Mountain Landscapes of late

Immersion in solitude, awareness of self, quietness of the spirit, and sometimes the odd challenge – all these and more are there in our mountain landscapes, just waiting to be seen, and better yet felt. Sometimes we’re so goal driven and yet whatever it was sometimes gets replaced: to get past stinging rain in the… Continue reading Mountain Landscapes of late

“The Boss” and Edwin – a tale of two kea in Mt Aspiring National Park

above: "The Boss" of three kea resident near Aspiring Hut in the West Matukituki valley, Mt Aspiring National Park Mar 2017 ~  photo southern light

A few weeks ago I was involved in the capture and subsequent banding of a young kea. Probably a male, but that is not a certainty with any youngster. At the time while recording the banding with a camera, I was struck on how he took being held in his stride, and when relaxed started… Continue reading “The Boss” and Edwin – a tale of two kea in Mt Aspiring National Park

New Zealand’s alpine parrot the kea, has the beak and has the brain, but that’s not enough

My favourite kea photo ~ why? I like the smug and comfortable look of confidence and happiness. Yes, kea can both recognise emotions and exhibit them ~ all photos by Southern Light

New Zealand’s alpine parrot cuts right across the aloofness of a landscape and weather that takes no prisoners, greeting us with life and curiosity that never fails to get us smiling; a feathered and garrulous court jester of our mountains. The birds decline in numbers to under 5000 has been due to an historic century-long… Continue reading New Zealand’s alpine parrot the kea, has the beak and has the brain, but that’s not enough

Race to protect the Pupū Springs near Nelson

above: Ducks at Pupu Springs back in 2008 ~ photo Southern Light

More properly named the Te Waikoropupū Springs, they’re the largest freshwater springs in New Zealand, and the largest cold water springs in the Southern Hemisphere and contain some of the clearest water ever measured this side of Antarctica’s near-frozen Weddell Sea, with a visibility of 63 metres. Antarctica aside the water clarity is in fact… Continue reading Race to protect the Pupū Springs near Nelson