The Catch

Conversation on Thursday afternoon with my Dad went something like this:

Dad: 'Hows the cat?'

Me : 'Good, but hasn't caught any rabbits since February - must be getting old!'

So on Friday morning this is what I found under my bed:



Rigor Mortis had set in, so I picked it up with a plastic shopping bag. I was surprised at the size of it. For one, all previous rabbits the cat has brought in have been a quarter of the size - just babies. This one was as just as big as her!

AND she would have had to bring it through the cat door - no mean feat at this size dragging it in her mouth!!

I popped it on the outside table and encouraged her to get into the photoshoot. Kassia hates her photo taken, but I did manage to get two before she lost interest... The first re-acquainting herself with her catch the night before, but not showing any real interest as it was no longer moving!

And this one showing you the size of the rabbit in relation to the cat. So this was quite a catch for her!!!

So - now I know she listens to my phone conversations! She only has 4999 rabbits left to catch!!

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

The world is full of exhibitionists.   But when you come across it right outside your bedroom door in broad daylight, what does one do?  Shut doors?  Close curtains?  Get out the hose?  Scream?  Ring the police?

I did what most people probably wouldn't think of.  I got out my camera! 

Years ago I came across a book on various positions for humans.  But I reckon this one takes the cake!  However, as usual, the females are doing all the work!

 

The females have to flap their wings like crazy to try and balance, contort themselves, while the male has it pretty good!  I was in no way scared of being stung as their 'stingers' were rather busy.

Her hind leg helps balance as well, but her wings are still going at top speed!

She's like a helicopter!  Straight down view.  Oh yes - they knew I was there too, but they weren't too worried!  They were too 'busy'!

 

Female still holding on for dear life! I have just read that the male dies after sex.  Kinda sucks really doesn't it, if you're a male?

Glad I'm not a wasp though.  The photos were taken on my BBQ cover and just after I took this one, they flew off together, still connected.

So not only do I have a mouse problem here, See this blogpost by my friend, and a rabbit problem which I wrote about in this blogpost, but I also have a wasp problem.  Seem like things really breed in a big way down in the South Island!

Steam Train at Shantytown

This engine which worked coalmines at Kaitangata in Otago for 70 years was preserved by the mines department to the West Coast Historical and Mechanical Society Incorporated and was transported to Shantytown by the Ministry of Works and New Zealand Railways.

Pancake Rocks - Punakaiki, West Coast

After we left Cape Foulwind, we travelled down the coast to the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki.  I've been wanting see these for a long time, but was surprised that I just couldn't go down on the beach and see them.  Instead there's a 20 minute walk around and through them that was very, in want of a word, upmarket.

The rocks were formed 30 million years ago from minute fragments of dead marine creatures and plants landed on the seabed about 2 km below the surface. Immense water pressure caused the fragments to solidify in hard and soft layers. Gradually seismic action lifted the limestone above the seabed. Mildly acidic rain, wind and seawater sculpted the bizarre shapes.

We carried these two bottles of liquers, by prenzel, around the rocks taking photos of them in various locations, along with our 'normal' photos. It was all for the Prenzel summer photo competition, which I have now entered. It did 'raise eyebrows', cause a few 'funny comments' and we had offers from several people to help us drink it! I didn't put this one into the competition - will put the one I did enter up at the end.

The rocks and the view down the coast. Quite spectacular, and we happened to be there close to sunset which made the colours very pretty. Unfortunately, a rain front was coming across so the sunset wasn't as vivid as we had hoped it would be.

The pancakes a bit closer up.

The blow hole is also famous in this area, although it wasn't going very strong for us. I could just hear it rumbling and then it would spit up this bit of water every now and then. This is the only photo I was able to get. something to do with the tide I believe, which was out quite a way and only just in the way in.

This is the only sunset shot I really got. I had to handhold that but I did use the banisters of the safety fences to keep it steady. The tripod was in the car, but my foot was too sore to go and get it. Plus, I was already carrying two bottles of spirits and wasn't sure I'd be able to handle the tripod as well.

Here's looking down the coast again. I couldn't tear my eyes away...

Sunset rock...

As the path went around you come to these steps carved out in the rock.  They're steep and narrow, and rather beautiful.  But before you came to them, there are signs everywhere saying no wheelchair access.  Big yellow signs with a wheelchair shape with a big red cross.   What I find funny about this is that it's really obvious that a wheelchair can't fit down there.  People in wheelchairs do have brains and common sense I'm sure! So do we really need them?

Can you see the cat crouching on that rock? (hint - it's a rock shaped in the shape of a cat). Can your imagination pick out anything else?

Looking north up the coast. Sunset. I need to spend some more time in this area. It seems to have a lot to offer, including rivers, secret spots, horse treks, canoeing. Looks like I'll have to go back!

And this is the entry to the competition I put in, which I called 'Syrup with Pancakes...

Wish me luck! I want to win the $3000 in travel so I can visit my Anne in Amsterdam! And perhaps go to Iceland!

Westport

While Steven was here from the USA, we decided to spend a couple of days on the West (Wet) Coast.  I'm a typical New Zealander, in the fact that I've visited lots of places overseas, but hardly seen my own country.  So most of the places we visited, with the exception of Greymouth, was my first time I had been there.  Shameful isn't it?

The West Coast is renowned for rain, so our first day there was quite surprising, as you will see from the photos.  It didn't last though.  The last two days were so wet I couldn't even get the camera out for fear of drowning it!

First stop was Westport. Westport is located on the northern bank and at the mouth of the Buller River close by the prominent headland of Cape Foulwind.  The population of the Westport is approximately 5000.

We drove through the main road and shops and came to a little marina of fishing boats so stopped to take photos.  This would be the Buller River.

The water is brown because of the recent heavy rain the day before we came over.

Steven particularly liked this part of Westport as his name is Steven John so felt that the fishing boat pictured was his!

We then drove a bit further to take a look at the beach...

This is looking north towards Karamea.

And south to the Buller River mouth. With all the driftwood washed up, it looks like it can be pretty wild, but today, it was relatively calm for a West Coast Beach.

We decided to head further down the coast to see the Pancake Rocks and sightsee on the way. So our next stop was to drive out on the causeway to the lighthouse at the mouth of the river, and have a look at Carters Beach while we were there. I couldn't leave the area without seeing a beach with the same name as me!!

This is the mouth of the river. Not only is there the red lighthouse over on the other side, there was a green one just to the left of where I took the photo.

This is looking downriver towards the hills we had just driven across.

And this is Carter's beach. It lives up to our name - Beautiful, Wild, Unpredictable!! I'm sure others will add a few names to this!!!

Lots of Seabirds around. This is a Caspian Tern.  I love their black heads, reminds me of pirates for some reason!

The usual Red Beaked Gull...

and the occasional one-legged variety!

Then we drove to Cape Foulwind which is approximately 10 kmh south of the township of Westport. It is a prominent headland overlooking the Tasman Sea. It was previously named Rocky Cape by Abel Tasman, the first European to visit it, in 1642. The present name was bestowed upon this promontory by English explorer James Cook in 1770 after his ship Endeavour was blown quite a distance offshore from this point.

On this particular day, the only foul wind came from ... erm ... nuff said!

As the afternoon was getting on, we decided to do a 10 minute walk up to the Lighthouse only, rather than the full hour trek around the coast and back which would have taken about 2 hours. We then drove to Tauranga Bay to have a look at the other side of the cape instead to save us time.

The path was full of yellow daisies with honey bees - so couldn't resist a bit of macro photography on the way up!

Found a Crimson Speckled Footman moth as well (according to my online Skype Encyclopedia from Capetown!)

The path up to the Lighthouse.

Views from the top...

Looking back from where we had come from - you can see the mouth of the River and that tiny white thing (lighthouse) on the causeway.

The bush on the cape was quite scrubby. But perfect camouflage and nesting for our South Island Weka...

Who insisted on joining us for lunch.

I'm always amazed at how red their eyes are. Looks like they've been imbibing on a bit too much MJ.

We then drove to the other side of the Cape to have a look at Tauranga Bay...

Absolutely gorgeous and I would imagine when the tide is in it would be a fairly safe place to swim. As long as there is no foul wind.

We took another short walk up to the point to try and see the seal colony, but all we really got were views. If you're looking for seals, the best place to really see them is Kaikoura.

I did find this round the corner though. I turned towards london and waved to Jay, then tried to imagine where Amsterdam was and waved to Anne. Did you guys see me?

Looking up the coast. This side of the cape I think was much prettier.

Next stop: Pancake Rocks!