3463. Travel Stories: New Zealand Mar 11 - 15, 2019

Mar 17, 2019
Some images of my travels in New Zealand




Mar 17, 2019. Wellington Day 2. Sunday.

Mar 16, 2019. Waimarama Heights to Wellington's Ascot Motor Lodge. Saturday.
Dinner at Burger Liqour. Traffic fine for speeding.
Beautiful sunrise at Waimarama Heights

Mar 15, 2019. Rotorua to Napier's 228 Waimarama Heights, Airbnb


Mar 14, 2019. Rotorua


Mar 13, 2019.


Mar 12, 2019. Auckland overnight


Mar 11, 2019 - Changi Airport, T3, To New Zealand, Premium Economy.
A380's ice-cracking sound in wing area
Bad roasted chicken rice.
Cabin service excellent. 

3462. Hamster has a ear canal tumour.

Lateral ear canal resection to remove this big tumour

3461. Photography tips. Black-naped Oriole greeted me, pair of kingfishers and small birds. Sun Mar 10, 2019

Mar 10, 2019

Not much variety of birds in this 2nd exercise area and I had seen all the species. Three black-naped Orioles called high up the tree outside my residence and flew away. On the way to the 2nd exercise area, an Oriole posed for me.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
The following setting is simple for any amateur photographer.
I use Canon DSLR EOS 80D, LENS EFS 18-200mm, Image stabiliser.
Setting:  P Mode, Autofocus, Single point focus, Drive mode High speed continuous
With above settings, just focus and shoot.

Adobe CC used to process the photos.


More different smaller birds seen. Images are below:

1.  Outside my house front. 3 or 4 black-naped Orioles were making loud calls, attracting my attention, but flew away fast before I could take decent photos.

On the way to the 2nd exercise area near a papaya tree, this Oriole appeared and posed for me!

Two smaller birds came by and I took quick photos of them. What species are they?

Further down the road, opposite the 2nd exercise area

The kingfisher's mate or friend showed up, hence I could take photos of a pair of kingfishers today.

The mate or friend would not stay long and flew away. No time to smell the roses.

 .

Alone again. He or she will perch for many minutes every day "ki-ki-ki" calling
sometimes perching on another branch or tree but never disappears unlike the other one

3459. A pair of kingfishers appeared together today. A rare sight. Fri Mar 8, 2019

Fri Mar 8, 2019

I decided to buy fruits from Fatty and left at 6.30am. He sold 28 Korean pears in a box for S$50.
Some 6 large sweet apples at $15

So I went to the 2nd exercise earlier at 7.45am today. Surprise appearance of 2 kingfishers on the tree. One appear to be mounting the other as I video this rare appearance of a pair. . The flightly one disappears.

Yesterday, a pair of pink-necked green pigeons were on a branch for several minutes (video) and today, a rare appearance of a pair of kingfishers for a minute or two. No more occasions.

3358. Kingfisher arrived late after the black-naped Oriole, Sat Mar 9, 2019

Sat Mar 9, 2019

Kingfisher arrived late after the black-naped Oriole, Sat Mar 9, 2019

As I reached the 2nd exercise area, the two trees were bare of birds. No kingfisher this time at around 8.15 am. "Can't expect the kingfisher to come every morning," I lamented as he had diligently been present for at least a week or so.

After a few minutes, a black-naped Oriole landed on the bare tree to my left. I took photos. Suddenly, the kingfisher rushed in and landed. I was able to capture him on the first video (below)! As if he was late for a very important appointment.

I continued photographing the Oriole. The kingfisher flew off to the tree on my right but I could not film him as I could not see him. He was there as I could hear his "ki-ki-ki" calls. (2nd video has no kingfisher).

3rd video showed the pair of pink-necked green pigeons again on the same tree as 2 days ago. The kingfisher remained perched and hidden to the upper right of the 2nd tree! He was there calling for some one and was still there when I left at 9 am.