Solar Surf Handplanes

31/08/2026

So, there's definite interest in the new box. This is a mature Crimson Rosella. There is an immature pair sniffing around and some Easterns.

25/08/2026

I'm trying out the Alfred camera app.
The free version has motion detection, live streaming, and you can download any events to see the video without a watermark. It's intended as a home security app but it should work for wildlife.
I've set up an old phone to monitor a box on the wall.
Obviously, the phone has to be undercover, and it will need to be connected to power full long-term monitoring.
At the moment, I'm just having a play, but I'll post the results.

19/08/2026

This Kindle was dead. A new battery and 10 minutes research on YouTube, and it's back up and running.
Check the size and type of screws before you start. This one needed a T5 Torx screwdriver.
It can be fiddly but most batteries can be replaced.

15/07/2026

Sooo... I hadn't checked my brother's nest box for a while...
He did mention he had bees.

07/05/2026

08/04/2026

My Easter baskets (made from cedar pallets) get their annual outing.

29/03/2026

Our local microbats heading off at dusk. If you have trees and mosquitos, you'll have microbats. You just have to be looking in the right direction at the right time.

20/03/2026

We had a very successful day at the Sustainability Market at the Central Ringwood Community Centre (great people).

We had a lot of chats about bats, parrots, possums, and native insects.
And we started a few people on the journey of turning their front lawns into a native mini forests.
Plus, we introduced quite a few people to bodysurfing handplanes.

12/02/2026

This summer at Waratah Bay

06/01/2026

Soldier crab at sunset at Waratah Bay, Victoria, Australia.