Trailcam Creatures and Critters

This is a montage of images captured with a suburban garden trailcam, albeit that the garden transitions into The Palmiet Nature Reserve in Westville, Durban, RSA.

The large variety of close up birdlife, along with the exciting capture of ordinarily unseen nocturnal urban predators is extremely gratifying.

Captured using a Campark TC04 Trail cam (this model is sold/packaged under several name/branding variations.... T300, Voopeak, etc.) where the 4k video capture is of a perfectly satisfying high quality. The still images are 30Megapix and best of all is that this camera is solar powered. There is nothing more irritating and expensive, than continuous replacement of trailcam batteries - and this usually happens when checking on the trailcam and seeing animal sign/tracks/spoor, but with nothing captured, due to flat batteries.

With PIR movement activation the camera saves substantially on SD card storage space and yet it misses nothing. The sensitivity of the PIR can be set and thus avoiding e.g. capture being activated by some grass wind movement.

Only one detracting feature can be found; the still camera makes a shutter like sound when shooting and this scares animals away. Super stealthy nocturnal creatures are spooked by this shutter sound and there is no way to turn this off. With a second camera shooting video from the same position, this shutter sound has illustrated many valuable lost captures.

The higher price tag, due to the solar and greater pixel power might seem discouraging, but there is nothing worse than horrible grainy images and flat batteries. This camera is definite proof that you get what you pay for, with quality coming at a slight premium.

I have had loads of fun with this camera, capturing otherwise rare and unseen species and I give it highest recommendation.