More Seals

Because I haven't got anything else ready to post tonight, here are some more seals. These shots aren't from the weekend, these are from a couple of years ago (Sep 2008) when I took my bike out the colony. It was a nice sunny day, and the seals and scenery made interesting subjects (and were occasionally interested in me). I put some of these on facebook at the time, but never got around to putting them up here until now. All shot with a long lens to make sure I didn't invade their space in case you were wondering (freaked out seals aren't a good thing to be around. They can move really quickly on land when they want to, and have more than adequate teeth).

Another angle on some of the exposed faulting, and when-not-if source of the future 'big one'.

Near the colony there used to be a quarry. I like how the rock layers are all exposed like in a geology textbook.

And if my bike ever completely fails, you can be sure that after I strip all the useful parts off this is what I will do with it. Wedge it on a traffic island for all to see....

I have no idea what was going on with this. I was just driving past and it was there.

Not quite navy seals

More like Marines maybe. But smellier. Seals look cute and cuddly (but aren't), and smell bad (kinda like rubber mixed with fish). Fun to watch though. A former biology tutor of mine was completely dismissive of seals being charismatic, the cubs in particular. He said the cubs were all cute and cuddly until one decided your tent was a nice place to sleep (this was on an isolated subantarctic island) and 1: you found out how smelly they were, and 2: Mum seal came looking for her baby...

Fi, Kirsten, Charlotte and me exploited the fine weather on Sunday to take a late afternoon stroll to the fur seal colony at Sinclair Head on the south coast facing Cook Strait, passing Owhiro Bay and Red Rocks along the way.

Freed of her mountain buggy restraints, Charlotte displayed a tendency for finding her own path.

And had to be held back from trying to pat a seal

Some other happy snaps

One of Wellington's faults on display for all to see ( I think, but I can't find a detailed enough map to be sure):

There is probably a childrens book idea somewhere in this pic, alhough I'm not sure how you would work 'shag' into it (the one that isn't a seagull).

Its called 'Red Rocks' for a reason (either blood from Maui's fish hook, or iron oxide depending on how romantic you are).

Looking across the harbour entrance to Pencarrow at sunset.

How cool is this?

Got a spare $9,500US to spend?

How about a lifesize cast replica of a T.rex skull? (linky)

Or if you are looking for something a bit more subtle, for $5,750 you can get a half skull suitable for hanging on the wall of your lounge (linky) (spokesmodel not included).

If those are just a bit too cool, how about an arm or a leg?

If I had that sort of disposable dosh I'd think about it, just because I like the idea. "Oh yeah, I've got a Tyrannosaur skull in my lounge"....

$100,000 will get you a whole skeleton, although that probably won't fit in the lounge.

Budget wise though, I might just have to settle for a tooth. Albeit, a pretty big one. It would go nicely with the fossil Great Shark tooth I have already.

Itsy bitsy spider

$2 coin for scale. Maybe not big compared to say a tarantula or something, but certainly not itsy bitsy to have roaming free around my house. We first encountered this guy on tuesday night, when it eluded my attempts to trap it (Fi was reaching for the bug spray, but since I don't like killing things without trying other elimination techniques first I managed to stay her hand. Besides, I have a soft spot for spiders). Those big long legs mean it can move quite fast.

It wandered up to say hello last night while I was at the computer. And after recording its presence, I successfully captured it this time, and reintroduced it to the backyard.

Meanwhile....

On a lamppost in the Kelson hills, a wood pigeon waits..

Kite and Zoo Action special!

The view from my lounge on Monday afternoon.

The thermometer on my back porch is reading 5 degrees right now. Winter is settling in for the winter....

And I seem to have lost my pocketknife. If anyone finds it, please let me know.

Right, then as promised, some random kite and animal photos:

Twin otters (Asian rather than DeHavilland).

About 5 ducks worth of Pelican. I tried to get a shot of them together to fully show the duck dwarfing effect created by the bulky pelican, but couldn't manage it.

Chimp minding its own business. On a very tall pole.
The muscular nature of chimps impresses the hell out of me at times.
Tui in Wilton
Housecat, also in Wilton
Trying really hard to post more than once a week, but finding the time is tough......

Freedom Baby

Listening to: Temple of the Dog-Temple of the Dog

We're looking after Ryan-dog (his name is Ryan, but I call him Ryan-dog. I like the cadence it has to it) for another while while his regular keeper is down south.

There is an unexplained field near our place, unexplained in that we have yet to figure out why it is there. It has no apparent purpose. It is however large, away from houses and enclosed by gorse, and thus reasonably dog friendly. We discovered it when we were looking after Ryan during the summer.

Its the only place we are comfortable to let him off the leash.........
Its kinda cool to watch something run for no other reason than it likes to and it can.

And there are lots of things for a curious dog to explore
Drainage in this field isn't so good though, and it is quite marshy. Which meant that by the time we left Ryan was quite marshy also.
He took the required bath quite well.....

In other news I have dreamt about trying to find a stolen bike for the last three nights in a row now. Even though at times I am riding the stolen bike while trying to track it down. The bike in question is my old giant. Maybe it is resenting finally being replaced....