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 ..

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.

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 M O T H S One is not going to pretend to know anything about Moths, this will be a discovery as much for me as for you, and if you know more, please feel free to share. For the moment this page is just for record, Moths I have seen here around Karamea. As time permits for research or interesting finds require, more information will be added.... for now, this is heaps!

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.

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, and purple! Brown ones, big and small Puffy ones! White ones! Yellow ones! Pinky / Orangey ones! Blackish ones! Those cute little bird nest ones...

FALCON Karamea has a varied environment from mountains to the sea, where our native Falcon, Karearea, has a wide choice of abundant prey. Sightings of Falcon can be frequent at some times and very infrequent at others. Most of my sightings have been during or after a hunt; after the Falcon has caught their prey they concentrate on eating it only and you are able to watch them for quite some time. In most cases they are unconcerned to have observers as long as you are quiet you can watch them. It is always a thrill to see one, to get a good photo is still quite a rare event.

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...

The Beetle eetles Beetles so far.... Beetles are actually not that common, amongst all the insects you might come across, Beetles will be the least of them, but they are fascinating critters. Ladybirds are beetles too! These Manuka Beetles are my favourite They are so green! Green Manuka beetle close up, showing off all his fluffiness and inside his wings as he takes off.

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.

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.

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.