. The number of other cyclists I spotted during this road … Read More

Still biking – a fun ride for the Auckland Bike Challenge

Brendan Moyle • Feb 09, 2016

• Auckland Bike Challenge,
• cycling,
• cycling in Auckland

Gave the bike a quick clean-down on Sunday.  By Monday it was back out for a fun/fitness ride.  It’s much nicer biking on Auckland roads on major holidays too.  Motorists were thin on the ground and I could crank the speed up. According to the Auckland Bike Challenge though, you only get carbon-emission savings calculated for rides to or from … Read More

Sunday Seascape: 7 February

Brendan Moyle • Feb 08, 2016

• Auckland photos,
• duotone,
• Long Bay,
• Long Bay photos,
• nzphotos,
• seascape

I’m feeling a bit more settled back in New Zealand.  So, I’ve actually managed to take some photos of late.  I don’t think I’ve had the chance really, since November. I’ve really been spending far too much time in airplanes or airports in 2015. One thing I’ve been trying to do with this blog, is just post a seascape photo … Read More

The Auckland Bike Challenge: Day 1 (Wheels of Death Edition)

Brendan Moyle • Feb 03, 2016

• Auckland Bike Challenge,
• carbon emissions,
• cycling,
• cycling in Auckland

For those of you residing in Auckland, there is currently a biking challenge for this month. It’s just about getting more people on bikes this month in Auckland. Now that I’m actually back in New Zealand (yeah, I’ve been overseas a lot), I thought I’d sign up. I mean, I like to bike anyway.  Compared to fieldwork in China, … Read More

China expedition – bile and bear farms

Brendan Moyle • Dec 11, 2015

• bears,
• China,
• Mudanjiang,
• poaching

Wifi isn’t so good on this trip.  Finding a signal to upload posts has become tricky. I can’t upload photos with these speeds either.  Nonetheless, it’s good to hear news from home when we do get a signal! Looking at the weather in Beijing, we feel fortunate to be working in Mudanjiang. The sky yesterday was clear and blue, and … Read More