Chthonic Wildlife Ramblings

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

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

The China adventure: Mudanjiang

Brendan Moyle • Dec 07, 2015

• bear farming,
• bear poaching,
• China,
• conservation

It’s day 3 in China where I’m undertaking research into bear poaching. The first stage of the trip was flying from Auckland to Beijing via Hong Kong. My Chinese colleagues meet me at Beijing airport. Generously they offer to take me to dinner. I decline gracefully. I’ve been travelling for hours, it’s late, and mostly I just want to … Read More

Sunday Seascape 29 November

Brendan Moyle • Nov 30, 2015

• Auckland photos,
• Devonport,
• long exposure,
• North head,
• NZ photos,
• photography,
• rangitoto island,
• seascapes

We’ve had some lovely days in Auckland. So I have actually left the computer behind, and gone out to take photos.  This feels even more important of late, as I’m about to go back to China to do more fieldwork.  One thing China tends not to have, is scenes like the Hauraki Gulf.  Especially in winter. North Head in Devonport … Read More

The dark side of conservation- 2 rangers killed in Cambodia

Brendan Moyle • Nov 10, 2015

• Cambodia,
• poaching,
• wildlife rangers,
• wildlife trade

A recent news story in Xinhua news concerns a wildlife-ranger patrol in Cambodia.  Two of the four were killed, and one was injured in an encounter with a group of criminals. I would like to extend condolences and sympathy to the families of the men. This also goes to another issue. A lot of conservation problems (which are made … Read More