White Heron Preening
Another shot of my encounter with a white heron recently; this time in black and white.
For more black and white images check out Dragonstar’s Weekend in Black and White.
Auckland - West
Mainly West of Queen Street - seen through my lens
Month: September 2014 (page 2 of 3)
Evening at Waterview
The sun is about to set behind one of the massive pillars that have sprouted around the Waterview end of State Highway 20 (where the tunnel will break onto the surface any day now). For the connection with State Highway 16, numerous on and off ramps have to be constructed.
More Skywatch images at the Skywatch Site!
Karo
Karo (Pittosporum crassifolium) is a shrub or tree with leathery leaves. Presently flowering in the Waitakere Ranges.
Library Lane Sculptures
We showed the graphic art in the narrow Library Lane, Glen Eden, in an earlier post. The opposite walls are decorated with sculptures indicating cabbage trees, ferns and nikau palms, all common throughout the Waitakere Ranges. (Artist unknown)
Library Lane Sculptures
Library Lane Sculptures
Kotuku (White Heron)
White Heron (Kotuku, Egretta alba modesta), seen yesterday at Wattle Farm Reserve, Wattle Downs, Auckland. This was the first time I have seen one of these not very common birds at Wattle Downs, although I had heard of sightings there in the past.
Kotuku (White Heron)
Kotuku (White Heron)
Enduring Rust
At the top end of Wynyard Wharf one finds a giant axle connecting two giant cogwheels – eight tons apiece – relics from a steam dredge “Whakarire” where they transmitted the power to the bucket chain. The vessel was built in Scotland in 1903 for service in Wellington Harbour until 1934, and thereafter in Napier until 1974, at which time she was scrapped (in Auckland).
A plaque on the pavement commemorates her history. A picture of the vessel is here. And a rather poetic description of the dredge and its working can be found in Wellington’s Evening Post (1907). Two samples give a taste: “like a true Briton, she does not let the fondness for growling interfere with her usefulness“; and “Forbidding to the eye, at a distance, she is lovely at close quarters, and the music of her engines, compound by name, but simple in work, is something to thrill the blood”.
Driving Wheels
Plaque
Todd Triangle, New Lynn
Afternoon sun casts long shadows over the Todd Triangle in New Lynn, highlighting Peter Lange‘s brick sculptures. Also visible: the Merchant Quarter apartment block and some traffic lights. New Lynn has the dubious distinction of having the highest density of traffic lights in the universe: 20 sets of traffic lights over a rather small area, with one more to come in the foreseeable future.
Whau Pods
A threesome of immature whau pods (Entelea arborescens).
For mature versions see here or here.
For more black and white images check out Dragonstar’s Weekend in Black and White.
Gotcha!
Kingfisher snatching a crab. Cornwallis.
For more reflection shots please visit James’ “Weekend Reflections“.
Pomaderris Kumeraho
Kūmarahou (Pomaderris kumeraho) is one of the harbingers of spring along the roadsides of the Waitakeres. Starting out as the palest yellow blush when in bud, the colour intensifies as the flowers open.
The plants are shrubs or small trees. They are also known as “gum diggers soap”, because, apparently, the flowers will lather up when rubbed with water. Leaves of the plant have uses in Maori medicine.
Unlike many of the blossom I like and photograph, this one is not a weed.
Pomaderris Kumeraho
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