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The First Real New Zealand Day

I found myself floundering a little these first few days in New Zealand. We had a death on the farm. Which knocked me sideways. But yesterday finally I walked and found my feet and began to smell the air and hear the Tuis. Where I grew up – on a beach in New Zealand – we did not hear too many Tuis. Mostly we heard sea birds. So the Tui has always seemed mystical to me.

The Tui is native to New Zealand. Quite large – they can grow to almost a foot long and half a pound in weight.

The Tui has over 300 distinct sounds. (Scroll down for a few of those sounds). This is a stock photo from the internet. Mine were not good enough from yesterday.

I am in Wellington. New Zealand. In another cul de sac. Straight up a steep hill. The only traffic we hear are planes.

We are deep in a city valley and only see the tiniest portions of a sunrise or a sunset.

The last few days have been still and pre-autumnal. A tiny chill in the air in the evening.

This valley is heaving with big old trees which is why there are so many birds. Trees are the best! This is my favourite image from Rick on Instagram.

Brilliant right?

I will be planting many trees this year. To cover this travel. Trees are my carbon co-pay. I have a landing video on my late edition platform coming out soon. Go there in a few hours. For a really great sunset landing video.

TKG TAKE TEN is back! Both platforms had a few days break. That happens sometimes. Remember that the blog is free to everybody and has been free since 2011 and will continue to be free for you. TKG TAKE TEN is designed to make a little money for the farm. And TKG Take Ten over at Substack is the only way I’m making money on the farm now. (Here is a preview of one I recorded early this morning). I popped it up on utube so you can access it easily.

TKG Take Ten is free to hear while I travel. (It is all about the sounds, though sometimes the images take over!). And if you’d like to contribute, I’d be very grateful. We have new birds arriving on the farm soon! There are some subscription choices over there. One of them might suit you. Otherwise make sure to sign up to get TKG TAKE TEN TRAVEL delivered to your inbox.

I hope you have a lovely day/evening/morning. Wherever you are. I see you.

Celi

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14 responses to “The First Real New Zealand Day”

  2. What an interesting bird. I could easily listen to those sounds for hours. Is this the same home with that lovely little side garden area you cleared out on one of your last trips? Not sure why that sticks in my brain but it changed greatly after your hands did their work and I have held on to how wonderful that small area opened to new possibilities. It seemed like such a welcoming place to sit and think or nap or drink a lovely glass of wine…

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  3. Welcome home Celi. The weather is great for those long walks in the bush or on the foreshore or in fact anywhere outside. Enjoy the Tuis and their songs. They were known by early European settlers as Parson birds because of the dark colour of the wings and the white pouch at the throat, reminiscent of the parsons. Enjoy your family time in a perfect Wellington autumn.

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  6. I hope you are snacking on those strawberry/cherry guava. On a main street in town near my MiL’s nursing home there is a tree laden with them that most walk past oblivious to their deliciousness.

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  7. I love the graphic by Rick Frausto. I even went to his website hoping that he had a t-shirt with that on the back. I’d wear it every day. He makes such a good point.

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