Here be Dragons Dragonflies are fascinating creatures... more to come on them soon. I have found these ones so far around Karamea.

Goldie Legend has it that Goldie (a domestic golden pheasant) found his way on to the Karamea Bluff a few years ago, and actually survived the wild living there for some years, and to this day it is not certain that he is not still there. At various times Goldie was joined by female pheasants, but they did not survive there for long, or they didn't like it... for whatever reason they disappeared from view very quickly. But Goldie persisted, he did pretty well living the bush life and was seen quite a few times over the years, often many months apart.... on the last sighting Goldie was feeling little amorous and was targeting a young female Weka with all of his best attentions!

Fascinating FUNGI This arrangement of fungi I have found here will drive many of you quite mad...because it is so terribly unscientific, however it is what it is. Upon a time when I have managed to identify all these little fascinating creatures according to their scientific divisions I will endeavour to make another more science friendly arrangement; in the meantime you will have to bear with it. There are too many kinds of fungi to mention here, and too many photos so they are not high quality images, this is just a record. Even then it is pretty cool to see them all together, its just another case of never knowing what amazing thing you might see here! Greenies! Red ones! Bluuuuue ones! Brown ones, big and small Puffy ones! White ones! Yellow ones! Pinky / Orangey ones! Blackish ones! Those cute little bird nest ones...

Kaka Kaka do hang out in Kahurangi National Park around Karamea and are often heard on the fringes of Karamea, around the hill tops and on the edges of the bush, but not often seen 'in' Karamea. Just this once, for a few weeks this Kaka took up nightly residence in a friends garden in the Arapito Valley. Probablyl just a youngster that had not found his crowd yet. It was fabulous to see him up close... unfortunately not great photos, but here is a Kaka in Karamea..

100 scenes from 1 spot There is one spot that features repeatedly in this photo collection, it is a favourite haunt, because it is so beautiful and because you never know what you will see but it is bound to be beautiful and different. These shots are all from basically the same spot at the north end of the Karamea estuary looking south, but each one is different; different times of day, different light, different tide levels, different weather, the variety is just stunning. These shots are mostly only about the landscape, the wildlife that you will also see there is just too much and is a whole new section. (As I start this page there are only 30 or 40 of these different shots, but I am sure as I keep adding them in, there will be 100 and more.) HOME

Fascinating FUNGI Did you know that mushrooms (fungi) are classified in their own kingdom? They are neither plant nor animal, but something in between.... weeeeird. But WONDERFUL, such a variety of shapes and sizes and colours and the possibilities of what you might see are so vast, fungi fossicking in Karamea is enthralling.

The Littles... The 'Littles' are the smallest residents of Karamea, the tiny beings who live busy, unnoticed lives, all around us. These Littles are often misunderstood, sometimes feared and most frequently ignored. But when you stop and look closely, they turn out to be skilled engineers, patient hunters, tireless cleaners and excellent parents ...... just doing their best in a complicated world. This page I hope will help you look through the doorway into their world. If you think you don't like insects, that is okay, you don't have to love them.... but just take a moment to meet them. The many ways of being small... THE BUILDERS Some Littles build; they manufacture threads, weave tunnels and traps from silk, make homes out of bubbles or bits of stick. They use these tools and materials for shelter or catching food, leaving behind these little clues to the existence of these quiet survivalists eeking out a living all around us. Meet the Builders THE WATCHERS Some Littles watch, they perch, they pause, they stop and sit for ages, we notice them when they are observing, waiting, looking, looking for a home, looking for a buddy, looking for something tasty, but what are they doing in between? Meet the Watchers THE WANDERERS Some Littles wander, the wander along the ground, they wander from one environment to another, from one country to another, from one lifestyle to another. We might spot them in just a moment in time on their journey. Meet the Wanderers

Karamea wild is a site dedicated to the beauty of the Karamea region on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Photos and creatives showcasing the beautiful New Zealand birds, Karamea wildlife, and the spirit of Karamea. KARAMEA wild ..is a personal photo album site of the Karamea that I see, a Karamea that is full of life and wild everywhere. As well as being an outlet for my perpetual shutterbug habits, I hope that this site illustrates the extraordinary beauty and diversity of life in this place that we call Paradise. Large or small, rare or common, native or not, just like the human community here, everyone is included making it a rare and beautiful place that we should all treasure. ::This site is always under development and can change without notice. Social media You can see the most recent captures from Karamea wild on social media Follow us on Instagram #wix @karameawild Load more Albumns Or explore these Galleries, a collection of favourites The Karamea region is one of those beautiful natural spots in New Zealand, blessed and conserved by it's remoteness. Karamea inhabits a natural plain bordered to the north by the Kahurangi National Park and the south by the Karamea Bluffs, with its toes in the Tasman sea and its head in the clouds and mountains to the east. Four major rivers flow through the region and two large estuarine environments now protect the land from the sea. Whilst the flat land is intensively dairy farmed, there remains significant natural areas and wildlife. Both the agricultural land and forested and estuarine environments provide homes and grazing for our native and visiting species and treasures abound here for all those who appreciate nature. There is always life... look closer Contact Contact Karamea wild: Send Success! Message received.

Karamea wild is a site dedicated to the beauty of the Karamea region on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Photos and creatives showcasing the beautiful New Zealand birds, Karamea wildlife, and the spirit of Karamea. KARAMEA wild ... is a personal photo album and an outlet for an endless collection of images that this shutterbug is addicted to snapping. This is not about photography, neither myself nor my cameras are professional in any way, any half decent shots you may see here are down to the luck of circumstance in the moment. This is more about sharing a lifelong habit of snapping moments around me and my great love of the Karamea district and all the wild wonder that it holds. The term 'album' is also used in the loosest sense as I have lost control of the number and categories and images, years have passed by in my attempts to organise them and all I have is thousands more images.... so I have given up and here throw them at you in whatever fashion they fall on that day. I share just to share, with no objective, I am delighted if someone else enjoys to see some of the world I see. I do hope for those that live in Karamea some of these images may remind them of the treasures that we have here, and for those who have not yet discovered Karamea, I wish that joy for you in the future. ::This site is always under development and can change without notice. Social media You can see the most recent captures from Karamea wild on some social media platforms (yes, just the ol fuddy duddy ones, I am somewhat technically challenged). Follow us on Instagram #wix @karameawild Load more Albumns These Galleries are a collection of favourites ... Scenes of wonder Karamea district holds a million scenes and different times of day and times of year make a million more, it is not possible to capture all that Karamea has to offer, for this amateur happy snapper it is a paradise of light and promise. The Crablands Otomahana on the low :: Click once to just look at these and move them around, or double click to open the fullscreen views :: 100 Scenes from 1 spot Trees of change Oh the colours! Colours of nature are extraordinary and so often do not stand out from the surrounding environment. It has always amazed that a flock of red and yellow and green birds can be flying around a drab brown field of dry grass and hardly be visible. The colours around us are amazing, but you can only appreciate if when you can get a really close look or pause the movement for a moment, or when the whole sky is lit up with it. Winged wonderland Karamea is a bird lovers wonderland. To the uninterested it might look like a block of pretty pastureland but to those high on twitching, it has to be one of the best regions in the country, such a range of environments in short distances and ease of access and observation. The Littles ! The 'Littles' are the smallest residents of Karamea, the tiny beings who live busy, unnoticed lives, all around us. These Littles are often misunderstood, sometimes feared and most frequently ignored. But when you stop and look closely, they turn out to be skilled engineers, patient hunters, tireless cleaners and excellent parents, just doing their best in a complicated world. If you think you don't like insects, that is okay, you don't have to love them.... but just take a moment to meet some of them. Whiskers on Kittens Layers new layers highlighted or made by mist or shadows, reflections, reflections of land in sky, slate blue sky, slate blue/grey sky with white clouds, sunsets when the sky is still blue, light that makes visible what is normally not visible, sunlight on storm clouds... .....to name just a few. Webs of weirdos Fungi are weird, that is all there is to it. They are classified scientifically into a realm of their own because they are not plant nor animal. Not only do some of their chemical properties hold boundless possibilities for the human mind and wellbeing; the way they operate in nature and communicate with each other and the environment around them is still one of the great mysteries of the natural world. Fungi are weird and fascinating, if you are interested in fungi, a whole universe of discovery awaits. :: Click once to just look at these and move them around, or double click to open the fullscreen views :: :: Click once to just look at these and move them around, or double click to open the fullscreen views :: :: Click once to just look at these and move them around, or double click to open the fullscreen views :: :: Click once to just look at these and move them around, or double click to open the fullscreen views :: Tracks of Green Dragons & Damsels Silky Gangsters The Beetle eetles The Visitors Karamea has a friendly climate, enough that visitors often stick around for quite some time, with enough space and resources that domestic visitors can survive on their own for long periods. Over the years we have had many visiting species, some are seen just once, some are seen for a few weeks or months, some keep coming back for short periods. You just never know who you are going to meet in Karamea! :: Click once to just look at these and move them around, or double click to open the fullscreen views :: Kaka for the night Goldie and the Weka Pacific traveller Y-front bandits Colours and colours of Fungi Berries galore! :: Click once to just look at these and move them around, or double click to open the fullscreen views :: Fluffies! Fluffies abound in Karamea, different seasons see an abundance of birdy reproduction, you just have to find it! There are many that breed here that don't feature in these albums, because they are very secretive, but every season brings new opportunities and possibilities to track them down, without too much disturbance. Sometimes it can take 2 or 3 seasons to figure out where they might be and how to capture them on film without disturbing their activities... and sometimes you just see them every day when you drive past... you just never know in Karamea. There is always life... just keep looking Contact Contact Karamea wild: Send Success! Message received.

Favourite Trees Karamea is a dairy farming region, so most of the flat land is cleared for agriculture, but here and there are some stands and individual trees that have been preserved in place. Some are special trees, some are popular with the wildlife, all have a unique style or presence that increases the value of their surroundings. .... in my eyes anyways

THE EDGES The Edge of the Karamea Bight is one endless beach, sectioned only by our four major rivers and countless creeks and streams. This edge zone is unpredictable, beautiful, has the best sunsets, and you just never know what wild scene or wildlife you will come across..

SPOONBILLS Royal Spoonbills are frequent visitors to Karamea, in fact they stay all year around except a small window when they leave for breeding. There are some 13 different breeding sites around the South Island for Royal Spoonbills.... but so far not Karamea, perhaps in the future... Small groups of spoonbills hang out inland on farmland and often out in the estuary and river mouth regions. I have seen them most often during wet weather periods or just after, particularly they seem to be more active in the winter. They are here in the summer, but they are fairly inactive and spend the bulk of the day hidden away, asleep, Groups that you see out and about may vary from 3 to 30. You are more likely to see them out and about at low tide where they can feed on the crabs and crawlies, but you may also see them around in the paddocks, particularly if it has been wet. It is always a thrill to see them.