A Trip to Auckland "Zoo"

We spent time at Auckland Zoo on Thursday and Friday. Most fascinating. We went for a walk through a beautiful valley park and also through the Domain where lots of humans wandered, seemingly doing nothing. It seems that the resident humans have created these tree filled places for their enjoyment. 

They even plant flowering plants for their colour and enjoyment.

Some have built nests deep amongst the trees with openings that they could look out from through the trees. We observed humans doing nothing other than walking about on the grass between the trees.

A few led tethered animals then let them run free on the grass. there seemed to be some kind of communication between the humans and these animals as the animals did not run away. 

Some humans  were holding hands. Supposedly part of a male and female bonding ritual. Later I saw some doing the same thing on paths crowded with humans amongst the tall buildings that others were coming and going from. 

They seemed very regimented in the way they followed and stayed on formed paths. There were noisy things moving fast between the paths. I could not discover any useful purpose in that. These machines went up and down, backwards and forwards? 

Some of the paths were steel tracks. Humans filed into big boxes that traveled on these tracks. Presumably they had reason to go to another place. Others were mobile and led into and out of buildings.

Some of the humans had other interesting behaviours. I observed one that had learnt to go to a box like thing in a wall where it could get a kind of token that could be redeemed for food and other things. Amazing behaviour, and an illustration that these animals can create and learn to use tools. 

I saw many humans walk past us with their right hand over their right ear talking to themselves. Others seemingly in control of the machines on the paths were doing the same thing.  Most strange and definitely appearing unsafe.

I also observed many humans feeding. This they did in a number of ways. Some ate noisily in great halls 

while others hid quietly  behind transparent walls with mates and looked out while eating and drinking.
I liked the way that these walls reflected the busy street scene.
Sometimes I observed humans just sitting. I  could go on and on about these strange behaviours that other animals don't do.

All in all, we had a Grand Day Out.

Black spined weevil - Scolopterus penicillatus

Discovered a Black spined weevil - Scolopterus penicillatus on our rose bush. Beautiful fellow. It is native to NZ. Competing with the bees for pollen. These little 6mm fellows open up like a DeLorean and fly. Nature is So fascinating.

Riroriro Nest

Riroriro (Grey Warbler) has nested right near our house. I have set the Trail camera up to see if we can get some feeding shots. This is one of my favourite birds. They build such cosy, soft nests. This one is 1.5 metres from the ground. I have read that they nest high  when they know it is not going to be windy and low when it is. It looks like this El Nino is going to be windy according to science. Riroriro just knows this stuff.

Wetland Videos

Our second trail camera is now working in our wetland. We have been missing some action as our first camera is still at the kiwi burrow. Kiwi is visiting a couple of times a week still.

These new videos are of our banded rail and white faced heron. It is a wonder we have fish at all when you watch these fellows feed.

Abbey Caves - Glow worms and spiders

Abbey Caves
We took our B&B guests back to Abbey Caves again this evening for another photo shoot of the glow worms.

 While at Abbey Caves we also found this huge harvestman spider. It is about 150 ~ 160mm from toe to toe. It was just hanging on this rock in the dark.

Abbey Caves

Abbey Caves are a set of three caves through a wonderful limestone rock and bush area only 20 minutes from The Riverbank. They are known for their glow worms. Free to enter.
Had fun with my cell phone in the caves this evening. It's not magic. 
This is what nature does.

Orchids in The Hugh Crawford Reserve - Ngunguru

Updated Blog: We just had to go and check some of the orchids out again on October 4th. They are Singularybas Oblongus. Although reasonably common in this bush I think it is my favourite. Total height when flowering is about 15mm.

Kiwi keeps coming back to its hole

It looks like this may be home for kiwi for the season. Exciting. Once inside it starts to dig some more.

Inquisitive rat also came to check the hole out.

The Ngunguru Sandspit Reserve - Pi Manu

On Saturday we were invited by Forest and Bird to go on an orchid hunt on the sand spit. We did find two species; an onion orchid and one other. Also found a comb fern. No photos.
I did, however take a few shots of the reserve for interests sake. It is a wonderful wilderness.

New finds in the Hugh Crawford

Well, new to us anyway. Last weekend we explored the bush with a friend with knowledge of our native orchids. With over 160 species of native orchids it is not surprising that we found a few. All this only a couple of hundred meters from our door.

We also found a Dracophyllum. These are very rare in our area. See the bottom for photos.

Hooded Orchid

Orchid - Acianthus sinclairii

Spider Orchid - Corybas trilobus

Singularybas Oblongus

Singularybas Oblongus

Singularybas Oblongus

Dracophyllum sinclairii

Dracophyllum sinclairii