Famous for their wide-open landscapes, lakes, and mountain fringed plains, there’s a lot to love about a visit to the South Islands Mackenzie Basins and Hakatere area – especially in the winter when a sprinkle of snow, moody light, and […]
Author: mich.martin
Taranaki – new gallery!
Taranaki is a fantastic area to visit with plenty of opportunities for nature lovers to enjoy it’s outdoor wonders. From the wild, eroding black-sand coastline, to the spectacular conical Mt Taranaki cloaked in mossy forest, there is plenty to see […]
Discover a nature gem near you
Tucked away in often unknown corners in many cities, are little pieces of nature paradise. Whether it be a quiet stream, city gardens, or a frequently walked park, take a closer look at what’s around you and get a regular […]
Autumn on the Tutukaka Coast
After a slow start to the summer, there have been a string of beautiful days and evenings out on the Tutukaka Coast in Northland, New Zealand.
How to annoy a bird photographer (from a birds perspective)
Birds all over the world use a myriad of strategies to annoy and foil photographers. Here are some of the methods they may use.
Fernbirds/matata
New Zealand fernbirds/matata are the coolest and most frustrating little birds. I hadn’t heard of them let alone seen one until into my adult years. Most people living in New Zealand don’t even know they exist. They hang out in […]
More pretty birds
Flax flowering
I really like flax flowers with their variety of colours and shapes. Many of our native birds like them too – they are full of sweet nectar and kakariki will strip the whole flower heads and seeds. Spring and early […]
Bird sweet treats
Kowhai flowers come into bloom, right when our native birds need a big energy boost for nesting after winter when food sources may have been more limited. Nectar feeders such as tui, bellbirds/korimako and even saddlebacks/tieke feast on the tasty […]
Tiritiri Matangi Island
One of my favourite places to be in New Zealand is Tiritiri Matangi Island ecosanctuary. Years of largely volunteer effort have transformed a once bare, denuded landscape into a forested predator-free paradise teeming with birds and invertebrate life. Rare bird […]