Indian rhinoceros, Chitwan National Park [3]

The rhinoceros waited until we were perched on the fallen tree and the boatman had swung the canoe back out into the river. Then it came trotting down the track and I grabbed a couple of photos. For a first encounter with these wonderful animals, I couldn't have wished for better.




[22 March 2007, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L IS, ISO 400, 1/1000 at f5.6] 

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Indian rhinoceros, Chitwan National Park [2]

As the boatman guided the canoe to shore so we could disembark and begin walking back, we looked up to the top of the bank. We saw this looking back at us, waiting to come down the steep track to cross the river.

I had my eye on the fallen tree and had worked out what I'd do if the rhinoceros began moving. It watched as the guide and I walked up the big trunk to a safe position and the boatman had taken the canoe out into the current.

Then it moved.


[22 March 2007, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L IS, ISO 400, 1/800 at f5.6] 

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Indian rhinoceros, Chitwan National Park

Having turned around partway across the Rapti river when the guides in the canoe-load of tourists began shouting and waving, the rhinoceros trotted back to the bank. We'd climbed onto a fallen tree so were at no risk; instead, I found the proximity to this enormous, seemingly ancient monster enthralling.

It trotted back up the steep path onto the terrace overlooking the river and moved out of sight. We never saw it again but I'll always remember it.


[22 March 2007, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L IS, ISO 400, 1/640 at f5.6] 

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

White-necked raven, Nyika Plateau

A long way from anywhere I stopped the ute and got out to wander around in the wind and sun. A small group of roan antelope grazed in the distance and a storm moved across the horizon where hills receded into the blue-grey haze. A raven watched me carefully as it fed. One can't be too careful around here.


[24 May 2007, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L IS, ISO 200, 1/800 at f7.1] 

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Parataniwha, Manawatu gorge track [2]

Another view of parataniwha along the Manawatu Gorge Track. Here's the other photo.


[9 June 2011, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 14 mm, ISO 200, 1/10 at f8]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Winter leaf

Winter's here, no doubt about it. A Manawatu winter. Not the severe, crisp cold of the South Island high country, but the damp, grey days of the lower North Island. Still, we've had a good run of mild weather, which has meant the pasture's continued to grow, making life easier for the farmers.

Hard to believe we're only about a week out from the shortest day.


[8 June 2011, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 45 mm, ISO 200, 1/80 at f5.6]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Parataniwha, Manawatu gorge track

Parataniwha (Elatostema rugosum) belongs to the nettle family (Urticaceae). However, unlike some other members of the family (notably ongaonga (Urtica ferox) Aotearoa's impressive tree nettle), parataniwha has no stinging hairs. This stand, along the sides of a tiny stream crossing the Manawatu Gorge Track, was growing in typical habitat: damp, shaded and cool (a description that applied to the entire region on the afternoon I photographed this).


[9 June 2011, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 14 mm, ISO 200, 1/6 at f5.6]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Warthog, Pilanesberg

Until face to face with a warthog, one doesn't truly appreciate how bizarre they appear. Commenting on the previous photo, Zhoen pointed out how much southern ground hornbills look like dinosaurs; similarly, warthogs remind me of some of the long-gone, prehistoric mammals — turn the tusks upside down and you'd almost have a bantam Uintatherium.


[2 May 2007, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L IS, ISO 200, 1/500 at f6.3]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Southern ground hornbills, South Luangwa

We saw these huge birds (roughly the size of a turkey) on several occasions in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. Apparently, southern ground hornbills (Bucorvus leadbeateri) are rare outside protected areas, for obvious reasons.


[11 May 2007, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L IS, ISO 200, 1/500 at f8]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Pel's fishing owl

For those of you who don't know or aren't interested in owls, this might seem a pretty ordinary photo. But a sighting of Pel's fishing owl is a highlight for most bird-watchers, and although I wasn't in Malawi primarily for the birds, this sighting at Chinguni Hills, Liwonde National Park, certainly delighted me.

[31 May 2007, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L IS, ISO 200, 1/400 at f5.6]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor