Number Plate
I don’t think the car was broken down…
January 31, 2016
January 30, 2016
Pied Stilt
Pied Stilt
Pied stilts (Himantopus himantopus) are black and white wading birds with pinkish legs. In the present perspective the legs are hidden.
For more black and white images check out Dragonstar’s Weekend in Black and White.
Pied Stilt
January 29, 2016
The Volunteer
Jane
Taumanu Reserve is a recreational area of about 7 hectares of reclaimed land which has been constructed over the last three years or so. To be enjoyed by people, by the birdlife, and if unlucky, by rats and stoats and other unwanted creatures. To prevent the latter, there is a good number of traps spread over the grounds.
The other day when I was visiting the reserve, I found Jane busy at work, inspecting the traps, supplying fresh bait and performing general maintenance. She is a volunteer, Operations Director with the Wildlife Conservation Trust of New Zealand. And she is an ambassador for the place, responding to questions from the public, explaining her work, pointing out the roosting birds: oystercatchers, pied stilts, dotterels. On my visit, the traps were empty, which I assume to be a good sign, meaning that the rodents stay out. And the presence of pied stilt chicks would confirm this.
Thanks Jane, great work!
Interactions
Danger!
January 28, 2016
Black and White
Picket Fence and Bench
Black bench – a few slats short of a backrest. Mount Eden.
January 27, 2016
Hear No, See No, and Speak No … (Richard McWhannell 1989)
Hear No, See No, and Speak No take a walk
The TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre has an exhibition of works by Richard McWhannell: “In My Own Time: 1972 – 2015”. The majority of his works are paintings, but some sculptures are also on show.
The exhibition runs until April 10.
January 26, 2016
Cuteness Alert
Pied Stilt Chick
The newly reclaimed Onehunga foreshore – now named “Taumanu Reserve” – was opened last November. It is pleasing to see that after all the disturbance with heavy earthmoving machinery etc the birds appear to have adopted the place. Oystercatchers and pied stilts are roosting there regularly, and a number of NZ dotterels are in residence; ducks and herons too.
And the pied stilts have offspring.
Pied Stilt Chick
January 25, 2016
Fortune Plums
Fortune Plums
Big and juicy and full of flavour. Plums are in season, and Fortune Plums are our favorites.
January 24, 2016
January 23, 2016
Tui
Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae)
The tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) is an endemic New Zealand bird of the honeyeater family. The tuft of white feathers at the throat explains the obsolete English name “parson bird”. Shown here on New Zealand flax (phormium tenax) at the Arataki Lookout.
For more black and white images check out Dragonstar’s Weekend in Black and White.
January 22, 2016
Karaka
Karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatus)
Karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatus) is an endemic New Zealand tree with glossy evergreen leaves. The pulp of the berries is said to be edible, while the raw stones are toxic (cooking them long enough apparently can make them edible — I think I will give them a miss).
Taumanu Reserve, Onehunga
Karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatus)