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-   -   Wildlife NZ (https://britishexpats.com/forum/australia-54/wildlife-nz-196851/)

Don Dec 15th 2003 2:35 am

Wildlife NZ
 
Down here in the deep south we run into quite a bit of wildlife. This morning saw me cautiously manoeuvring around 7 Hooker's Sea Lions, one a HUGE bull, (Cannibal Bay), plus we saw a solitary yellow-eyed penguin making his way out to sea across the sand (Nugget Point). Last week we saw loads more yellow-eyed penguins, little blue penguins, 5 more sea lions, countless fur seals (good job there are loads because the sea lions eat them) and naturally all the usual stuff like cormorants etc. Royal Albatrosses await February as we need to pay for that trip and it's the best time to see them.)

We're a bit isolated in Dunedin but life has its compensations!

Pollyana Dec 15th 2003 2:41 am

Awh, penguins! Why am I living somewhere so warm! Wanna see penguins!!!:)

Don Dec 15th 2003 2:46 am


Originally posted by Pollyana
Awh, penguins! Why am I living somewhere so warm! Wanna see penguins!!!:)
You can see little blue penguins in Australia (AKA fairy penguins by the Aussies).
http://home.mira.net/~areadman/peng.htm

Pollyana Dec 15th 2003 2:56 am

Yeah, I've seen several colonies in Tassie and Melbourne - think my favourites are the ones on Bruny Island. Trouble is, Brisbane is too warm for the little things!:cool:

Gill and Rob Dec 15th 2003 7:39 am

Why oh Why, when I was using this site before coming to NZ, did nobody mention the Wetas?

Harmless, but they sure send a shiver down my spine. I swear when I see one it tries to stare me out.

Robert

DaisyNZ Dec 15th 2003 8:50 am

But at least wetas move sloooowly!! Now cockroaches are a different matter. Here in Napier I don't think I know anyone who doesn't spray their house for roaches, if there's one thing that I hate about living here it's them. But wetas I can cope with, we spent 8 years living in the bush and we had all the bush creatures (including wetas in your gumboots, moths the size of your hands and blowflies by the thousand) but NOT ONE cockroach!!!

DaisyNZ Dec 15th 2003 8:52 am

Don, we must take a trip down there, I'd love to see all those things. Is it hot down there yet?

Pollster Dec 15th 2003 9:35 am

Wetas!:scared:

I had a horrible experience wuth these things when three of them landed on my head when I opened an external door with the light still on once ( that'll learn me!)

Everyone else had gone to bed and, despite my horror movie style screaming, didn't bother to get up.

My sister said the next day that she had heard me but figured I could deal with practically anything and so turned over and went back to sleep!

sky Dec 15th 2003 10:00 am

What are wetas???:confused:

Pollster Dec 15th 2003 10:17 am

Really horrible prehistoric looking gigantic bugs with wings and HUGE antennae.

I will try and find a piccie for you because they are really loathsome.

Pollster Dec 15th 2003 10:19 am

1 Attachment(s)
Be afraid, be very afraid...

Pollster Dec 15th 2003 10:23 am

Apparently, their maori name, Wetapunga, translates roughly to "God of ugly things."

You can see why!

theguitardoctor Dec 15th 2003 10:25 am


Originally posted by Pollster
Be afraid, be very afraid...

I dont know... it's only like a grasshopper....anyone would think it bites....now Australia..there's some nasty bugs.

Rich.

Pollster Dec 15th 2003 10:26 am

They do bite!! It is like a crab nipping you!

theguitardoctor Dec 15th 2003 10:31 am


Originally posted by Pollster
They do bite!! It is like a crab nipping you!

Yup...I meant a real bite.....think of it as a Weta love nip...

Rich.


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