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

Kiwi. There is always a new discovery at The Riverbank

A friend spotted a newly dug hole in the Hugh Crawford Reserve. We returned with our Trail Camera and caught the following. Kiwi is having a thorough investigation of the hole. Sadly in the camera was moved so missed the hole which is on the far right. The camera will be put back for further investigation. We have been hearing male and female calling frequently.

cordyline

A few weeks ago while crashing through the Hugh Crawford Reserve I came across this cordyline. It is one of the largest I have found in the area. I took this photo with my phone. Whatever I do it will not stand upright. Sorry about that.

Everything is not all the same

Kumerahou buds

After checking baits and traps this morning we walked through the Hugh Crawford reserve to check our trail camera that we installed last week after a friend spotted a hole and tunnel in the ground that had been freshly worked. We now have three videos of a kiwi. Not downloaded yet. We will leave the camera a while longer to see what happens. Fantastic. We have been hearing Kiwi call most nights through July and August.

Clematis

Yes, definitely everything is not all the same. On our walk we noted that clematis, kowhai, mingimingi and alseuosmia are all blooming. The alseuosmia, some with pink flowers but most with green or white, are going crazy. It is the best bloom we have seen. Looking forward to a technology catch-up when I can blog its wonderful perfume that is saturating the bush.  http://techland.time.com/2012/10/17/new-app-sends-smells-via-iphone/ . Mairahou and kumerahou are budding up well too. Manuka has been flowering for a while in preperation for it's maximum bloom in November. Even mamaku looks happy with its koru. It will soon be summer.
I have said all this before in other years but every year is different. I do recommend a stroll through the Hugh Crawford right now just to smell the alseuosmia. If you don't know what to look for call in and ask. We will show you.

Clematis

Mamaku koru