Juvenile Stick Insect

 We rescued this tiny fellow off our deck railing and transferred it to this Towai leaf.

Spider Webs

 At our place there was a fog this morning that settled on these spider webs. Wonderful little architects.

Orchid Time in The Hugh Crawford DOC Reserve

 These little native orchids are abundant in the Hugh Crawford DOC Reserve at the moment as are many other varieties. Easily accessable from our wetland boardwalk at Old Mill Lane, Ngururu.The orchids are Acianthus-sinclairii. Follow the link.

Nursery Web Spiders in our wetland

Photos were taken from our wetland boardwalk.

 

Melva's big Kumera

 This kumera from our garden weighed 1065 grams. It was one of two kumera on the plant.

Night Time Adventures

 We took our friend Annette for a night time walk aremed with lamps to see what is at home at night in our lane. We found several Weta, including this lady, a Forest Gecko and these Green Crane Fly. We also discovered that spiders eyes glow in the dark.

Weta in The Hugh Crawford DOC Reserve - Ngunguru

 There is a stack of weta up under this loose totara bark in the bush. 

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.