My special friends (2): Tomtits
by Kakapo2
I love them to pieces. Although the tomtits with their large heads and short tails are not as chatty as fantails they delight me with their cuteness. They appear without making a sound to check out who has intruded their territory, and suddenly sit in front of you. Whereas the fantails hop and fly around, so it is difficult to photograph them, the tomtits seem to have posed for photographers since Adam and Eve. They sit at easy-view branches or trunks, wait a while until you have taken your photo, and only then fly to the next branch, and pose again, and so on. I could stay around them forever.
Plus, the South Island tomtit is really beautiful, with the breast not only white as the North Island tomtit’s, but yellow, and some even into orangey. And the little white dot over the beak is also enchanting.
The scientific name of the tomtit is Petroica macrocephala.
The Maori call them Ngiru-ngiru (North Island: Miromiro).
Flax (2) – Sweet Nectar for the Honeyeaters
by Kakapo2
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The flowers of the flax plant are called Korari. The colour is from yellow to orange and red. The pollen is an important food source for honeyeaters like the bellbird and tui. Silvereyes (waxeyes) also love flax pollen, and often whole flocks hang on the stakes.
Flax does not flower consistently every year. Only if the temperatures are mild from April to June (NZ autumn months) they have a lot of flowers in spring.
If you are interested in the above mentioned birds keep on looking for them on flowering flax in open country.
Big Al’s Snow Sports – Just bring your Underwear…
by Kakapo2
This is the prime ski and snowboard rental shop in Methven, and they also do repairs and hire clothes and accessories. And, of course, they also sell all the stuff in the shop. Their slogan sounds very promising:
“We hire almost everything, just bring your underwear and we can get you sliding.”
The rental skis ranges from executive range for beginners to expert carving and performance skis. Boards are of the Salomon and Burton brands.
They say their staff are dedicated snowboarders and skiers who have grown up on Mount Hutt before heading off to northern winters. They do not only have knowledge about Mt. Hutt but also of the surrounding smaller club fields.
On their website you also find a map of the Mt. Hutt skiing area.
If you are more into summer sports and need equipment Big Al is also the first port of call for you. They hire mountainbikes, golf clubs, inline skates, ice skates and fishing rods.
To give you an idea about day hire costs:
Full set of standard skis, boots and poles NZ$ 33 per day (subsequent days $ 27 each; cheaper for children, expert skis more expensive)
Snowboards $ 40 (36)
Clothing (pants, jacket, gloves) $ 28 (22)
Mountain bike $ 39 (half day $ 30)
Golf Clubs $ 12
Big Al is located right in the town centre, opposite the Blue Pub. You cannot miss it.
Contact:
Phone (03) 302 8003, Mobile (025) 406 656
Internet: www.bigals.co.nz
Email: al@bigals.co.nz
Other ski and gear rental shops in Methven:
Jace’s Ski Hutt
30 Forest Drive
Phone (03) 302 9553
www.balancesports.com
Email: skitrader@xtra.co.nz
Wombat’s Ski Shop
Main Street
Phone (03) 302 8084
Freephone (0800) 804 747
Email: chris@wombatskishop.com
(No website – the one with the same name is very annoying)
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Flax flowers attract certain bird species.
Bellbirds are the best singers in the forest.
Fairy-tale forest of the Scott's Saddle Track.
Flax bush and low cloud.