Posts by Bruce Buckman
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
Art off the beaten track - found in a old toilet block at Waikowhai Reserve, Hillsborough.
-
Capture: BOTY Potty., in reply to Gareth,
We've had pairs of Kingfishers nesting in our St for several years. A few years ago one flew into a window. I rushed outside thinking it would be dead, but they obviously have strong necks, We had to go out so I put it in a shoe box and carried it out front and climbing up on the porch railing put it on top of the bay window where I hoped it would be safe from cats. All the time its mate was flying around squawking.
When we got back it was gone and a day later the pair of them were back sitting on the power lines leading to our neighbour's house. I thought the fact that I'd saved its life my get me some co-operation when trying to take photos, but no, like all Kingfishers, they still fly off if I get too close.
Of course, once I worked out that they actually nest in my phoenix palm, the fact that flying into a window didn't kill the kingfisher is explained. They use that beak to hammer away at the bowl of the palm, hollowing out a burrow. They sit on the wires then every minute or so one flies to the tree, has a quick burrow then flies back to the wire. Then the other one has a go. You can see the results of its burrowing on its beak.
-
Walking beside Lake Taupo in the evening, at Hatape back in July. This Heron was intent on fishing and ignored me, walking right up to and past me. Seemed quite proficient, and definitely beautiful.
-
Last spring we got hit by a plague of flies, but on the upside natural pest control arrived in the shape of a fantail that took up resisdence in the plum tree, happily chasing down flies.
-
Back in summer 2011 the flax that sits outside our family room flowered for the first time. Two tuis started to turn up, like clockwork, twice a day. It seemed like they milked it in the morning and again in the evening. By sitting on the sofa by the window, I was just outside the minimal focal distance for my 400mm lens. As long as I didn't move too much, they let me snap away as they turned up, spend a few minutes each time working through the flowers and then flew off. When the sun was low in the evening, all blues and greens in their plummage really came to life.
-
What I like about Shags is how much like Klingon Birds of Prey they look.
