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MOULTRIE GAME SPY TRAIL CAMERA
All
the detail and clarity of a high-performance
4.0-mega-pixel digital camera plus an array of
easy-to-use features make this a valuable scouting
tool for use before and during the season.
Long-range flash helps capture clear images out to
45-ft. Auto-flash ensures the flash fires only in
low-light conditions. Three image and two video
settings let you choose the resolution.
Each
image is stamped with time, date and location. 16MB of
internal memory provides ample storage for your
images. Supports up to a 4GB SD card. Laser aim lets
you see and test the targeted area.
One-second delay. Requires six D-cell batteries (not
included) for up to 60 days of battery life. Also can
be used with rechargeable D-cell batteries. |
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REMOTE MONITORING OF BADGER
ACTIVITY
I had two of these
camera shipped over from
Cabela's in the USA.
I
have since discovered there is a
UK source at slightly higher costs. I purchased
these when the dollar rate was very much in our
favour, nearly two dollars to the pound - alas no
more.
NOTE: Compare the dollar / sterling rate but remember
to include shipping & duty charges from the states.
These cameras work extremely well and I have had no
problems with them whatsoever. |
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ALL PHOTOS DATE AND TIME STAMPED
This is a close up of
the data captured by the model of cameras I use.
The number at the
end is a reference you can give to each camera. This
is camera number 01
The pictures are a
bit grainy when enlarged but they are more than
acceptable to identify activity and movement. |
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GAMESPY
MONITORING BADGER SETT
This shows photograph
shows the Gamespy camera in place strapped to a tree
and pointing towards the Badger Sett.
Note the flattened
pathway in front of the badger sett. You can see where
the badgers exit the sett and head for the undergrowth
at the rear of the photograph.
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GAMESPY CAMERA SIDE
VIEW
You
can see I've jammed an old piece of wood down the back
of the camera to angle it slightly downwards towards
the Badger Sett.
There is button to activate a red lazer beam to check
where the camera is pointing, very useful indeed.
I've
had cameras in place for several weeks but I swap the
memory cards to upload and check the images for
activity.
TIP
Take
along a digital camera when you visit the remote
cameras then you can remove the camera SD card, pop it
into the digital camera and view what has been taken.
You can then decide to swap the card or leave it in
place. I'm usually itching to see what's on the card
anyway. |
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Thumbnails of a
sequence of shots from the Gamespy cameras. The data
recorded by these cameras is invaluable for research;
for learning Brocks activities, calculating numbers at each sett
and of course tagging any friendly neighbours such as foxes,
deer and birds in the vicinity. Entrance and exit
times help you to be in the right place at the right
time and narrow the time span for badger watching or
photography. |
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An extract from Excel
used to gather data recorded by the Gamespy cameras.
You could also note things like the weather, average
exit time, average return time to sett, average
numbers of badgers. As a scientific tool, these
cameras are indispensable and for me, damned handy. |
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UNWANTED VISITOR
Although hoping to
capture movement of badgers, it's always a surprise to
have a different animal recorded.
This inquisitive fox
cub was doing a bit of exploring and decided to have a
sniff around the badger sett.
29th July, 2008,
12:21 AM Camera 2 |
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YOUNG FOX CUB
Had Brock been at home,
this fox cub may have got more than he bargained for.
The fox would have come
off worst - for sure.
29th July 2008,
12:21AM Camera 2 |
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EXAMINING A SETT DURING
THE DAY 7.08pm 12th JULY SUMMERS NIGHT
I've triggered the
trail camera myself by walking into the field of view.
Brock reappeared two hours later. I wonder if rubber
Wellington boots mask the smell of humans to an
extent?
Please note you are
best avoiding the sett if you want to ensure a good
nights badger watching or photography.
If you are concerned
that flash will scare the badgers, in my experience it
doesn't even phase them.
I have video footage
illustrating this when I fire off a still camera with
flash and the badger at the sett entrance doesn't even
blink.
Check out the
VIDEO GALLERY pages.
12th July 7.08PM |
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SEQUENCE OF 5 PHOTOS
BROCK POPS UP AT 9.14pm
12th July
The
first showing for this badger as he cautiously leaves
the sett ready to forage
12th July, 9.14PM
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BADGER (MELES MELES)
HEADS OFF FOR SUPPER
After a clean and a
sniff around the sett, this badger leaves to forage
for his diet of worms, slugs, snails and small
rodents. It's
now 9.35pm and the next recorded image on the camera
is taken at 4.57am on the morning of the 13th July.
See below
12th JULY, 9.35PM |
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INTRUDER? 10.06pm 12th
JULY
This is not the same
badger that appeared earlier. I wasn't present at
10.06pm but look at the tips of the ears, very
different from those on the previous photo.
This
badger may have come from another sett or may have
exited from the same sett just later on in the
evening.
Another camera mounted on the badger trail through
into the field could resolve this dilemma on another
night.
12th
JULY, 10.06PM
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RETURNING FROM A NIGHTS FORAGING
4.57 am 13th July and I
was tucked up in bed when this badger returned home
after a nights foraging.
Check the ear tips
again, definitely the first badger to leave the sett.
Daylight now so less
flash and more natural light used in the photograph.
13th JULY, 4.57AM |
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BROCK HEADS FOR A WELL EARNED REST
5.05AM on the 13 July and this badger goes
underground.
This
was the last photograph captured that morning as brock
headed for a well earned rest after a busy nights
foraging on the hillside
13th
JULY, 5.05AM
You
can now see what an extremely useful tool these
gamespy cameras are for capturing valuable information
about the movement of badgers.
NB!
The image left is full frame. I cropped the preceding
badger photographs simply to make the time easier to
read.
END
OF SEQUENCE
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EARLY RISER
16th
JULY, 8.13AM yes AM
This
badger appeared early morning, strange? As I said,
Badgers are creatures of habit but they do surprise
you now and again.
I
try to mount the Gamespy cameras at least 4 feet off
the ground through fear of scent disturbing the
badgers.
Sometimes its difficult to angle the cameras downwards
so I use a chunk of old wood or stone behind the
camera. The elasticated cords provided with the
cameras are usually good enough to mount the units
safely. They are quite heavy with 6 D Cell batteries
on board. |
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16th
JULY, 2008 Evening 0.12PM
Two
badgers emerge ready for a clean, a bit play fighting,
some rough and tumble and then some serious foraging
for food.
I've
seen about 6 badgers emerge from this part of the sett
under the roots of an old tree.
16th
JULY, 2008. 9:12PM
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BADGER TRIO
Three badgers captured by camera returning at 4.22AM
It
has been raining and the these brocks need to dry off
underground.
A
quick clean will help remove a lot of the moisture.
18th
July 2008, 4.22AM |
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BADGER FAMILY
At least four badgers
casually ambling towards their sett early morning
after a nights foraging.
Its almost as if the
two at the back are having a chinwag on route.
18th
July 2008, 4.23AM |
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YOUNG BADGER CUBS
EMERGE INTO THE DAYLIGHT
Two young cubs pop up
at 6.58PM, much earlier than the normal exit times
from this sett.
Its still very light
and early evening.
18th July 2008, 6.58
PM |
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DO BADGERS DISLIKE THE
RAIN?
Its possible they don't
like the rain but it certainly doesn't deter them from
coming out and foraging for food.
19th
July 2008 4.24AM and these three badgers are very wet
indeed. They have thick coats though and I doubt they
will be feeling that wet.
The
rain is good in that it brings the worms to the
surface and makes their extraction a little easier for
Brock. |
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DO BADGERS DISLIKE THE
RAIN?
The coloured circles
are caused by heavy rain falling when the photograph
was taken.
Two badgers are
outside of the sett and looking at the time, have just
returned from their foraging exploits.
This photograph was
taken on the 1st of AUGUST 2008 at 4:06AM in the
morning.
It's a good job the
Moultrie GAMESPY cameras have a secure rubber seal
between the front cover and the base.
They have to be
waterproof especially in Scotland! |
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BROAD DAYLIGHT BADGER
A
very rare occurrence indeed.
22nd July, 2008 and
it's 10.03AM in the morning.
This looks like a
mature badger, a boar possibly given the girth of his
body.
It was obviously a
bright sunny morning so why was a nocturnal animal
above ground at this time of day?
Any
ideas?
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FALSE ALARM
I have a sequence of
three photographs taken by the game spy cameras and
for the life of me I couldn't see what had triggered
the camera.
It
was 8.34AM and could have been badgers but there was
no confirming evidence in sequences either side of
this time period.
When
I viewed the sequence of shots in quick succession,
something caught my eye left of the tree.
It
was a bird, a blackbird I think. Could this have
triggered the camera, if so the cameras are much more
sensitive than I would have imagined.
23rd July, 8.34AM
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BROCK BAMBI AND CO
28th
July 2008, 7.19AM and a very young deer ventures close
to Brocks domain.
I'll
see if I can hunt down that photograph of the fox too. |
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YOUNG FOX CUB
Yup, here we are at the
same sett showing a young fox cub sniffing around when
the owners are underground and probably snoozing after
a nights foraging. |
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DEER TRAIL
A couple of deer
recorded on the one image. They were moving reasonably
quickly and the Gamespy cameras don't have a fast
shutter speed to record movement.
Having said that,
the camera has done its job and I know deer use this
path as well. |
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A BIRD IN THE HAND (OR
TWO IN THE . . . PHOTOGRAPH)
Well I never, I'm now convinced these
cameras are very sensitive!
We have a female
blackbird down at the bottom left of the photograph
and a robin sitting on a branch overlooking the sett.
I've circled both
birds in yellow. Again there are no sequences either
side of this time with badgers or animals featured
that could have activated the cameras. |
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I hope you have enjoyed
looking and reading about my exploits watching and
trying to photograph the UK Badgers (meles meles).
Please make use of the
forum to ask any questions or offer any questions you
may have on photography or Brock.
Cheers,
John
BADGER FORUM |
