Street scene, Mandvi, Gujarat

In the back streets of the small town of Mandvi in Gujarat, on the coast of the Arabian Sea.

All content © 2016 Pete McGregor

Feeding time at Thakurdwara, near Bardia NP, Nepal

One evening I walked along the road leading from the lodge. Several people called out welcomes,and I enjoyed watching some of the daily tasks of life in and around Thakurdwara.

[I'm in Almora, Uttarakhand, India, now. Tomorrow I'll probably head for Naini Tal and do a day visit to nearby Sattal for the birdlife. Then it's on again, to Kausani and deeper into Uttarakhand, eventually to Josimath, then down to Rudraprayag and back to Delhi via Rishikesh. That's the vague plan, but who knows what will happen?]

All content © 2016 Pete McGregor

Survivors

It's just a record photograph, but I like what it records: some of the rabbits have survived. These two were feeding in the front paddock early this morning. Although the telephoto lens has compressed the perspective so the rabbits look similar in size, the closer of the two (on the right) is much larger than the one behind. I'm guessing we have two generations here.

[1/30 sec at f4, ISO 640]

All content © 2016 Pete McGregor

Farm deer, Utuwai

They're confined to a large, rough paddock on a farm at Utuwai, but if they didn't have ear tags you'd mistake them for wild deer.

[1/800 at f4, ISO 250]

All content © 2016 Pete McGregor

Triple trouble — another gang of puppies

For a few days more, I have three of these (and their mum) living in the kennels near my back door.

[1/100 sec at f5.6, ISO 320]

All content © 2016 Pete McGregor

Some rabbits still live

Those of you who understood what the man must have felt at the conclusion of Suppositions about a man and his rabbits will be pleased to know at least some rabbits survived (well, at least this one, and possibly all — I've since seen two simultaneously).

This seems to be another Spock rabbit, and although its ears aren't kinked, I wonder whether that distinctive dark nose is a permanent feature or whether it's just wet from feeding after the rain? The former, I hope: I'd like to be able to identify it beyond doubt.

They're survivors, these rabbits.

[1/100 sec at f4, ISO 250]

All content © 2016 Pete McGregor

Dawn on the back hill

The face of the back hill was still dark but I could see enough to know the deer were elsewhere. The one silhouetted on the skyline suggested the others weren't far away, though: maybe on the far side. The magpie on the fence sat there, maybe watching the hind grazing, or maybe, like me, it was just enjoying the dawn.

[1/100 sec at f4, ISO 640]

All content © 2016 Pete McGregor

The rabbits are still here

The rabbits in the front paddock haven't yet been shot (and I hope they won't be). I know this, because while I was wandering along the edge of the terrace the other day, this rabbit popped up and stared at me. I'm not sure exactly how many live here, but it's at least two or three, and I see one or two most mornings and evenings. The winter might deal to them, but in the meantime I love just watching them.

[1/250 at f4, ISO 400]

All content © 2016 Pete McGregor

Happy hare at the hare-pin bend

The hare still lives near the hairpin bend on the No. 1 Line road. At  least, I'm guessing it's the same hare because it's hard to accept that a different one would have taken over exactly the same spot. I have been known to be wrong on a few occasions, though ;-)

The hillside had been lightly grazed, so the hare had less cover to hide in. Even so, if the evening light hadn't accentuated the hare's colour, I might not have seen it as I drove past. Clearly, it was enjoying the warmth, as several photographs show it with its eyes half closed. It seemed unperturbed, even when I got out of the car and crossed the road for a slightly closer photograph.

[1/160 sec at f8; ISO 100]

All content © 2016 Pete McGregor

Seal on the south coast

I find seals (kekeno) difficult to photograph. In the water they're constantly moving and mostly obscured; hauled out, they spend much of their time like big blubbery sausages moulded to the rock on which they're sunbathing. At Turakirae Head, on the southern coast of the North Island last weekend, this was one of the few moderately cooperative seals that posed nicely for me. Harsh, contrasty, middle-of-the-day light didn't help, either. A lovely day for a walk, but a photographer's hell.

[1/1250 sec. at f5.6; ISO 200]

All content © 2016 Pete McGregor

Deer on the back hill

The deer I'd been watching on the hill behind my place kept visiting. A few more joined the mob, and one morning I looked out to see seven feeding there, with the southern Ruahine brooding behind. I managed a few photographs before the spaniel's incessant barking and whining made them apprehensive and they ran down into the gully and out of sight.

A few days ago they'd stopped appearing, and yesterday I saw a lone hind on the skyline in the early morning. Soon after, a young stag appeared and chased the hind back over the hill. No doubt he was keeping the others over there too, closer to the safety of the forest. With luck, they'll return when the roar's over.

[1/100 sec. at f4; ISO 200]

All content © 2016 Pete McGregor

Young rabbit

When I looked out the kitchen window early this morning, I noticed a small rabbit crouching in the dew-wet grass. I opened the door carefully and managed a series of photographs, during which the little rabbit relaxed and began feeding. I don't recall ever having seen a wild rabbit with this distinctive fold in its ears, but this will make it instantly identifiable should I see it again. Given its proximity to the neighbour's vege garden (that's it in the background), I might not get many more chances to enjoy the sight, though.

[1/20 sec. at f5.6; ISO 400]

All content © 2016 Pete McGregor

Deer on my doorstep

I'd just eaten a couple of cherries—one of the great delights of summer in Aotearoa—and was thinking about Thingumy and Bob. Before the light faded completely, I stepped out the back door to enjoy the evening. The hill paddock, lit by the last sunlight, had turned orange-pink, and I saw several animals grazing there. I looked harder, then grabbed the binoculars. The animals were four wild red deer: three hinds and a fawn.

This time I grabbed the camera, and although they were a long way off, some careful photographing and cropping produced some pleasing photographs.

All content © 2016 Pete McGregor

'I see you' — cattle on No 1 Line

About a month ago a small herd of heifers (and one or two steers) grazed the car park at the end of No. 1 Line. In the manner of all adolescent cattle, they couldn't restrain their curiosity, and checked me out — nervously, of course. I'd biked there, so I stood very still, leaning against my bike, while they gathered round. Eventually, the bravest one, or the most curious, came close enough to dab its muzzle on my hand. It wasn't this one, though.

All content © 2016 Pete McGregor

This is not Wind in the Willows

Most of the characters in Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows enchant me, and the two main characters, Ratty and Mole, are no exception. However, while I find rats fascinating and think they deserve similar respect to more popular fluffy animals, I don't deny the harm they cause.

I photographed this Black rat (Rattus rattus) a couple of nights ago along the No. 1 Line track. You can read more on the new Pohanginapete post.

That eyeshine — from the headlamp, I think, rather than the flash — gives me the impression the rat's peering over its reading glasses ;-)

All content © 2014 Pete McGregor

Living dangerously (rabbit)

At about nine this the morning, two rabbits nibbled the pasture in the paddock right in front of my house. By the time I'd changed lenses on the camera, one had disappeared but the other kept feeding. I eased the kitchen door open, photographed the rabbit, then crawled out onto the verandah, keeping out of sight. I rested the camera on the verandah railing and photographed some more, and the rabbit kept right on feeding.

Given Trev next door is a keen hunter, this rabbit seemed unbelievably stupid. On the other hand, perhaps it knew he was away for a couple of days (I'm looking after the chooks and the spaniel-with-no-brain).

I love having these animals around the place and will miss them when the inevitable happens.

All content © 2014 Pete McGregor

Third fawn of the season

One of the hinds gave birth this afternoon — the third fawn of the season. I must have missed seeing it by no more than a minute or two. I was leaving for a No. 1 Line walk and had the camera with me, the 300mm lens already mounted.

All content © 2014 Pete McGregor

Ponies on the Annapurna trail

A typical scene along the trail to Annapurna Base Camp. Sadly, a jeep track has been bulldozed all the way to Landruk, the first day's destination, and although it's often impassable because of slips, the feeling of achievement of the first day's walk is now tempered by the knowledge that sometimes it's possible to drive all the way. How much further will the track be pushed? If ever Joni Mitchell's lyrics about paving paradise and putting up a parking lot were apt, they are here.

But ponies and porters are still essential for supplying the guest houses along the route, and I always enjoyed encountering these pony trains.

[If you haven't realised already, I only got as far as Landruk. You can read why, here.

Update: Part 2 of the account of the illness is now up on Pohanginapete.]

All content © 2014 Pete McGregor

Palm squirrel, New Delhi

India has many appealing animals, but for me these must rank among the most delightful. When watching their antics it's impossible not to think of Scrat from the Ice Age movies. This was one of many scampering around the Hauz Khas complex in South Delhi but they're common throughout most of the cities I've visited in India.

All content © 2014 Pete McGregor

Palace dog, Leh

At Zhoen's request, here's the dog that appeared on the latest pohanginapete post. It sat on the steps below the palace at Leh, but clearly had no interest in guard duties.

All content © 2014 Pete McGregor