End of year thanks to: nature

Ocean, sky, beach, mountains, trees, flowers and birds . I have really appreciated the beauty of nature greatly this year.

Onetangi beach, Waiheke

Mt Ruapehu

Maungawhau

Sunset over Auckland

Phoenix Palm in the rain

Pukeko in the Domain

Urewera National Park School Camp

School camp with my brother and 49 other 11-13 year olds was an experience I will never forget.

Especially the seven hour day tramp! It was 700 metres uphill (twice the height of the Sky Tower) and covered about 12kms in distance.

Photo day no. 2

Here are some more photos:

A strawberry in my garden.

The furiness of the leaves is something I hadn't noticed before.

Nana's amazing orchids 1 (first use of the tripod) and 2

I know this photo is a bit out of focus but I like the graininess of it and all the empty space.

As you can see I am still learning about photography and since I only have a run of the mill digital camera there are limitations. This week I am experimenting with the tripod and programming my own settings.

P.S. Told you my Nana's orchids were amazing. She says the secret is neglect, they don't like attention - who would have thought!

Otto and the Otters

Welcome to the world!

I am a bit of a nature lover, so this story delighted me. Especially the timing...

Pretty cute! Photo from: Auckland Zoo

The newest addition to the Auckland Zoo family, the otter pups made their first public appearance today. The two male Asian small-clawed otters are the first born pups of Jana and Juno. I saw them on 3 news tonight shortly after I found about the arrival of Mr and Mrs $1 pies newest family member!

Did you know... that otters mate for life and that otters don't develop their waterproof coat for three months?

Ahhh, new life in the new year. Don't you love it?

Well done to the Otters, and Mr and Mrs $1 Pies!

I like birds

If you like birds (and you live in NZ), as I do you may be interested in participating in the Landcare Research Garden Bird Survey.

All you have to do is get the bird guide and recording form from Landcare Research or from the latest issue of Forest and Bird Magazine and simply spend an hour in your garden or local park recording the birds you see.

Source: Garden Bird Guide

You can also look at the results of the survey from previous years on Landcare research site and if you really really love bird watching they have some links to other great bird information sites.

Happy bird watching!