SWMBO says it is time we posted a reminder of some of the wild life inmates enjoy at TRM. A change from dead trout images.
By ‘wildlife’ we do not include Pumpkin. She is TRM’s useless security officer.
TRM is located in a suburban residential setting but probably due to the close proximity of the Tongariro River and Kaimanawas beyond we get far more interesting ‘visitors’ than most city situations.
On left is another squadron of geese practising formation flying – they pass over TRM every evening at this time of the year. You will hear them honking flying instructions before you see them. Wait until May 1st and they all disappear?
On right is another ‘resident’ fantail. Recently the fantails have been regular daily visitors. They must live on the property as they are always flitting about.
Please do not frighten them too much as they will sneak into the units to deal with the flies and tiny spiders in all units.
Her name is Mortein…
TRM has several rabbits living on site – much to the frustrations of the gardening team. They are usually hopping around quite unafraid of the security patrol every morning and evening. She just wants to play with them.
Didymo Dave tells us that rabbits are a good sign to indicate we have no stoats or weasels in the area. Or perhaps the predators have driven them away from the Tongariro River reserves into the housing area.
At top is a covey of quail – photo taken as they marched up and down outside the reception to show off their family.
Unfortunately at the time there were a couple of wild cats roaming around. We set a trap – provided by SPCA – and caught five in five nights. Tell Gareth Morgan!
(The poor quality photo of the parents on the lawn was because it was taken through the misty window to show how tame they are.)
Then there are the usual flocks of cheeky sparrows.
I am not sure why – whether it is the climate here or the location close to National Parks ? but we seem to enjoy far more dense bird life than most imagine.
We made a mistake in feeding the sparrows and other birds regularly and their numbers increased so much that they scared away many of the native bellbirds etc.
So we have to ask guests not to feed them please as we prefer to wake up to the native birds chorus each morning.
Fortunately the number of Kowhais and other nectar bearers are sufficient to attract tuis most of the year.
In spring the property is attacked by raiding parties of tuis ripping into the Kowhai flowers. Instead of bird whistles they celebrate with gurgling and coughing and wheezing sounds – perhaps they are drunk on the nectar as they seem to ignore us walking around on our daily routine?
Also in past years we have always had a few swallow nests in the garage or car ports – they return to the same nests each year. But as they made a real mess over the step into Unit 7 we had to destroy their clay nest and they did not appear this last summer. But I am sure they will be back again.
Of course we should also include some garden photos as that is what attracts so many birds and other wild life. We are at the end of summer now with autumn leaves starting to show their colours.
The autumn colours in Turangi are a real feature of the town. The photo of the tree below on left is just to indicate what we are in for soon. In Turangi they used to have the “Colours Festival” to celebrate the arrival of Autumn.
Anglers also celebrate the start of winter as that is when the famous Tongariro spawning runs commence.
This year the snow on Tongariro National Park at Whakapapa has already arrived during the Easter holiday break which is always a positive sign for the winter trout fishing season…