Baby Coots

"As you sow, so shall you reap." Well so far the slugs have eaten my beans, the birds have eaten my basil seedlings and Billy the Wonder Dog has trampled half my spinach plants on his quest to save the universe from the threat of the common bumblebee. The silly dog launches himself into the air and snaps at any bumble bee flying past despite already having been stung once and having a reaction that swole one side of his face to twice the size. So I'll be lucky to reap half of what I've sown this spring, thank God for New World.

I visited Sullivans Lake in Kopeopeo today to check out the goings on among the local birdlife. The lake edge was teeming with resident cats ogling the ducklings and the huge population of dreaded Koi Carp waving their orange tails from amidst the lilypads. There were a number of Coot nests in varying stages of development. This ones eggs were getting wet, she was trying to build the nest up around them with reeds that her mate was bringing her.

I'm always intrugued by these coot (not cute) babies. How can something this zany grow up to look like the adult coot? The chicks look more like muppets that failed the audition. But its lovely to watch both parents take such care to feed them and fiercely guard them from any other birds that get too close. One little guy had already lost half a wing to a predator I noticed.

Shining Cuckoo

Yesterday I visited a friend who lives on the eastern side of the Ohiwa Harbour. Her neighbour had a shining cuckoo hit the window and my friend saved its body for me in her freezer. It was the most stunning little creature about the size of a sparrow but finer built. The species gets its the "shining" part of its name from the superb iridescence of the green plumage on its back, wings and the striking bands on its underside. It lays its egg in the nest of another bird in true cuckoo fashion. They neither build the nest nor rear the chick, thats left up to the grey warbler who by now has already reared a brood of its own.Can you believe this species of little bird spends each winter in the Solomon Islands and flies all the way to New Zealand every September to breed. I can't tell you how far that is but for such a dainty little thing it's a pretty impressive feat!

Rat Mummy & Plover Babies

I was in the garden last weekend and Troy came to find me saying "I've found something I think you'll really like." He is well aware of my penchant for the macabre but even I had to admit his find was pretty gruesome! It was a rat that had died inside the cabinet in our carport and had become mummified. I have no idea how long it had been there but it was totally dried although not entirely odourless. Troy took the following photo and played around with it in photoshop....I'm thinking it has possibilities to market as a postcard....yeah...nah? I ended up trading the rat to my Mum for a small display cabinet in which to house my skull collection. OMG we sound like the Adams Family!!!!

I have no idea how its right leg ended up on its left side.

On a lighter note, we went to Bunnings on Sunday to get some stuff for my new sculpture projects (yes I'm branching out.) I had noticed while driving home over the last few weeks that a pair of Spur-Winged Plovers had permanently moved into the grassy area between Bunnings carpark and the State Highway that ends at the Whakatane Bridge. I suspected they were nesting so after buying some MDF and brass upholsterers tacks I sussed out the birds. Sure enough they had three fluffy little babies. In all honesty both the parents and the chicks are kinda freaky looking. Whats with the yellow goggles I wonder not to mention the pointed spurs on the wing joints of the parent birds. Unfortunately not visible in my photo. Freaky chicks but admittedly kind of cute nevertheless.

Owen Dippie Artwork, Pukekos at White Horse Drive

After a successful exhibition opening last week in Tauranga I was looking forward to a bit of a relaxing week spending time with the family. My two nieces Nicola and Melissa were spending a week with Mum & Dad so I caught a ride back to Whakatane with them. At the roundabout near BayPark we caught up with ex Kawerau artist Owen Dippie and I took these shots of his Street Art with Nicolas camera. (Thats Nicky in the pink tee.)Driving to Tauranga I've often admired the Joker, a painted tribute to Heath Ledger which is now joined by a graphic from "The Grudge" and in progress "Chuckie."
Awesome work Owen!

I was at the end of White Horse Drive recently taking pics of the pooks there - they are so tame cos I suspect the local residents feed them. The little buggers accost you as you get out of your car until they see you aren't there to give them a handout then they lose interest and head back to the murky little pond at the start of the birdwalk. One was talking a bath while another two preened each other. I'm lovin this new camera!

My new Camera!!!

Did I mention Troy bought me a new camera for my birthday (and he's just told me it counts for Christmas and the next ten birthdays too haha - news for him!) Admittedly there are a lot more settings on the new D40 so its taken a bit of getting used to but here are some of my latest pics.

This is a photo of a Spur-winged Plovers nest. The mother bird laid her eggs in the middle of the cow paddock next door. The pair successfully raised all three eggs to chicks although another pairs nest was not so lucky and was abandoned after the cows invaded the paddock and trampled the eggs. Such beautiful speckles don't you think? This photo is dedicated to Lisa at http://www.lisasarsfield.blogspot.com/ I know she is a fan of nests.Troy sent me a text one morning to say there was a seal in the river by the bridge. I shot down there without much hope that it would still be there. Standing on the bank I saw nothing but a couple of ducks and a piece of driftwood floating downstream but on closer inspection the driftwood turned out to be the seal! It was floating on its side holding its tail with a flipper. I spent about an hour photographing it as it cruised with the current and I was surprised to watch it swim to the rocky bank and pee like a dog onto the rocks before it floated back out into the current again! Whats with that!!! Marking its territory?? But what a cutie, such big eyes. It was a young seal, probably last years pup that was needing a rest after the recent heavy seas we've had. He was in good nick, Ive seen many in a lot worse condition so I'm sure he would have recovered well and buggered off back to sea after a day or two.

The last pic for tonights blog is of an Australasian Coot. I photographed this guy in Taupo on Fathers day. What a beautiful sunny sunday it was, we took a day trip with my Mum and Dad to Taupo and spent some time with Dads friends at a model Plane meet then had lunch at a cafe and wandered down to the lakefront where I shot this guy at the marina. I love the way he looks like he is floating in mid air. The water was crystal clear and simply stunning. Happy Fathers day Dad! Finally, today I finished my 11th and final painting for the exhibition opening this Friday. Am having tomorrow off to recover and get myself psyched for Friday night. Bring it on!