In our home, Christmas is a time of family visitors so activities fit around catering. New Year is generally just our nuclear family so more flexible. Edin was home for the first time in 3 years so we took the chance for an Okareka evening walk on New Year’s Eve despite the rain.
As usual the soft light was ideal to show the iridescent plumage nicely.
As we left we encountered a tui resting in the forest lining the path. Being the end of the day, under cloud cover in the forest, light levels were extremely low.
This image highlights the amazing capability of modern digital cameras. 800mm handheld at 1/40s and ISO 6400 gives a clean, sharp image.
New Year day dawned clear and bright. The sound of doves calling in the morning is strongly evocative of my childhood and subsequent visits to South Africa but is something seldom heard in New Zealand unless in an area with established populations of introduced Barbary doves or Spotted-necked doves.
Barbary doves are in our area spreading inland from the coastal Bay of Plenty and I heard one for the first time on the morning of New Years day 2024 and episodically since. New Year 2026 had one foraging outside my study window and it co-operated for a photo session.
Another visitor appeared for New Year when I picked a sprig of Rosemary to add to the roast lamb. I fortunately noticed the tiny mantis nymph and was able to set up a tabletop photo session before releasing it back onto the bush. Only about 5mm long it made an interesting challenge and distraction between preparing the roast and peeling vegetables!
New Year 2026 was brightened by 2 unexpected visitors to make a memorable day. Here’s wishing all a great year with new memories to make.
Tui photos with Nikon Z9 and Nikkor Z 800mm f6.3 VR S. Mantis photo with Nikon Z7 and Nikkor Z 105mm MC f2.8 VR S and Godox V1 flash with home made diffuser.
