Dusk, Pohangina valley

We've had no appreciable rain for weeks now and everything's turning crisp. But the evenings are wonderful.

This was the view from my back door five evenings ago.The distant peak is Maharahara, the highest point on the southern Ruahine range.


[23 February 2013, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 45 mm, ISO 200, 1/6 at f5.6]

All content © 2013 Pete McGregor

Powelliphanta sp., Pohangina headwaters

On the last day of the whio survey in the Pohangina headwaters just before Christmas, we checked the uppermost reaches of the river. I picked a few rocks out of the river to see what sort of fauna was living there; Nathan had just started doing likewise when he found this beautiful native snail submerged in the stream. These Powelliphanta spp. are terrestrial animals, and if Nathan hadn't rescued it, it would surely have drowned.

We photographed it, then Nathan carefully placed it in patch of scrub where we trust it lived at least a little longer.

Apologies for the hiatus between postings. My ISP turned a simple change of plan into a fiasco that left me without a home Internet connection AND without a landline for 16 days. Normal service has resumed.


[19 December 2012, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 45 mm, ISO 400, 1/80 at f5.6] 


All content © 2013 Pete McGregor

Track from Leon Kinvig hut to Ngamoko Range

The track from Leon Kinvig hut in the Pohangina headwaters to Toka on the Ngamoko Range begins on the far side of the river and immediately climbs steeply until it briefly levels out, here. Then it starts climbing again.

The photograph I posted a couple of weeks ago looks back down the track from this spot.


[7 January 2013, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 14 mm, ISO 200, 1/320 at f11]

All content © 2013 Pete McGregor