New Zealand Red Admiral

Malvern Hills

This morning was so bright and sunny I decided to drive among the nearby hills. It is late autumn and not all the trees have lost their leaves. The countryside is very green after recent rain, but the rivers and creeks are still dry or very low after the drought.

The willows are still colourful

The Craigieburn Range has more snow than the closer mountains

Mount Torlesse, with the Red Peak on the left, Back Peak and Otarama on the right

Willows in the valley

The road through the poplars

The Mountains This Morning

Mount Torlesse

Back Peak and Otarama

Peaks Above the Fog

For a little while today the mountain tops broke through the clouds.

Mount Torlesse

Back Peak and Otarama

The Waimakariri River was still running high and dirty after the rain

Fresh Snow

For a few minutes this morning the heavy clouds lifted above the mountains.

Mount Torlesse, with a little sunlight on Back Peak and Otarama

Lunar Optics

My hopes of getting a shot of the full moon setting were dashed by a fog lying over the hills. The moon was visible as a fuzzy white disc. But then I really looked at it. What a feast for the eyes! There was a faint, though obvious moon pillar. And out to one side was a moon dog. I have seen these phenomena with the sun, but I haven't noticed them with the moon before.

Unfortunately my skills as a photographer, and my bridge camera were not able to capture them very well, but here are my efforts. You might have squint to see them. In life they were quite clear to my eyes.

Moon Pillar

Moon Dog on the right hand side

Last of the Praying Mantis

It is four days since I saw the female praying mantis that I have been observing. I have searched thoroughly for her, but she is not to be found. She may have moved to better shelter because the plant she was on didn't give much protection from the frost.

This is the last photo I took of her. Since then the big flies have been sunning themselves with impunity on her favourite leaves.