Australasian Bittern

 Wonderful! An Australasian Bittern has visited our wetland again. We have not seen one since march this year. They are so deliberate and stealthful.

Mātātā in our wetland at Old Mill Ln, Ngunguru

 We have so many Mātātā that have made our wetland their home.

They are heard over all the wetland and with a little patience, easily photographed.

Piwakawaka Nest

 The two Piwakawaka chicks have fledged. This nest was near our deck so we were able to see the chicks being fed in the Kanuka after fledging. 

We love the detail these birds go to to make a tight, little and lasting nest like this one. There is moss, lichen, grass and other stiff fibres then spider web binding it all tight together.

 

Also off our deck - Piwakawaka feeding their chicks

 We can watch these busy little fellows all day. They are a delight.

New Zealand Giant Centipede

 Melva noticed this beautiful fellow climbing down a kanuka by our deck. It then proceeded to force itself into a Weta hole to eat thye Weta. It managed to get most of its body in. This centipede is about 25cm long.

Weta remains

About to enter the Weta hole

Well inside the Weta hole

Orchids and Toropapa

 It's that  time of year again when Toropapa (Alseuosmia Banksii) is in bloom and many of our native orchids are in bloom. Take a walk across our boardwalk at Old Mill Ln, Ngunguru and into the Hugh Crawford DOC Reserve for a scent sensation from the small Toropapa blooms and go on an orchid hunt. There are many different kinds of native orchids in this bush as there is also an abundance of Toropapa flowering.

Toropapa

Toropapa

Orchid Flower

Orchid in flower

Green Geko

 Today we were lucky to be visited by the beautiful Green Geko. It was in the Kanuka right beside our deck.

There is Always Something New

 New to us anyway. It is a Three Horned Tree Hopper. (An Australian immigrant). From our garden.

https://nzacfactsheets.landcareresearch.co.nz/factsheet/InterestingInsects/Tri-horned-treehopper---Acanthuchus-trispinifer.html

Odd looking fellow about 5mm long.

Our Wetland birds - May 14th 2021

 This week our Trail Camera recorded Banded Rail, Ducks (Probably Grey and Pateke) White Faced Heron, Australasian Bittern and a small Shag (Either Little or Little Black)

The video is 4 minues long but great to watch the feeding antics. Heron shuffling its feet, Bittern hunting about and Banded Rail cranking on the pace.

https://youtu.be/AibRXVMPU9A

The Boardwalk is Now Complete

With the addition of a boarwalk down the far side of the drain there is now a loop walk from the carpark. This will improve access for the Ngunguru School Wetland Classroom and anyone who visits the wetland. It is particularly useful for birders and photographers who wish to snap the resident Mātātā (Fernbirds), Mioweka (Banded Rail and Puweto (Spotless Crake) or any of the others that may arrive. 

The main boardwalk across the wetland provides access to the tracks in the Hugh Crawford Conservation Reserve.

A huge thankyou goes to the folk who donated timber, nails and time.

They are: Toots Timber (Nails), Noel Herman (Timber and decking) Peter Tuhaka (Decking) Jonathan Schofield (Decking) Steve Marshall (Decking, Galvanised bolts & hangers) Trevor Greggory, Tim Damerell, Nick Marsden, Melva (Labour helpers)

As far as we are concerned our wetland is open to the public. Just angle park your car at the beginning of Old Mill Lane and walk 50 metres up the lane to the signposted boardwalk.

Please there are endangered birds here including Kiwi. No dogs allowed.