Showing posts with label Lizards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lizards. Show all posts

Friday, 31 July 2020

Friends on Friday

A few photos I forgot to post yesterday...


Queen Victoria cruising by.


There were at least two of these that did a fly by.


We don't get sunsets here as we are facing the wrong way, but there was a definite glow over the sea last night.  Quite a contrast to tonight where I can't see the sea, as the clouds and sea mist has come rolling in with the wind.


You could even see the moon last night before it was dark.


This morning, a big bonfire was lit down the road - yup, on one of hottest days of the year - it was still smoking at 2 pm when I walked past.



This evening, I could STILL smell smoke in the air.  You have to wonder sometimes about the thought process some people go through when they light a fire on one of the hottest days of the year first thing in the morning... or perhaps there is no thought process at all, which is probably more likely.

Anyway it was a lovely day, albeit a bit smokey at times so I had to have the doors and windows closed for a few hours, but once it had cleared a bit I spent some time trying to see if I could see any fish.  No luck.


One of my lovely lilies.


The Gunnera plant.


A young damselfly nymph I think this is.


The sunflowers my neighbour gave me yesterday.


It was very hot walking to the Ventnor Gardens this afternoon where I was going to meet up with a friend who has recently moved to the island.


It was a  very hot walk.  The walk back was much more pleasant as a slight breeze was starting to build up so it was a lot cooler.


Sunning himself 


His little eyes are closed.


Gorgeous flowers.


We had a lovely couple of hours wandering around the garden and catching up with each other's news.


She used to live too far away for us to meet up much before, so it is nice to have her living much closer and we are planning to meet up again next week which will be lovely.












Managed to capture a lizard on film, which is not always easy.

We have some at our place, but I only see fleeting glimpses of them.

Total walked today: 4.5 miles.

Total walked this month...114.7 miles, so I think I have done pretty well indeed, and it has been fun to see if I could achieve my goal of 100 miles this month.  Especially when I look back to this time last year and remember how ill I was, and the fact I'd had the first of my A & E admissions. 

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.


Thursday, 7 April 2016

Birds, Insects, Lizards and Fauna in NZ



This lovely little bird (Zosterops lateralis) seems to have several names it is known by: Wax Eye, White-Eye, Silvereye, to name a few.

I was delighted to have the time to try and capture it on film while in New Zealand.  Mum and Dad's garden seemed to be full of them busy in the bush in the morning and afternoon.




This one is enjoying the bottlebrush. 




I am currently working on an oil painting that I started while in New Zealand of this lovely little bird.


This Tui was rather scraggly looking after the breeding season!



Another well worn out bird 'Mr Blackbird' must have also had a busy and hard breeding season.  He too looking rather worse for wear.  Actually this poor guy also had a 'gammy' leg - possibly broken, but it didn't seem to stop him getting around and by the end of my stay he was starting to look a lot better even if he will probably be left with a wonky leg!


There is also an abundance of insect life around and about the property.


These praying mantis were often seen.




When I first arrived the cicadas were in song and it is one of the first things you hear when venturing outside - it seems so loud!  Within a couple of weeks though they were starting to get quieter until no more remained by the end of my stay.


Cicada casing.


There were some really beautiful Monarch butterflies around the garden this year.


The Rainbow Skinks are becoming a bit of a problem and the place seemed to be over run by them.  Dad said he doesn't seem as many Weta around the place any more and wonders if the impact of these lizards are a contributing factor.


Just a bright glimpse of red seen on my wanders through the bush on their property.

Out and about I also saw some more bird life which of course I couldn't resist photographing.





Muddy!  I think this one was taken at the Whangarei basin.


Another Shag


Shag with Paradise Duck

Another post to follow with more photographs of the lovely area these two birds were photographed.


Pukeko


Quail!