The Damsels Karamea is blessed with a great many fresh waterways which are the first home of our Damselflies. A female damselfly will lay her eggs in or near water, when they hatch they are little wingless larvae or nymphs. The nymphs live in the waterways, ponds, bogs or swamps, crawling around, preying on other small insects such as water fleas and mosquito larvae, they are known to be quite fierce predators at this level. Some species can live in this stage, gradually increasing in size through multiple moults (shedding their exoskeleton) for a few months and some take a few years. At the final stage of growth when they emerge out of the water or dampness their wings will be open up. In this form, probably the most familiar to us, they spend the shortest part of their life, just a few weeks to a few months. As adults they are still predatory and will prey on small bugs and moths and other flying insects also. New Zealand seems to have just 4 native species, although there seem to be many variations.

BITTERN The Australasian Bittern is declining with less than 2000 thought to exist globally. In New Zealand we may have as many as 1000, here in Karamea we have a few, perhaps just 2 or 3, perhaps a few more, no one is sure. But we do know we are amongst the privileged few who may see a Bittern when we leave home in the morning. These photos of Bittern are all taken in areas within a 10km radius of the township..... a couple of them right in the middle of the township!

Our Little Shags, or Kawau paka, are the smallest of our Shags or Cormorants. They are most often seen alone, sitting on a rock on the edge of the estuary or fishing near the gulls in the river, or on Shag log at the Kohaihai river mouth, or even on a fence post in the middle of a paddock. They are quite shy but if you are quiet and don't approach them directly they may tolerate your presence for a short period of time. They seem to be quite stubborn and determined little birds and will not give up a good fishing spot or sunbathing spot for anyone, not human nor larger Shag nor even a group of larger Shags. An interesting trait of Little Shags are their colour variations, always black and white but sometimes just their face/cheeks, sometimes their whole face, sometimes their whole chest, sometimes all black. Literature says that different morphs are more common in some areas than others, here in Karamea either or seem to be equally likely. These photos below are of a nest on the Kohaihai river, this was a total thrill to find and so exciting to see these weird little baby aliens from juveniles to adults. As they got older they still retained their full black plummage, making them look like a different species..... at what stage they gained white facial or body plumage, I am still to observe.

BLACKWATER The Black Water probably doesn't get a mention in the pamphlets, because it is a man made drain. Created whilst the draining of the Kongahu swamp was underway, it persists today draining all the run off from the Wangapeka terrace. I love the layers and colours in and around this 'drain' , it is ever changing, pallettes to die for, and the critters like it too. It is an outrageously sourced agricultural drain, but provides an endless variety of scenery and potential wildlife sightings.

Our Treasure Karamea is a unique place and our wild places and wildlife are our best assets. I love taking photos and Karamea provides endless opportunity to capture something new or rare or beautiful. It is difficult to know whether to share or keep it a secret, but ultimately I think only if something is known can it be treasured and protected,

KOHAIHAI The Kohaihai river marks the northern edge of Karamea and is the southern starting point of the Heaphy track through Kahurangi National Park. It is an extraordinary environment of beach and mountains, river, bush and wildlife, one never knows what one might see there...

What is Karamea wild? what is it for? how did it get started? A message from the shutterbug who runs it. I love Karamea, the peace, the quiet, the wild and the wild things; I choose to believe there is not a more diverse or beautiful place in all of New Zealand. The photos on this site illustrate that. I am an amateur shutterbug, it is one of my addictions. I started this site because I had thousands of photos and nothing to do with them. All photos are taken by myself during every day activities around Karamea, often from the car, or on discovery walks around my favourite wildlife spots. I have no particular affinity for native or non-native, so here you will find photos of anything that appealed in the moment. Sometimes I have creative spasms and I play around with the graphics, I might post some of these digital art (DA) shots occasionally. I hope if you live here that this site will remind you of the treasures we have and how important it is that we appreciate and protect them. If you have not discovered Karamea yet, I wish that joy for you in the future. Mudd I love Karamea

KOTUKU White Heron or Kotuku are so often seen around New Zealand (and around Karamea) that we can forget how few there are. Whilst they are reasonably abundant worldwide, it is astounding to find out that we have less than 200 White Heron in the entire country. So the frequent times I get to share space with one of them here in Karamea have become even more cherished.

DRAMA IN THE SKY There are days when the sky can hold as much excitement and drama and drama in colour and light and life, even as much as the bush or the riverbank. You have to remember to look up, as well as under, you might see something amazing.

Landmark Trees Karamea is a essentially dairy farming region, so most of the flat land is cleared for agriculture, but its a little 'West Coast' and there are many strips of nature left through the agricultural areas and many trees planted by the settlers still remain. Some of these groves and individual trees are quite stunning lifeforms and are known landmarks around the district. This is gallery of these such trees..... and also some trees that I just think are beautiful or awesome in some way 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 LITTLES .. If you have been or lived in warmer climes, you could be tempted to think that the wildlife in NZ is a little sparse, but you would be wrong. Have you not seen the birds!? and if you just take the time to look a little closer, you will see a micro world of wildlife that is extraordinary, beautiful and abundant. Look Closer...

BLACK TEAL One windy choppy day I am looking out over the Flagstaff estuary, looking for interesting clouds because there definitely won't be any birds around in this weather. But out in the middle I saw a flock of something moving back and forth across the estuary, as I got a closer look I saw they were black teal. I have never seen them here before, or since.