#25 - Flora, Fauna, and Fitness

New Zealand is a land of much flora and fauna.  We had the opportunity to experience some of this without even leaving our cottage.  Most mornings we woke up to the sound of various song birds chirping away.  I loved it!

Jeff, who prefers to sleep in, wanted to shoot them.

There was one bird in particular that we saw from time to time in our yard. The Kiwis don’t think much of it since it is here as a result of an Australian woman who released several of these which in turn multiplied and reduced the amount of food available to the “real” NZ (indigenous) birds.

But it is a stunningly colorful parakeet called the Eastern Rosella.  I have some great pictures of it on my camera (you know, the device that won’t transfer pictures to my iPhone so I can’t post).  But I found this picture of it online so you can get an idea of just how pretty it is.  The tail is almost as long as the rest of the body.

Up to 25 different calls have been described for the Eastern Rosella. (Again explaining why Jeff wanted to shoot it).

There was a lovely garden just outside our door which attracted Monarch butterflies.  Our landlord also had an herb garden from which we could pick fresh herbs and there were a couple of gardenia bushes that were blooming.

Our cottage was just across from the beach and although we couldn’t actually see the water from our windows, we could see it from the end of our driveway.  And a three minute walk would place us on the sand.  So of course, I checked out the beach thinking an early morning swim would be a nice way to start the day.  My first clue that this wasn’t going to happen was when I saw icicles washing up on the shore. Well, not literally, but the people coming out of the water were a lovely shade of blue.  So, being a brave woman, I took off my shoes and dangled one toe in the water.  Only one.  I then went home, took a hot shower and made a cup of hot tea.

            The mountain in the background is Rangitoto, one of 48 volcanoes in the Auckland area

                                            View of Auckland from downtown Devonport

Am limited as to how many photos I can post in one blog, so will continue in next segment.