Photos / Sounds
What
Australasian Green Shield Bug (Glaucias amyoti)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Not sure what these are....
Photos / Sounds
What
Matuku (Egretta novaehollandiae ssp. novaehollandiae)Observer
dalnzlDescription
On returning to the same site as 25Sep2022, (https://inaturalist.nz/observations/136722630) no parents around, but at least one kid was in the nest.
Photos / Sounds
What
Australian Winged Wētā (Genus Pterapotrechus)Observer
dalnzlDescription
My son surprised me with this weta that had wings this avo'...checked several times to make sure I wasnt seeing things!
Definitely looking like a weta, but with wings?
What he found was probably one of the 2 I had killed a night or two ago thinking they were American cockroaches (being perched in our muehlenbeckia astonii with hindsight I suppose I should have had a closer look).
Glad our NZ tree wetas havent learnt to fly yet. Imagine that!
Photos / Sounds
What
Matuku (Egretta novaehollandiae ssp. novaehollandiae)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Same one perhaps as the observation from July 2017 (@derekcraig)?
Same park location.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/7072189
I was alerted to bird's presence by that "GOW GOW GOW" croaking noise, and a kind of bush-crashing noise up in the canopy of a very tall pohutukawa (near the GreySt footpath, approx opposite 29GreySt)
At 12 seconds in on Track 3 that noise is pretty faithfully captured.
https://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/white-faced-heron#bird-sounds
Photos / Sounds
What
Persian Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Another pretty exotic near the Cornwall Park Cafe.
Photos / Sounds
What
Strawberry Dogwood (Cornus capitata)Observer
dalnzlDescription
These are always prettty both in flower and in fruiting. I'm not much into exotics, but I can still appreciate this dogwood's form!
Photos / Sounds
What
Snow-in-Summer (Melaleuca linariifolia)Observer
dalnzlDescription
I've seen this speciment flowering off and on over the past few years along Campbell Road. But this year they were looking particularly splendid.
This is probably best example of about 10 specimens planted in the berms located along the stretch of Campbell Rd bounded by the RoyalOak roundabout and Mariri Rd (southern-side of Campbell Rd only, all planted by the council of the time I can only suppose)
Located just outside 75 CampbellRd, opposite 58 Campbell Rd.
Quick to flower and drop - they were only on show for about 2 weeks this year.
Photos / Sounds
What
Weeping-Grass (Microlaena stipoides)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Found a small field of this species in (what I call) the Cornwall park "Titoki Grove". While it might have started with an original planting, it certainly isn't now with the species looking like it's well and truly holding its own against the surrounding kikuyu and rye grasses.
I've tried to define the GPS location accuracy reflect the approximate extent of the field.
What
Weeping-Grass (Microlaena stipoides)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Cornwall Park has added a wee natives garden bed, including a few specimens of this grass around it's outside border.
Quite different seeing such speciments of this grass presented as "singles" like this.
Photos / Sounds
What
Kiekie (Freycinetia banksii)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Pruned off this rat-chewed fruit from the kiekie set near the Cornwall Park Info Centre for some dissection purposes. I've been trying to figure out what the seeds look like. Are they simply those 00's of little brown flecks inside. The specimen(s) at CWP all seem to be female so I'm supposing these are all sterile seeds (if that's what they are).
The specimen-set overall is more in flowering mode than fruit setting or development mode.
Photos / Sounds
What
Ramarama (Lophomyrtus bullata)Observer
dalnzlDescription
On a small RamaRama in/near Royal Oak Onehunga. Near front carpark entrance to school off Trafalgar Rd.
Photos / Sounds
What
Australian Bag Moth (Cebysa leucotelus)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Was hanging around in the back yard.
Photos / Sounds
What
Three Kings Trumpet Vine (Tecomanthe speciosa)Observer
dalnzlDescription
I've been waiting for this planting of this vine to reach the "top" of the EMA CarPark Building in Grafton for years. I think it made it to the bottom rail of the 5th floor last year (2019) and this year has managed to clear the top posts. Has been flowering profusely over the years too, makes quite the spectacle when you check out the flowers from the lower levels of the car park.
Photos / Sounds
What
Crimson Rātā (Metrosideros carminea)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Definitely a Crimson Rata. This specimen sparked a bit of discussion and investigation trying to figure out if a Crimson or a Scarlett Rata. The deciding factor was whether it would flower in April or September - and it's definitely September.
See observation for discussion on this from back in March2020.
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/39899088
Photos / Sounds
What
Auckland Tree Weta (Hemideina thoracica)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Found this rather feisty young man on me while cleaning out the front gardens. Must have dropped onto me somehow. He objected somewhat to being plucked off my arm but it had to be done quick. They run up your sleeve real-fast!
I didn't quite get a good enough grasp on this one initially to stop him getting his jaws around my finger tho' - the pressure was getting up there shall we say. So I let him bite on a stick for a bit while I figured out a better place to put him!
Photos / Sounds
What
Pomegranate (Punica granatum)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Have been watching these fruit fill out since they were flowering back in Nov2019, and now the new flowers are out?! Odd, pretty, but odd. Fruit are NOT ready for (ahem) "research purposes" in case you are thinking about it....
Photos / Sounds
What
Fried-egg Flower (Oncoba spinosa)Observer
dalnzlDescription
This specimen still holding onto its fruit that were setting on my last observation. But now the "fried egg" flowers are out. Pretty, and no wonder it's called the Fried Egg plant!
Photos / Sounds
What
Trifoliate Orange (Citrus trifoliata)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Found this specimen fruiting away like crazy under the Rata Moheau canopy and behind a big Holly plant. The thorns on that plant bigger than the fruit - very gnarly.
Photos / Sounds
What
Crimson Rātā (Metrosideros carminea)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Updated observation on this specimen - starting to zero in on it being a Scarlett Rata, first pic shows developing flower buds, and with flowering in April for the Scarlett Rata that seems to be on track. Will post an update in April.
Photos / Sounds
What
Crimson Rātā (Metrosideros carminea)Observer
dalnzlDescription
I'm having trouble with id'ing this myrtle - anyone have any ideas? The oddest characteristic is the long flower stems with no apparent leaf formation - unless another characteristic is all the leaves fall off each flower-stem. Haven't seen it flower yet, but clearly flowers like a fury.
Photos / Sounds
What
Horse and Deer Flies (Family Tabanidae)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Found this green bug-eyed fly on our lime tree.
Rather distinctive to say the least, and certainly haven't seen anything like this before. Any assist appreciated.
Photos / Sounds
What
Cape Lance-Leaf (Metrosideros angustifolia)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Checking in on this specimen @StephenThorpe first posted on in 2017.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/9261868.
Budding up nicely at the moment, recent obs from SthAfrica have theirs flowering currently (20Jan) so quite likely these ones will "pop" open soon - in the next week or so my current guess.
The specimen isn't looking that flash, but currently surviving. Just over 2m tall, and nothing nasty obviously on it (eg no discernable trace of myrtle rust)
Located in the small (and rather quirky/interesting) garden behind the AKLUni Fale and AKLBizSchool.
Photos / Sounds
What
Forest Fever Tree (Anthocleista grandiflora)Observer
dalnzlDescription
i really don't know where to begin with this species. Looks vaguely like a large Pukanui (Meryta Sinclarii), but isn't. Being near a nursery I'm presuming it's been put there on purpose.
Vaguely fig-like in structure and REALLY tall - 10m off ground level perhaps.
Photos / Sounds
What
Elephant Ear Fig (Ficus auriculata)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Crazy looking fig, could only be planted here on purpose given it's positioning and size I reckon. Location is "public" if the gate is open.
I took a few of the fruits home (from off the ground), a bit squishy, a bit of research suggested they were edible - not YET they're not. Too hard, but recognisably fig-like inside.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
dalnzlDescription
Looks like this specimen has found it's way more or less by itself - nothing obvious to suggest it was planted to go with something to help as a trellis, so I'm not marking this one "captive" as yet. Tho' being in the grounds of an old nursery I might find it has been intetionally planted.
Photos / Sounds
What
Fried-egg Flower (Oncoba spinosa)Observer
dalnzlDescription
Found this growing near the AKLUni's Moehau, maddest looking fruit I've come across. Anyone know what it is. Skin is rock-hard, fairly soft-ish inside, vaguely pumpkin-kinda tasting?!
Photos / Sounds
What
Mallada basalisObserver
dalnzlDescription
This specimen flew into the office during the day. Body is about 15mm long.
Photos / Sounds
What
Apples (Genus Malus)Observer
dalnzlDescription
I do not know WHAT this is. I await the embarassment of finding out everyone else does! Tasty tho', verging on apple like, but sour. Pips/seeds inside kind of apple like with a pentagonal star like structure. Yellow on the inside, fruit are abt 10mm diameter.