A short stroll around the lake

While my little mother was in hospital recently I had the opportunity to go for a stroll around Hamilton Lake or Lake Rotoroa as it is known in Maori. Ten minutes walk from my motel I found the lane I had been directed to and walked from a busy city street to a tranquil lakeside walkway.

There  were marvellous houses backing onto the lakeside, some with low fences and others opened up to the lake vista. 

The lake was surrounded by native flora and of course

 a lot of bird life.

Quite a number of cheeky Pukeko,

a solitary Shag,

Mallard ducks,

a few Australian coots, (related to the Pukeko)

and a good flock of Canada geese.

I came across a wonderful children's playground

with this fabulous climbing fort. 

There was also a nice cafe nearby but I never went in,

 I didn't have time as I was heading back to the hospital.

Of course there were also the usual doves or pigeons, 

you don't go far without seeing them around.

The sun was getting low in the sky as I headed back

 to the entrance and I got this shot of the lake.

I enjoyed this nice peaceful walk, away from the 

hustle and bustle of the city and everything happening at the hospital, a lovely way to recharge my batteries.

A few New Zealand birds

I thought I would share some photos taken over the years of some of our native birds. I have written the Maori name for them first followed by the English version. Usually they are known by the Maori name. If you would like to know a little about the birds just click on the name and it should take you to a link. Some of these birds have the most beautiful and colourful plumage which is not possible to see unless you get really close up or see them in flight. Some are flightless and others are beautiful songbirds. Some are pesky thieves and will strip the rubber from around the windscreen of your car before you know it. And then come back for the wipers!
 Happy bird watching :)

***********
Weka or Wood hen

Pukeko or Swamp hen

Tui or Parson bird

Kea or Mountain parrot

Kereru or Wood pigeon

If you were hoping to see a Kiwi I'm sorry. I have only ever seen one in my life and that was in captivity. I've never seen one in the wild, I don't think many people have, sightings are rare.

 Joining the gang at FAST

 for Five on Friday

Diana

Pukekos after the rain

Well let me tell you, I am not going to mention how quiet life is again.

Since last week, when I mentioned the earthquake, we have had floods.

Not too bad at our property but bad enough to close schools, 

businesses and to set up  civil defense headquarters. 

The city was cut off north and south with some of the highways under water.

A lot of homes were flooded and one rest home had 

to be evacuated in one of the low lying suburbs.

Most of last week was spent in clean up mode

 for a large portion of the population.

 Really heartbreaking for some.

We stayed hunkered down at home with only a couple of leaks in the roof.

Everything in our little town is back to normal now but it will take longer in the city.

At the weekend we took a trip over to the local tip

Which is where I spotted some of our feathered friends in the distance. 

Pukekos! 

I had never seen them here before and was quite excited. 

My GKB said they are there quite a lot so he didn't know why I was so impressed.

Since I came down south to live I have only ever seen them beside the highway, 

in places you can't stop to watch or take pictures.

On the West Coast where I grew up they were a lot more common 

and wandered in the paddocks and were quite prolific.

Of course the ground was more swampy in a lot of places

and probably more to their liking over there.

It is rain forest country and can be quite a damp place, to put it mildly. 

As we were leaving we had to avoid hitting some of them wandering on the road.

And then...

around a corner and we came across this fellow bathing.

He was submerging himself up to his shoulders, 

getting up, shaking himself off and doing it all over again. 

We watched through the car window for a couple of minutes then my GKB 

decided to get a bit nearer and try to get a better pic. 

Well Mr Pukeko wasn't having that and climbed out of his bath

 and stalked away at a good old pace, for him, with my GKB in hot pursuit.

And that is why the final pic is a bit blurred.

No co-operation at all, can you see the frown on his face, haha.

If you would like to read a little more about the pukeko you can do so here

joining in with:

roses of inspiration
good fences

Have a good week,

Diana

A silly week

Pohutukawa flower (N Z Christmas tree)

It's been a silly  week.

Or I should probably say a busy week.

Yesterday was the last day for youth group,

I organize and wrap their Christmas presents

then help to ferry kids to wherever their breakup is being held.

Tomorrow is the Sunday school break-up, 

I help organize their prizes

 and food for their 

Christmas party.

And help set up the hall for said party.

Guess who volunteered to help at

a kids craft day as well?

And I am not a crafty person, gulp.

There have been several meetings for that, 

and a prep day as well.

It'll all happen on Tuesday this week,

so that the mothers can have an extra day 

shopping before Christmas, without the kids.

I'm not complaining, you understand,

 but I will be pleased when it is Wednesday.

So just to relax a bit, and be a bit silly, 

I'd like to share this New Zealand version 

of a well known Christmas song with you.

I think you'll guess the tune.

A PUKEKO IN A PONGA TREE

On the first day of Christmas 

My true love gave to me 

A pukeko in a ponga tree

On the second day of Christmas 

My true love gave to me 

two kumera 

And a pukeko in a ponga tree 

On the third day of Christmas 

....

and so on, until... 

On the twelfth day of Christmas 

My true love gave to me 

Twelve piupius swinging 

Eleven haka lessons 

Ten juicy fish heads 

Nine sacks of pipis 

Eight plants of puha 

Seven eels a swimming 

Six pois a twirling 

Five - big - fat - pigs ! 

Four huhu grubs 

Three flax kits 

Two kumera 

And a pukeko in a ponga tree! 

Kingi Ihaka

Pukeko

Ponga  fern

 

A summer Santa and two silly pukeko

Have a great week, folks.

Blessings, 

Diana