What
Azeda (Oxalis latifolia)Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
This is a specimen pulled out of our vegetable garden. Note the tap roots and the new bulbs which is what probably makes it a such a successful weed.
Fotos / Sons
Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
I didn't get a photo but I know a fantail when I see one! This is the second time it was seen within a few days. It may be resident? I have a vague recollection of seeing one here about a year ago.
This location is in Christchurch suburbia. I don't know from where the bird would have travelled.
We have established our decorative gardens as exclusively native. It this attracting the fantail? Does it spot the oasis of native plants amongst the predominately exotic species in the area? Are the native plants attracting the sort of insects that the fantail like to prey upon?
ADDENDUM: A second one turned up three weeks later. It was one of the black ones. Subspecies?
Fotos / Sons
What
Pato-Do-Paraíso (Tadorna variegata)Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
It is unusual for me to see Paradise Shelducks in the central city but apparently they are sometimes seen. It was a pair (as usual) on the footpath next to what is now a grassed area. The Avon River is a few hundred metres to the north of where I sighted the shelducks. They seemed unperturbed by the rush hour traffic.
What
Moluscos (Filo Mollusca)Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
These shells fragments (presumably of marine origin) are on top on Adams Hill at a height of 401 metres asl and about two kilometres from the coastline.
I think they got here by being transported by gulls. One of the behaviours of gulls is to drop molluscs from height in order to break them open and feed on the flesh. It seems that gulls have not figured out the physics behind the density of materials!
Fotos / Sons
Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
These photos are from a roadside infestation of Convulvulus on State Highway 25 near the town of Waitakaruru. There are long stretches of the roadside on the Huaraki Plains that have this invasive species.
What
Cordyline australisObservador
alan_lieftingDescrição
The cabbage tree in the foreground had the protection cage missing resulting in browsing by hares or rabbits. Compare it to the size of the one in the background. Both were likely to have been planted at the same time.
What
Berberis glaucocarpaObservador
alan_lieftingDescrição
This is alongside the road where I grew up. Barberry hedges are common in this part of the country. I am quite sure that there was no hedge at this particular location back in the 1970s. It is likely to have spread naturally and not likely to be planted. There is a well established barberry hedge on the other side of the road. The hedge in the picture has the appearance of being planted but is is more likely that the fence acts as a line where the seeds in bird droppings are more common and more likely to germinate.
What
Cordyline australisObservador
alan_lieftingDescrição
A cabbage tree (Cordyline australis) in a restoration planting that has been browsed by a hare or rabbit.
What
Pinheiros (Género Pinus)Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
Dead wilding pines, probably killed by drilling and injecting. The site is a little to the south of the junction of State Highway 5 and 30 at Whakarewarewa.
What
Pinheiros (Género Pinus)Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
Wilding pines, dead and alive viewed from below Nervous Knob on the Broken River ski-field. The wilding pines are self seeded from the now defunct NZ Forest Service plantings.
Beech (Nothofagus) is the dominant indigenous forest type in this area.
What
Hera (Hedera helix)Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
Yet another ivy on a cabbage tree. Look how high this prick of a plant has gone up the the cabbage tree! Gotta get it on the NPPA.
I don't know if the cabbage tree is suffering because of the ivy or other factors such as age. Some of the dead branches may have died prior to the 2011 earthquake.
Fotos / Sons
What
Lúpulo (Humulus lupulus)Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
This is a climber that I cannot identify. It is next to State Highway 6 a few kilometres from Kawatiri Junction. I am fairly sure that it is not native and it looks like it is pretty keen on the idea of spreading.
I notified DOC but did not get a reply.
What
Hera (Hedera helix)Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
Yet another example of ivy doing its best to smother a cabbage tree.
Fotos / Sons
What
Espinafre (Spinacia oleracea)Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) alongside the road at DOC Marfells Beach campsite. It is also along the beach itself. Note that this is the common vegetable species and not the native Tetragonia tetragonioides.
It is likely that someone planted a patch and it has then spread. Spinach is like a weed in our garden here in Christchurch. The Marfells beach site may be a similar climate and therefore it would have a similar fecundity.
What
Hera (Hedera helix)Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
Ivy (Hedera helix) climbing up cabbage trees (Cordyline australis) in Christchurch.
Ivy is commonly seen around the streets of Christchurch and given that is spreads quite freely it should be on the National Pest Plant Accord. I think I recall an attempt being made to have it added to the 2012 update.
What
Pinheiros (Género Pinus)Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
Dead wilding pines as seen from the interisland ferry.
What
Pinheiros (Género Pinus)Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
Wilding pines on Rhoboro Station. Photographed form the junction of State Highway 8 and 80.
What
Pinheiros (Género Pinus)Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
Dead pine trees on Arapawa Island. They have been drilled and injected with herbicide.
What
Paurocotylis pilaObservador
alan_lieftingDescrição
This fluorescent orange fungi was found under the plant at http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/960352
This is the view after I removed the lank exotic grasses during restoration planting maintenance.
Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
Can you spot the broadleaf? Yes, there it is in the middle of the photo completely overgrown with exotic grasses.
After releasing the plant it had a very spread out and sparsely leaved growth habit (as would be expected) rather than the more compact leafy form.
The plant is in a volunteer-planted area not far from Kennedys Bush on the Port Hills. It is retired farmland on Christchurch City Council administered land.
What
Gingidia montanaObservador
alan_lieftingDescrição
This plant is next to the Cass Lagoon track somewhere down from the Lagoon Saddle shelter and under the beech forest canopy. I thought someone had dropped some sort of Apiaceae family seeds out of their scroggin but it is more likely to be one of our alpine carrots (albeit deciding to grow in a more sheltered locale).
It is hard to see on this photo but it has a couple of seeded flower heads.
What
Lesma-Amarela (Limacus flavus)Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
We have slugs that come up though the gaps in the floor of our house. (Am waiting for quake repairs to finish the DIY projects.) They come out at night and have quite the party leaving slug trails all over the place!
The picture is of one behind the bathroom door on its way home at 8am. Sorry about the dust! We keep on forgetting to clean there.
I think it is one of the native slugs. When moving this specimen is 80mm long. We also have them in the laundry and for a while they were feeding and living in our pantry. The cheek of those damn free-loading molluscs!
Fotos / Sons
What
Melífago-Maori (Anthornis melanura)Observador
alan_lieftingDescrição
I heard the wonderful sound of a bellbird at 8 am on the way to work. Of course it could have been that other avian songster the tui but I got a positive id of a plump looking bellbird.
It was feeding in a tree that looked like one of the Australia bottlebrushes and was right above the footpath. It was good to see the bellbird in the middle of Christchurch suburbia and a long way from any substantial stands of native vegetation. I am not sure if this sighting is particularly unusual.
Fotos / Sons
What
Urtica perconfusaObservador
alan_lieftingDescrição
A number of healthy looking bushes along the eastern arm (western bank) of Horseshoe Lake.
Fotos / Sons
What
Género PlatycercusObservador
alan_lieftingDescrição
Alighted in a tree and flew past later. The bird is predominately green. Did not get to photograph it or see it closely enough to identify the species.