Drone Flights.

My latest toy, and it is a toy, is a Syma X8C drone... I am getting better at controlling it BUT I have found that it does not like even the slightest wind. Last night with very little wind in the garden, at about 70 metres the wind started to push it away and even with the control fully back it only just returned.

It has a range of about 300 metres and if it gets out of range it will just fall from the sky, there is no return to base GPS on this one. If that happens from any height it is likely to be fatal as it is quite a heavy beast especially if it has the HD action camera attached.

Syma X8C with HD camera strapped on

The camera that comes with the drone is not very good but you can take pictures remotely with it. The HD is mainly for video but you can take snapshots from the video that are acceptable.

HD Video snapshot.

Enhanced photo taken with the drone camera

Here are a couple of my YouTube videos taken with the Drone with the HD camera attached. The first one is new but some of our readers may have seen the second one via my facebook page.

I just love flying it both with and without the camera attached and it is quite easy once you get the hang of it. I still have the occasional crash landing but to date nothing that has done any damage. It has also been stuck up our trees on more than one occasion.

I learnt most of how to handle the controls with a very small drone (of which I have two and a broken one) Costing less than £10 delivered free from China. They are great fun to fly and crash really well... The small ones have a range of about 50 metres.

You can get spare parts for both drones from China and I am currently awaiting a replacement motor for the tiny one, cost £1.25 delivered free.

If you have any interest in flying I can thoroughly recommend a drone. My next problem is do I buy a bigger and better one !!! 

Broad Bordered Bee Hawkmoth (Hemaris fuciformis) 2015

We have seen and photographed these creatures for the last two years and it is still enjoyable watching the speed and accuracy of their movement between flowers.

These were taken yesterday on the Salvia "Hot Lips" with a Canon 50D on 8000/sec shutter speed.

Hope you enjoyed them.

Snake in the Hole...

No it's not a new dish!
We have a family of Western Whipsnakes living in out compost hole.

One of them had obviously shed its skin

We have had the wildlife camera out and managed to capture two adults intertwined. (Look at the bottom left of the film)

We have also seen a young one green in colour with not that much pattern. It was tooo quick to get a photo.

The wildlife camera is still looking in the hole so watch this space...

Flying in the Face of the Wind...

Despite the very gusty winds yesterday, the Hummingbird Hawk Moth (Macroglossum Stellatarum) didn't miss a beat as it sought out the nectar from the Verbena Bonariensis in our front garden...

The first two photos were taken on the little Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, using its digital zoom and the rest, by Colin, on the Canon EOS50D with a shutter speed set to 8000th of a second to match the wing beat of the moth...

 

I can think of far worse ways to spend an hour or so in an afternoon than watching these fascinating creatures!

Oh what big eyes you have...

Oscar has been posing for Elizabeth again...

Who's a pretty owl then!!

A change from the Owl!!

This afternoon whilst grafting in the garden I spotted one of our local Kestrels hunting in the back field! Any excuse!!

It was some distance off even for the telephoto...

It had several runs out from the tree but finally managed to get some food!!!

It landed in the grass and came up with...

Times are obviously hard with the Owl about... (Look at the photo enlarged)

Big question 'What is it?' and how the hell does a Kestrel see that from a tree 50+ metres away?

Raised Beds...

Our potager has never been the best at producing results because the poplar trees suck ALL the goodness from the soil. Last year we made a small test bed lined with plastic and well cultivated and had a great success in growing Butternut squash. (We are still eating them!)

This year we have gone one better... Two raised beds 4mtrs x 1mtrs

It won't dig itself Colin!!

Lined and ready for refilling with a mixture of compost, fertiliser and soil.

Filled (nearly)

The second one a lawn mower width from the first!

The completed installation ready for planting.

Having watched Gardeners World last night Monty Dons raised beds were full to the brim so we may add some more soil before we plant anything.

We have also reduced the overall size of the potager by about a third! The ground has been prepared and seeded with grass... The windmill is our attempt to stop the birds eating the seed...

Recognise those ears anywhere

Well following on from yesterdays post there was nothing on the camera last night other than a blue tit investigating it early morning.

However, we have had a nest developing right at the top of one of our 28 metre high poplars,

We thought it could be crows as we have several around in the wood at the back of us and they are always fighting with the Buzzards. No, it is not Crows!

What did we spot whilst riding around on the mower...

It could be next doors cat but we don't think so...

They must be a pair and they have chosen to raise a family on our patch... How exciting...

We both watched, with cameras ready, for some time but our Long Eared friend was keeping a low profile!

I can see it being very time consuming keeping an eye or two on this nest...

Pellet producer solved!!

Elizabeth disturbed him last night by flashing her camera in the tree and managed this shot. He flew off and she could not make out what it was but we suspected an owl with long ears...

Today after finishing cutting the grass I noticed he was back... Quick grab the camera,,,

What a big boy he is...

We did not disturb him so he will be out feeding tonight...

One thought is that the bird food I have been putting on the ground under the bird table may well be attracting his prey... Tonight the wildlife camera will be out focused on that area...

Well done Tim a correct ID again!