On this page we intend to keep a diary of changes in any aspect of the
Karekare environment. Please email all contributions to webeditor@karekare.org.nz
November
2002
This drawing on the lifecycle of eels was drawn by by Celeste Strewe
of farm road. See picture
October
22nd 2002
Native orchids are flowering at the moment throughout the bush. They
can even be seen alongside the roadsides if you look carefully, this specimen
of Pterostylis banksii was found at the side of Lone Kauri road.
by Alan Moore
October
18th 2002
If you have a Timms trap, now is a good time to get it out and set it.
We have caught 2 possums in the last week (unfortunately not before they
had decimated the tomato plants we had on the deck). Operation Forestsave
did a fantastic job on the possums but we need to be vigilante to ensure
the numbers do not rebuild. by Alan Moore
October
3rd 2002
There is a spectacular flowering of Kowhai (Sophora tetraptera)
at the moment. Kowhai have been in flower since early September and there
are plenty of Tuis feeding on the nectar. by Alan Moore
September
30th 2002
Usually seen in the bush in September as a lovely splash of white
at the top of the trees, the native clematis, the maori name is: Puawhananga;
the Latin name is: clematis paniculata. You may have seen it growing quite
profusely up a plant near the school, on Lone Kauri Rd It seems to making
a real resurgence now the possum numbers have been reduced. A vigorous
evergreen climber occurring in lowland forests throughout New Zealand,
climbing 10 metres to the top of trees. Flowers up to 10cm across, the
larger flowered plants being the male of the species. The female plants
flowers are followed by fluffy, silvery seed heads. by Mike Nixon
September 15th 2002
Peter De Jaeger reported that he had seen a kaka flying around locally
recently; latin name: nestor meridionalis septentrionalis. Kaka have nests
in dry cavities of trees, often with a narrow entrance hole. they lay
eggs from October to February. This is fantastic news. Also, whilst we
were weeding around the pohutakawa glade on our Landcare day, Kate Lang
found a small live kauri snail, maori name: pupu rangi; Latin name: paryphanta
busby. We gladly put the snail back, and hope it survives a bit longer.
by Julia Moore
September
12th 2002
The rat trapping and laying out of bait over the past two years around
Karekare is having an impact on bird numbers. The future can only be more
promising. Just around our house we saw three kereru, native wood pigeons
gorging themselves on one nikau tree. Their latin name is: hemiphaga novaeseelandiae,
and they lay eggs from September to February, but winter nesting has also
been reported. by Julia Moore
September 11th 2002
Driving home from work at 9pm I saw a black cat run across the bottom
of Lone Kauri road. This is a reminder to all cat owners to please keep
your cat inside to preserve some bird and insect life. by Julia Moore
September
9th 2002
Have been noticing lots of flowers out - it must be spring! Several species
of hebe are in flower plus there is quite a bit of clematis growing in
the trees from a distance you can see white patches in the forest. Karo
(latin name: pittosporum crassifolium) is also in flower - see picture
on the left. It is found naturally along coastal forest margins and stream
sides in northern New Zealand. The scented flowers last from September
to December. This also means the weeds are in flower, such as mistflower
and wandering jew. by Alan Moore
September
4th 2002
On the north rocks there was a dead seal. Also much happier to see
a live seal on the rocks looked very young. The young seal was a bit quick
for a photo so I only have a photo of the dead seal. by Alan Moore
June
29th 2002
I found a dead little blue penguin ( latin name: eudyptula minor) on the
sand dunes just south of the rocks on the southern end of Karekare beach.
they live in caves, rock crevices and burows. This dead one had been mauled
across the back of its neck, so I assume it was attacked by either a mustelid
or a dog. Very sad. It is a reminder to locals and visitors not to take
dogs beyond the south rocks, and shows evidence of what pests and pets
are capable of destroying. by Julia Moore
June
4th 2002
A big storm caused the lagoon to move on the beach. For the past 12 years
the stream has been moving further southwards down the beach. In the course
of one night thousands of cubic metres of sand were shifted to move the
stream course back to its old position along the base of the watchman.
by Alan Moore.
January 2002
I found a forest gecko in our garden when I was weeding, only about 8
centimetres long. It was hiding in the forest litter on the forest floor
near our house. I was ecstatic, as we have had rat traps set constantly
around our house over the last 6 months, and this is positive proof of
the benefits. by Julia Moore
