Exploring local nature (Christchurch, Aotearoa).
Kaituna Valley Reserve is a remnant of lowland forest, on Banks Peninsula. The site is only about 6 ha in size, but has some impressive native trees, and is adjacent to a stream as well. Below is some of what we saw. Animalia Birds (Class Aves) New Zealand Fantail There is a fantail in the... Continue Reading →
On the 20th of August (2018) we went to Bottle Lake Forest again, but this time we looked at an area of wetland. There were a surprising number of small animals in the water. (The yellow specks in many of the photos are pollen, which was prolific.) https://vimeo.com/286720322 Animals Ostracod / Seed shrimp Daphnia /... Continue Reading →
In March (2018) we explored some grassland, rocky outcrops and bush, in the vicinity of Mitchells track, on the Port Hills. One of the most intriguing things we saw was an anemone stinkhorn fungus. Some people out walking told us about it, and sure enough, we found it just beside the track, under the forest... Continue Reading →
In June we visited Scott Scenic Reserve, on the Port Hills. We mainly looked at a rock outcrop in the grassland, then went along a track through exotic forest. The rock outcrop turned out to be prime slater and lady beetle habitat. We found several other creatures in the area as well. The rock outcrop... Continue Reading →
In May, we had another enjoyable trip to McLeans Forest. SP has also written a trip report see here. Our previous trips to the site (last year, 2016) are summarised here and here. This site is planted in pines, and very stony. As well as a general explore, we set up two 0.5m2 quadrats in the grassland and... Continue Reading →
We had another trip to McLeans Forest - see here for our previous report. As well as forest there are areas of dry grassland at the site, which have interesting assemblages of lichens, mosses and other small plants. Animals In some rotting tree trunks there was a longhorn beetle and some millipedes. Under a... Continue Reading →
This week we explored under the pine trees at McLeans Forest, which is next to the Waimakariri River. The ground was very up and down, and the soil very stony. At first it looks fairly bare under the trees, but actually there was a lot of life to see. We saw fungi, lichens, slime mold, mosses,... Continue Reading →
In the latest Critter Club, we played a game where we made huts and traded natural materials. This is a great way to start looking, and we found a lot of stuff. Here is a photo of one of the huts: It was very fun. And a great game to play. Bai! CM
We visited Travis Wetland this week, focusing on the area around the Bird Hide. We did some pond-dipping in the waterway, and searched under the canopy in the planted forest area near the hide. Clockwise from top left: Nursery web spider (Dolomedes minor) and one of their nursery webs, giant willow aphid (Tuberolachnus salignus), Cosmopolitan... Continue Reading →
Critter Club - Journal 