Feb 2024 alert if anyone's wondering why my birds are so far away/heavily cropped, it's cause this happened: https://www.reddit.com/r/Nikon/comments/1aihzyy/300mm_f4_pf_self_destructed_aperture_blades_bent/

Jul 2024 alert the lens is repaired! Need some birds and lizards, pronto!

An enthusiast of New Zealand's flora and fauna, with a camera, living in Wellington but always travelling. Particularly like birds, geckos and skinks, orchids, moths and butterflies, then other flowering natives, fungi, and really just about anything. No formal expertise.

I like the idea of people actually making use of my photos, so have licensed them openly. Wouldn't turn down support to take me places, to take more photos (and so to make openly available more photos of more species). Could help on field trips, bioblitz's, etc.

Looking forward to a predator free NZ, including changes to societal attitudes around cats and dogs.

Backcaptured lizards, bugs, fungi, etc to early 2018 when I bought a macro lens, with a few more from 2017 sporadically backcaptured.

...

Photographic wishlist 2021 results:

• Corybas cryptanthus - SUCCESS! 20210901 - https://inaturalist.nz/observations/93238739
• Corybas dienemus - SUCCESS! 20211003 -https://inaturalist.nz/observations/96974768
• At least one of the Dr. Suessier species of Dracophyllum - SUCCESS 20210208: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/69407260
• Rosy Sundew - SUCCESS 20210208: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/69407198
• Red Mistletoe, flowering - SUCCESS 12/12/2021: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/103464789
• Notoreas perornata - SUCCESS 27, 28/02/2021: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/70303585
• something Metacrias - SUCCESS 31/12/2021: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/104094716
• Hit 400 moths - SUCCESS 18/12/2021: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/103518515 - makes 400th species identified, I think https://inaturalist.nz/observations/105254307 is my 400th research grade one.

Photographic wishlist 2022 results (noting that the 2022 year ends in Jan 2023 after my summer holiday. But also 2023 begins when you'd expect it to. No questions, I make the rules here):

• South Island Lichen Moth - SUCCESS 2023/01/05: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/147062003
• Katipō - SUCCESS 2022/07/02: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/124380498
• Forest Ringlet Butterfly - SUCCESS 2022/01/22/23: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/105489293
• Rockwren/pīwauwau - SUCCESS FINALLY OMG 2022/03/06: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/108099850
• Barking/Wellington Green Gecko - SUCCESS FINALLY OMG 2022/11/??: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/141352666
• Ornate Skink - SUCCESS 2022/09/10: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/134517983
• Get to 105 NZ orchid species - SUCCESS-ish 20221221: Pterostylis micromega observed for 99 named orchids on here: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/144979730; along with Corybas "Remutaka", "Pygmy", "Kaimai"; Thelymitra "Darkie", "Rough leaf", "Orange top"; Pterostylis "pulchragalea", "subsimilis ", I think it's safe-ish to call it. Goals for 2023 will be to deal to what I've missed, and get flowering shots of a few I've only seen as leaves
• White Mistletoe / Tupaia (Tupeia antarctica) - SUCCESS 2022/12/27: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/145298933
• Gray Noddy (Anous albivitta) - SUCCESS 2022/02/19: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/107367491

• at least three more skinks/geckos in addition to above
  -- +1 Eyres Skink 2022/01/07: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/104806854
  -- +1 Chatham Skink 2022/10/10: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/139595427
  -- SUCCESS +1 Shore Skink: 2022/10/16: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/140377698
  --- Stretch goal: another three geckos and skinks?
  -- + 1 Kōrero Gecko: 2022/12/28: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/145481959
  -- + 1 Herbfield Skink (Crpytic Skink complex): 2022/12/28: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/145482262
  -- SUCCESS-ISH + 1 Cryptic Skink: 2022/12/30: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/145467882

• Pāua slug: SUCCESS 2022/12/22: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/145006806

• any nudibranch. But I'm not diving D: SUCCESS 2022/07/24: - two species:
  -- Phidiana milleri: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/127603893
  -- Wellington Nudibranch (Doris wellingtonensis): https://inaturalist.nz/observations/127603894

• Montigena novae-zelandiae - SUCCESS 2023/01/07 (though getting it flowering in the future would be nice): https://inaturalist.nz/observations/147384283

• hit 500 moths and butterflies: SUCCESS 2022/04/10 with an iNat first for Pseudocoremia foxi: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/111912013
  including specific moths:
  -- Doxophyrtis hydrocosma: semi-success 2022/04/10: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/110948511; SUCCESS 2022/09/16: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/136087759
  -- Zealandopterix zonodoxa: SUCCESS 2022/12/22-23: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/145028146
  -- Lysiphragma mixochlora: SUCCESS 2022/11/25: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/142894219 - just look at this sneaky moth
  --- Stretch goal 600 moths and butterflies: SUCCESS? - a shaky 600 (534 RG) with a possible Scoparia pura: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/146671813

• Hutton's Speargrass Weevil - SUCCESS 2023/09/09: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/182854368

Photographic wishlist 2023 results:

• Specific moths:
  -- Protosynaema steropucha - FAIL
  -- Maoritenes cyclobathra - FAIL
  -- Meterana exquisita (I'll get you this year!!) - SUCCESS 2023/10/10: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/188651666
  --- MORE SUCCESS: even better one in the North Island too 2023/12/30: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/195892102
  -- Meterana pauca - FAIL
  -- Meterana grandiosa - FAIL. Try next year.

• Corybas confusus - will definitely head up Mount Arthur in Nov this year - SUCCESS 2023/11/05: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/190472765

• At least six more Myosotis (Forget-me-nots)
  --- 2023/01/01 - Myosotis SP Livingstone: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/145564148
  --- 2023/01/06 - Myosotis colensoi [not flowering :( ]: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/147382144
  --- 2023/01/08 - Myosotis traversii: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/147501686
  --- 2023/03/06 - Myosotis pulvinaris: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/150919101
  --- 2023/10/11 - Myosotis brevis: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/187347387
  --- SUCCESS! 2023/12/27 - Myosotis rakiura: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/196193366

• 700 moths and butterflies - DODGY SUCCESS 2023/11/16: hit 700 inclusive of non-RG with an overnight trek from Lyttelton to Christchurch, picking up Ichneutica unica (https://inaturalist.nz/observations/191567036) and Sabatinca aenea (https://inaturalist.nz/observations/191565962)

• At least three new geckos
  --- 2023/10/12 - Schist Gecko (Woodworthia central otago): https://inaturalist.nz/observations/187553814
  --- FAIL. Lots of skinks, barely any geckos.

• Tuatara Tick (Archaeocroton sphenodonti): SUCCESS 2023/02/06: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/148171529 - not very difficult, they're just obvious once you're looking
• Elephant Weevil (Rhynchodes ursus) - SUCCESS 2023/02/27: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/149892382
• Kākahi - HALF POINTS 2023/07/14 - Plenty of shells at Lake Wairarapa. Will need to get in the water for a live one: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/173148272
• Invertebrate iridescent virus 31: SUCCESS 2023/05/01: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/159260575
• Nikau Weevil (Arecocryptus bellus): SUCCESS 2023/04/01: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/153026154
• Egg-laying Skink (Oligosoma suteri): SUCCESS 2023/12/04: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/193024633
• Maotoweta virescens: SUCCESS 20231203: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/190988247 - But an unsatisfactory success, since it was a tiny tiny nymph. What I wanted was a green wētā!

Photographic wishlist 2024

Unsuccessful/rollovers to 2024 (some of these becoming rather long term!):

• either bat
• a native frog [will hopefully get to the Coromandel this year!]
• Thismia [will try Mount Pirongia for sure this year!]
• New Zealand Mole Cricket (Triamescaptor aotea)
• Runcina katipoides
• Bluff Wētā
• Aciphylla hookeri

Specific moths:
-- Meterana grandiosa [could try National Park in winter since I found Meterana exquisita there] - SUCCESS!!!! 2024-06-02: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/219976197
-- Meterana pauca - SUCCESS!!! 2024-01-17: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/196971415
-- Meterana tartarea [need to go up a mountain circa April] - FAIL: investigated a lot of Wellington Region and Central North Island shrublands but nope.
-- Protosynaema steropucha - SUCCESS! 2024-02-07: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/198561374
-- Maoritenes cyclobathra - SUCCESS! 2024-03-31: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/204881244
-- a Vinicia saltmarsh moth
-- Sabulopteryx botanica - SUCCESS! (well, still want the adult though) 2024-06-23: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/224601773
-- Eumetriochroa aethalota - SUCCESS! (Mines only though) 2024-06-26: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/226125190
-- Raukaua Leaf Miner Moth (Eumetriochroa panacivermiforma) - SUCCESS! (Mines only though) 2024-07-26: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/231784437
-- Eumetriochroa aellomacha - SUCCESS! (Mines only though) 2024-07-26: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/231784439
-- Ichneutica peridotea - SUCCESS! 2024-07-20: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/230468994
-- Ichneutica dundastica

• Of course, get to 800 Butterflies and Moths!
• Red Bearded Orchid (Calochilus paludosus)
• Bulbophyllum tuberculatum - SUCCESS! 2024-04-21: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/208466940
• Algidia viridata
• Scree Lobelia (Lobelia roughii)
• Acropsopilio neozelandiae
• Pretzel Slime Mold (Hemitrichia serpula)
• Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus) - just need to do a Whangaehu recce next time someone's going to Whanganui
• Mokomoko a Tohu (Hoplodactylus tohu) - one of the few things on Mana Island I have yet to see!

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