What's inside a Godwit.

I've just come back from another stay at the wonderful Miranda Shorebird Centre where I was researching and gathering photographic material for my next show.

One time I was walking the path through the fennel forest when a skylark started singing high above. I tried to photograph it but it was a tricky subject against the pale sky. But in front of me was a good selection of the local plants, and I couldn't resist this bumblebee visiting these blue flowers. There's a ladybird there too, which I didn't see until I cropped the image. The more often I visit Miranda the more I see.

So much for the pretty picture. Next one is not really for a chocolate box. Just an advance warning for you.

This visit I caught the last two days of the Field Course, and took part in the cannon-netting (oystercatchers this time) and a Godwit dissection which I really wanted to see. This desire may sound gross, but I've always been fascinated by almost everything, dissections not excepted, but they are not often available.

This was a Godwit that had been injured, probably on the road, and had been kept in the freezer for this demonstration. (I hasten to add Godwits are not killed for this purpose!)

It was great to see all the bits and pieces, and especially learn how Godwits are adapted for their stupendously grueling journeys between New Zealand and Alaska twice a year. Among their adaptations is their ability to shrink down their digestive organs for the actual migration flights, to cut down on weight. They are not needed of course, as Godwits neither eat nor drink when flying long-distance, a fascinating fact by itself.

They also can lay down huge amounts of sub-cutaneous fat and this one, killed last February, already showed a thick layer under its chest. Godwits have been recorded carrying 55% of their body weight as fat, just before they fly north in the New Zealand autumn. This fat is their 'fuel tank' that they gradually use up on the journey.

Here you can see Jodi the veterinarian holding out the beautiful wing for us to see. I've decided to censor the bloody bits because I know not everyone is as fascinated in them as I am. But if you really want the unexpurgated version, email me, and I'll email it to you it in a brown paper wrapper.

Tomorrow: cannon netting, measuring and tagging Oystercatchers.

Thanks to Keith Woodley for the last image.

Peacock Moth

Last autumn I had this lovely visitor. What lovely eye spots gleaming in the light! Its latin name is Dasypodia, but it is known by a number of common names: Wattle Moth, Peacock Moth, Owl Moth, Moon Moth and Pepe Atua to the Maori. According to Andrew Crowe, it was known to the Maori by the odd one that blew across from Australia before the first wattle trees were planted in New Zealand, after which it became established. The caterpillars eat wattle (acacia) leaves. It's quite large at about 70 mm across.

What to do with leftover Christmas Mince

How to make a quick and yummy dessert in no time flat!

1. Roll out some flaky pastry* to about 3 mm (1/4 inch) thickness.

2. Cut out circles using a drinking glass or a cookie cutter.

3. Put a dollop (about a teaspoon) of Christmas mince in the centre of each one and smooth it out a bit but not right to the edges.

4. Brush some water on another circle.

5. Firmly pinch the two pastry circles together around the edges.

6. Cut three deepish knife cuts in the top of each one, brush with beaten egg or milk, and sprinkle with sugar.

7. Bake in a hottish oven (200ºC or 400ºF) for about ten minutes until golden.

These Flaky Mincies keep in a jar for ages, but are nicest eaten hotted up in an oven then doused with cream.

*I always buy mine. Flaky pastry takes ages to make and is really fiddly.

The Laughing Horse Award.

It is with much pleasure I announce that a great honour has been bestowed on this blog.

In the end-of-year Yorkshire Pudding Blog Award Ceremony held at the Pudding Towers in Sheffield, "The Last Visible Dog" was the joint recipient of Top New Zealand Blogger! Needless to say, I'm thrilled to bits, and although I was not able to attend the ceremony in person because of northern hemisphere travel disruptions and airport closures due to snow, I am proud to display my award here, and encourage you to read all about the ceremony at beefgravy.blogspot.com here.

The colours of Alaska from Google Earth

These beautiful satellite images of Alaska remind me of a cut and polished slice of some of the minerals in my collection .... or an abstract painting. Hmmm, now there's an idea ....

Virtual travel using Google Earth

I should be painting, but, well, I got side-tracked. I've just downloaded Google Earth and have been low-altitude flying, slowly (hot-air balloon?) over New Zealand. Then I decided to fly to Australia and ended up at Lord Howe Island. I'm in heaven. I don't know why really, I just absolutely love to see our Earth from above.

Horse Trekking in the Bay of Plenty

While Ann and Claire were staying with us, we decided to treat the girls to a horse-trek. As it was very settled weather, we chose Briar's Beach Trekking at Maketu, and highly recommend them. The trip was three hours and was professionally organised, interesting, and most importantly, fun!

First; get a helmet, You need one that fits so it will be safe and comfortable.

A short talk about the route the trail will take, and safety. The girls put on sunscreen and take drinking bottles in their saddlebags because the day is bright and clear.

Then they are paired with their mounts. Good care is taken to ensure the right horse for the level of experience of the rider.

Let's just adjust the length of these stirrup leathers...

...and this is how you hold the reins.

The girls already look as though they were raised in the saddle.

So off they go; through the gate, over the road,

and over the hill...

...over the lush farmland pasture ...

...but not too close to the edge although there's a great view down to the beach!

It's getting hot - time to get that jacket off.

And then down to the sand for a relaxing stroll along the beach. On the return leg the girls were shown how to rise to the trot and, if they wished, canter their horses.

And although they had sore bottoms for a few days, it was very much worth it!