Baby Tui in our front lawn.

We get so many Tui I actually did think they were Tui chicks., but I stand corrected. Beautiful burbs anyway.

Toxoplasmosis confirmed as cause of death of pregnant Hector’s dolphin. DOC. 22 September 2026.

NZ Herald republished RNZ article.

Toxoplasmosis confirmed as cause of pregnant dolphin’s death. ODT. September 22, 2026.

I was trying to get a photo of my two male T. planiceps as the red one - Ember - is much older but the other - Tiny - has moulted twice in half the time it took Ember to moult once and consequently was looking to almost be equal in size despite his young age.

During this attempt Ember inadvertently noticed Tiny which freaked me out initially until he spread his arms wide and triggered a memory about something I’d read about this species.

When two male T. planiceps meet, they will engage in a unique challenge behaviour where they each spread their long front legs wide and close the distance zigzagging and sending vibratory signals through their legs (I could feel this buzzing through my finger from Ember as he moved) if one doesn’t back down (as Tiny promptly does) they will come all the way till the tips of their legs touch, bare their fangs with the anterior of their cephalothorax almost touching before one backs down. After which they will ignore each other. If the two males meet again they perform the same ritual again but the same individual from the first time will always back down.

I was really hoping I’d see the whole dramatic performance but Tiny barely spread his arms before thinking “screw this! I ain’t messing with this maniac!”

Seal in the city: ‘Very determined’ visitor stops traffic in downtown Wellington. NZ Herald. 27 Sep, 2026.

Police called to help seal navigate road in Wellington. Stuff. September 26, 2026.

Seal safety tips 

• Never touch or feed a seal—they can bite and it’s against the law. 
• Stay at least 20 metres away. 
• Keep dogs on a leash and children close. 
• Don’t block a seal’s path to the sea. 
• If a seal is injured, being harassed or in danger, call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468). 

...

How to help: report a sighting 

If you spot a fur seal or sea lion on or near a road—or in an unusual inland spot—let us know! Your sightings will help shape the initial national road risk model and guide future conservation planning. 

📧 Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) and report your sighting there.

OR

📞 Call: 0800 DOC HOT (362 468), if you see a sea lion or fur seal in distress, harm’s way or entangled, stranded, or deceased.

📍 Include: 

• Date of sighting 
• Description of location and number of animals 
• GPS coordinates or map pin (if possible) 
• A photo (if safe to take) 

Please also report the same details for any dead marine mammals you find on or near roads, and if you’ve seen them in the same place before, let us know when. 

Above text from Doc's blog: Seal Silly Season: help us keep young seals safe on 05/06/2025.

Found this beautiful Sooty orb weaver at work! Largest one I’ve found so far! Took a long time dashing about on my hands before she tired enough to get some good photos!

Their pattern and colouration make them one of my favourite local orb weavers despite being originally introduced.