So many dreary days this month we lacked the motivation to go out and find the wildlife. We have, however started a new project.
Camera Trapping.

A camera trap is often confused with a trailcam but they are quite different. A camera trap is usually a good quality DSLR or Mirrorless camera, with a wide/telephoto lens and housed in a protective case, it is triggered by the use of an infra red sensor and can also be used with external flash guns for night time photography.

We are using one of our old Nikon DSLR (D7100) with a 18-55mm lens, our flash guns are our old Nikon SB-800 housed in pasta containers and the sensor is the PIR V3 from Camtraptions with all the equipment being linked wirelessly. It is not recommended to use your best and expensive equipment for camera trapping as it is subjected to the elements and can be damaged while being left out for long periods.

The photo above shows a trailcam which we use to capture video of the scene, the camera is in the housing under the camoflage netting next to the trailcam, the two flash guns and sensor are on poles to the left and right of the track.
If an animal walks along the track the motion sensor’s beam will be broken and a singnal will be sent to the camera so it can take the picture, all this is done without anyone being there.
We are being lazy and staying in the warm.

We set the system up in the garden first to make sure it all worked and that we had got everything in sync. Lots of dried mealworms scattered about ensured the Starlings stayed around and did not take flight when the flashes fired.

The garden Robin is also partial to a few dried mealworms.

We were very pleased to capture a Starling in flight.

With the camera traps working well in the garden we moved them out, with permission, to a location on private land where we were fairly certain Badgers frequented. We couldnt wait to collect the cards from the trail cam and the camera the next day to see what we had managed to capture. And here he is, a handsome Badger

It was a wet night and he looked as though he had been busy with a muddy face and very wet fur.

Badgers cannot resist peanuts and we threw a few around to tempt them to stay. He only visited the once and we have not been so lucky after this, only capturing rats that also can’t resist peanuts it seems. We think that with all the rats around they are triggering the flashes and this is keeping the Badgers away. We are looking at changing the sensitivity on the sensor so it only picks up the larger animals. The only problem with that is that we may miss out on any stoats,weasels and polecats that may be about. So having a think and will keep you posted over the next few months.