top of page
Search

Wildlife
Encounters with the local birds, insects and other wildlife to be found in the garden and the surrounds.


Hunting the hornet: Vespa velutina, the yellow-legged hornet
Yellow-legged hornets, Vespa velutina, have been found nearby and I try more traps and recipes for wasp capture
18 hours ago2 min read


New barrel pond with NZ natives
I make a barrel pond with New Zealand native pond plants and there are already visitors!
4 days ago6 min read


The birds in the garden and just beyond
Birkenhead's birdlife is flourishing. Each garden has something to offer, which makes for great birdwatching
Sep 295 min read


Butterfly predators: Praying mantis
All praying mantis eat butterflies, but South African mantis also eat New Zealand mantis. This means war.
Aug 243 min read


What's going on at night?
A new trail camera helps me uncover the answers to the garden's great mysteries
Aug 32 min read


Tales from the garden: Kaka
A kaka comes to visit on Matariki and we watch it foraging for wood boring insects
Jul 53 min read


What, no wētā?
I look for wētā at night, but find spiders instead. Google helps me figure out why.
Jun 13 min read


Come on the blues!
A Rotorua visit proves that the common blue butterfly is indeed common. I enjoy seeing them in every direction.
Apr 242 min read


Tales from the Garden: Dragonfly surprises
My first experiences of dragonflies in the new Auckland garden, but it all starts with an unusual butterfly sighting.
Apr 22 min read


Water for wildlife
Every wildlife garden needs water, but its going to take a lot more work until I get it right.
Mar 23 min read


Tales from the garden: Cicadas
It's February and there are cicadas everywhere! Their songs are definitely the sound of summer!
Feb 233 min read


Tales from the garden: Stick insect
I see a stick insect for only the second time and hope it won't be as long until the next sighting.
Jan 252 min read


Tales from the Garden: Tui Nest
A tui nest is discovered in the garden and we watch them grow to fledglings
Jan 62 min read
bottom of page

