Photos / Sounds
What
Lancewood Tree Daisy (Olearia lacunosa)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
While climbing Mount Haast in the Victoria range I notice this plant near the summit. Its the only plant of this type I noticed in the alpine zone.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus MecodemaObserver
thomasjwalshDescription
Found this guy at night while looking for insects on the meadows around lake Tennyson. From memory might have been dead.
What
Eleven-armed Sea Star (Coscinasterias muricata)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
This starfish caught my attention because it was releasing a weird pink substance... Quite a few other starfish were right near the surface over low tide.
Could be spawning?
Photos / Sounds
What
Kaikoura Giant Weta (Deinacrida parva)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
A fairly large weta , body length around 6-7cm long. Was found floating in Snowflake stream, Coastal Kaikoura Mountains. It appeared to be dead but returned to life after being kept in a jar for quite a while. Several more dead ones were found on the bottom of the stream.
What
Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
A lot of Spoonbills were feeding in the Wairau lagoons today.
What
Aphids (Family Aphididae)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
This little critter was very very small, maybe 2mm long. Was on the bark of a old native tree in Onamalutu reserve. Only saw one of them despite spending about 40 minutes searching a range of trees and scrubs for critters worthy of a photo.
I guess its a type of Aphid?
Photos / Sounds
What
Chorus Cicada (Amphipsalta zelandica)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
Heaps of these guys were in the bush around Okarito over the long weekend.
Would probably upload more photos at a later date.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus KempynusObserver
thomasjwalshDescription
Found a group of these moths resting on rocks next to a small stream in the headwaters of the Wairau river.
When I first saw them shortly after dark several seemed to be 'mating', when I returned a few minutes later they have all separated.
What
Redtailed Cicadas (Genus Rhodopsalta)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
Was standing on a stalk of a flower.
Photos / Sounds
What
Flesh Flies and Satellite Flies (Family Sarcophagidae)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
This cute little fly (about house fly size) was standing on a Marshmallow plant, in a flower thicket in a vineyard inter row.
What
Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
Baby Skylarks found in long grass. I actually found the nest then a few days later returned to photograph the chicks after they hatched. Checked again a few days later and the nest was empty :(
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus ProtohystriciaObserver
thomasjwalshDescription
Saw this large fellow working the flowers on a Manuka/kanuka scrub. Was about the same size as a queen bumble bee. Saw only one specimen but there was a lot of other similar insects also working the flowers.
What
Woodlouse Spider (Dysdera crocata)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
Creepy looking spider which was walking over a moist bank... Also nearby was a different looking but similar size spider in a web, and a Slug. The creepy spider completely ignore the spider and stepped across it. It was also investigating 'holes', maybe to escape my light or.
The spider was a couple of cm long including legs.
Photos / Sounds
What
New Zealand Magpie Moth (Nyctemera annulata)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
Two of them resting on rock amour which was part of a breakwater. Neither were active, one even crawled over my fingers for a while until I coached it back onto the rocks for more photographs. Was quite a chilly winters day. Maybe they hatched thanks to the warmer then usual weather then got caught by the cold.
What
Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
Mother Black Swan with her family. The juveniles have not developed their red bills or long necks. At such a young age they somewhat resemble diving ducks.
What
Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
There was a few Chaffinches hanging out with the Sparrows.
What
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
Male and female sparrow. They must have been lost because there was no houses nearby.
By far the most common small bird at the lake today.
What
Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
The storm gusts were to powerful for this forest of Pines. Many were blown over, snapped or shredded of their leaves.
There was several other areas of downed pines nearby.
What
Minute Beetles (Family Clambidae)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
These tiny black insects were common on the underside of many leafs. On same leaves there would have easily been a dozen.
What
Australasian Shoveler (Spatula rhynchotis)Observer
thomasjwalshDate
Missing DateDescription
First time I seen shoveler ducks at Taylor Dam. At first I thought was a Parry next to a mallard... which I thought was a bit weird so I concentrated on them and noticed the large bills.
Typical of Shovelers they were wary and quickly made for the middle of the lake before I could take a good photo.
All the usual species were also present. More Shags then usual.
Photos / Sounds
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Southern Green Stink Bug (Nezara viridula)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
Only saw one of these guys, much darker and more colorful then the others.
Photos / Sounds
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Southern Green Stink Bug (Nezara viridula)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
Its a type of green vegetable bug but uncertain which one.
What
Domestic Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos var. domesticus)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
This Mallard has very dark plumage. Maybe these a bit of domestic or other strange breed in it, or just natural variation. Thought it was a Paradise duck at first glance.
Was hanging out with normal colour Mallards.
Photos / Sounds
What
North Island Coastal Copper (Lycaena salustius)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
This tiny Butterfly or moth landed on plant covered rocks next to the Awatere River.
What
Black Mountain Ringlet (Percnodaimon merula)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
A few of these butterflies were flying around, this one acted a bit strange making it easier to photograph.
Photos / Sounds
What
Ray-finned Fishes (Class Actinopterygii)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
Saw three of these little guys.
Maybe its a Inanga?
What
Short-finned Eel (Anguilla australis)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
Heaps of Shortfins eels of varying colours, this one was quite golden in colour. Also the occasional longfin.
What
Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)Observer
thomasjwalshDescription
A few juvenile trout make it this far upstream during periods of strong flows, but they rarely survive the autumn. First time I seen this one.
These another a few pools upstream.