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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Recent content by Alastair Rae

  1. Alastair Rae

    HBW Alive dead?

    Back to life again. I should have been a bit more patient.
  2. Alastair Rae

    HBW Alive dead?

    Anyone subscribe to HBW Alive? I can't reach the site anymore.
  3. Alastair Rae

    Swarovski customer service

    I managed to snap off the mounting bracket on my HD 65 mm so I took the scope along to my local Swaro dealer. They sent it off to Austria for a repair estimate and it came back completely fixed for no charge! I'm flabbergasted that they'd fix a 15 year old scope for nothing. Amazing customer...
  4. Alastair Rae

    RSPB reserves' "latest sightings"

    Like the fact that the word "bird" doesn't appear on their magazine cover any more and that several reserves have removed their "what's about" boards and others are decorated with any sort of wildlife as long as it's not a bird.
  5. Alastair Rae

    RSPB reserves' "latest sightings"

    Am I the only person annoyed that many RSPB reserve web sites have "latest sightings" pages that haven't been updated for over a year? If they're not going to keep them up to date they might as well not have them. Maybe this is related to the complete absence of "what's about" info at some of...
  6. Alastair Rae

    Eudonia murana?

    From an MV trap in Snowdonia.
  7. Alastair Rae

    Pug, Herefordshire

    Found this in a hedgerow. I'm worried that my SX50 has got the colour balance wrong as I don't recall it being as colourful as this. Or maybe close-ups bring out more colour than the naked eye.
  8. Alastair Rae

    Are Lithium Polymer batteries too dangerous?

    Ok, maybe I'm convinced it's not a ticking time bomb. But I think I might have to spend a tenner on an ammo box to charge it in just to keep my better half from worrying. (And me too). Thanks all.
  9. Alastair Rae

    Are Lithium Polymer batteries too dangerous?

    Do you take any special precautions when charging them? And if they're so safe why does the manufacturer say not to leave them unattended?
  10. Alastair Rae

    Are Lithium Polymer batteries too dangerous?

    I just double checked and there's a manufacturer's sticker saying not to leave unattended while charging. I'm sending it back.
  11. Alastair Rae

    Are Lithium Polymer batteries too dangerous?

    The case is ABS which I assume allows for some swelling. I still have a nagging worry. Even those Li-Po charging bags have big warning labels saying don't leave them unattended and place on non-flammable surface. I'm going to have to return it and find a heavy and bulky but safe sealed lead...
  12. Alastair Rae

    Are Lithium Polymer batteries too dangerous?

    The manufacturer's instruction leaflet with the battery didn't mention any of this. The retailer included an additional sheet saying not to leave the battery unattended while charging. That got me searching the net and found all sorts of dire warnings. If it helps, the battery in question is the...
  13. Alastair Rae

    Are Lithium Polymer batteries too dangerous?

    I can only assume from the lack of replies that either I'm the only poor sod on BirdForum stuck with one of these batteries or people are baffled by my concerns.
  14. Alastair Rae

    Are Lithium Polymer batteries too dangerous?

    I've just bought a 12V actinic trap and lithium polymer battery pack. Li-Po batteries are marketed as a lightweight alternative to lead acid but the safety warnings are pretty dire. I've seen warnings like batteries should NEVER be left unattended while charging; do not charge overnight...
  15. Alastair Rae

    Long-tailed Blues - Sussex

    Nice smart specimens. Are these colonising or vagrant?
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