Thread: Healthy bush

Righto, I should be still in the bush chasing stags. But its wet, drowning wet, and rather than float out I figured an easy walk out was a more prudent idea.
One observation I did make though was where we went (Mid eastern Ruahines,) the place as alive. Yawn you say, but rather than the usual deer here, bird there stuff it was cool to see and hear all the life there was. We had a profusion of frogs around camp. Little green fellas with not much fear. Birds of all shapes and sizes. Waxeye's, Tui's and Bellbird's and Im sure the crashing around in the canopy were a few pigeons with Shining Cuckoo and their telltale downwards whistle to boot. Morepork would call each other through the night (when you could hear them over the rain) and Im hopeful it was actually a kiwi I heard on our first night. Sounded right but Im no ornithologist (Morepork and Brown Kiwi I understand have a similar call). The rain also bought out big ass worms and the ugliest things like Tiger Slugs on the trails. To complement our natives, there was trout in the creek (and I bet a few eels) plus the occasional non committal stag.
I suppose its maybe an ageing thing, bit more observant? or a need to declutter a busy (mostly with bullshit) mind? but it would have to be one of the best ways to relax. Putting a few miles on Shanks' pony. Would have been nice to put something on the deck too but that was far from necessary.


I thought this guy might be a native but it looks less likely now. Only small at around 25mm long for the largest frogs (bum to nose). Looks lie a Green and Gold Bell frog, but too small?

The only thing that ruined it was some bugger would try and start a chainsaw most nights in our camp. Must have flooded it or had a rooted carb as he never got it to go!

Excellent KJ

Hi KJ

Great post.

Having just come out of Leithen a DOC block in northern southland I also noticed a profusion of Birds, way more than I have noticed at Waikaia and also in the Blue Mountains, both of which are relatively close as the crow flies.

Didn't notice slugs frogs or trout. maybe something to do with the Beech flowering this year?

Cheers

Dino

I guess the rain will have bought on a bit more insect life and birds will follow this up. The frogs were hard case and they will be a ground frog at a guess so bugs for their dinner too.
Forgot to put the mobs of Fantail we saw too. I like Piwakawaka (their Maori name). It suits them well. As does Ruru.

Nice post KJ, always great to see native's when your out in the bush....got to about 1 meter of a morepork last year whilst hunting....real cool

Cool to see man, Pointer and I encounted a frog in the bush a weekend ago. Miles from the ponds and lakes around us.
The little guy may be a male, there are considerably smaller than the big female frogs.

nothing quite like a healthy bush that's nice and wet

Originally Posted by kiwi39

nothing quite like a healthy bush that's nice and wet

Hmmm innuendo?

Originally Posted by Rushy

Hmmm innuendo?

was I too subtle AGAIN !! ??

Originally Posted by kiwi39

nothing quite like a healthy bush that's nice and wet

Jaysus that took a while. I was expecting the "bush" bit too difficult for most to overlook for any length of time.

Good to see KJ, i have a bit of a soft spot for the old frog too actually, when i was a kid i had a few of them as pets for a few years. There use to be heaps of those Green and gold buggers around in pretty much any old pond, but they have been on the decline bigtime for ages now. I believe the use of fertaliser and the run off into the waterways causes them some grief.

You'd be glad your out James the mak is bank two bank today
Thanks for making it rain


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Originally Posted by GWH

Good to see KJ, i have a bit of a soft spot for the old frog too actually, when i was a kid i had a few of them as pets for a few years. There use to be heaps of those Green and gold buggers around in pretty much any old pond, but they have been on the decline bigtime for ages now. I believe the use of fertaliser and the run off into the waterways causes them some grief.

Supposedly frogs are a very good measure of environmental health. More frogs = healthy eco system. No frogs = problems.
Glad this little patch was on the right side of the ledger.

Originally Posted by BRADS

You'd be glad your out James the mak is bank two bank today
Thanks for making it rain


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My pleasure?
I'm glad I took good advice and moved out while we had a chance.

Good thread kiwijames,the head waters are getting a dumping.