road trip mk 2

Today I did one last round of samples for my thesis before I head to the UK. It was such a nice day - its hard to believe that in under a week I'll be 'enjoying' a British autumn... Joy...

On the way north to Dannevirke I stopped off a Mount Bruce for a bit. It's a very cool place with lots of bush protected by a predator proof fence and they also have breeding programs for lots of really endangered birds.

I heard the most vocal Kaka in the world (very possible!), and got a video of them just for YOU!

Just slightly north of Mt Bruce is a place very close to the hearts of many Kiwi's, can you see it??!

After that I headed up and got my first samples, all went well, and it didn't rain this time which is nice! Lots of lovely NZ landscape up there;


It does look nice, but it's still hard to think of it as anything other than rape and pillage of forest to grow invasive pasture grasses for dairy cows to eat... Ignorance was bliss!

Next, here's a time lapse of part of the trip - I left the sound in - can you guess what the music is??!

Then on to Pukepuke, Fenn had a good run around as we walked in to the site, but she looked a bit bored just waiting for me to take my samples

So she went on a MISSION!

Kapiti looked as amazing as ever on the way home too which was nice - look forward to seeing it again in a month!

Back on the road!

The car formally known as Toast has been re-born...

After writing my car off, I ended up buying another one - I'm pretty sure it's the last red Corrado in New Zealand! Then, combining the best parts of both cars, I have now created the Ultimate Corrado, with the power of two!!

It really is so good to be back on the road (with 4 wheels instead of just 2). And with the best of both cars, I now have extra bits like a tow bar and chin spoiler!

Attack of the cows

I went on a big road trip yesterday to do some sampling for my thesis, and went to my second site for the first time. Its a Dairy Farm (low intensity for those who are interested) just south of Dannevirke, and for a while I was stuck with the cows as 600 of them filed past my car into the milking shed, so I made a video of them doing their thing...

Thank you James for letting me use your farm

This is what one of his ponds looks like, it's got a wetland behind, with lots of Carex secta, LOVE IT!

Now I just have to look at my samples, each should take about 20-30 minutes, so it's going to take a while...

bike ride to the beach

I decided to head out to Wainui Beach this morning on my bike, I've found going for a ride is a great way to relax, and over half of the trip is along a snaking rural road which are the best on a bike ;)

I guess I should really do some uni work now!

Big yawn & time lapse

Apollo having a big yawn

And this is for impatient people who say my fish are too slow and boring:

Nga Manu trip

Today I went to Nga Manu with Amelia and Hilary from uni. It's a nature reserve in Waikanae up on the coast. It's a really cool place, and will definitely be on the list of places to take people who want to experience a bit on NZ. As well as the wildlife it is the last large remnant of swamp forest in the region, and the bush is really healthy, and really swampy too this time of yeah - COOL!

The first friend we made was a very easy going Kaka. He sat on everyone's head and shoulders, and gave me a really good scalp massage too, I WANT ONE!

Number 2 on the list was this Tui, who's been hand raised and has a but of a lazy (munted) wing. We couldn't go into his enclosure, but he tried to get as close as he could to us, and had a good peck at Amelia and her hat...

Next were the Scaup, which are wee native driving ducks. Definitely one of my favourite birds, they are cute to look at and just listen to their CUTE noises!!

On to another type of duck (well sort of) - this is a Paradise Duck, I could sense he would taste good... In the mean time he was nice and soft for a hug!

Amelia wanted to feed this female Pary, and gave here heaps while Hilary kept away some of the Mallards who were very pushy!

See - they are very pushy and greedy!

There were plenty of eels that liked being fed, it was the leftovers which the duck was trying to eat from the bridge, without going into the water... Ducks aren't the brightest animals but are funny to watch!
There is a nocturnal house where there are Kiwi, Moreporks and Tuatara too
This is a young mistletoe growing on a Manuka. NZ mistletoe's are rare now as possums LOVE to eat them...

Had to take a photo of Kapiti on the way home... couldn't help it!

Thanks for driving me up Amelia :)

I miss my car...

A very cool use for motorbikes

I got this vid from Gav, it's VERY cool - wish I could do what they can... maybe one day!

It's of the Police in Italy - I think the cops over here should spend some time learning synchronised riding, instead of handing out so many tickets for total crap...

...not that I'm bitter...