Part of Cicada Chorale

Had a very mixed day, with a few wins and a few tiresome tasks. Nothing in the backyard, unfortunately. But, all that has been done required the use of muscles that have not been so used (both degree and duration) for many months, and there was virtue in resting them.

Late in the afternoon I walked along the Lower Pipeline to where the pipe goes underground and the steep path up to the Pipeline starts. Throughout the time in the bush and on top of the pipe, I was subliminally aware of the singing of cicadas. I was nearly out of the bush when I became consciously aware of their presence and looked for them. I was lucky to find two close together with interesting light, and that is my blip.

After leaving the bush I was back on streets and for the first time in some months I saw two Warou/Welcome Swallows on a line across the road. The one I show as an extra is almost identical to a photo taken by Brent Stephenson and included in a photographic guide to NZ birds produced by him in collaboration with Paul Scofield.

Therefore, I feel quietly confident in identifying this as and adult male in fresh basic plumage.

Mr David Seymour has reached the lowest level in grandstanding by any senior (at least in his own estimation, and my judgement of his dangerousness to Aotearoa) politician in this country. He attempted to drive a first model Land Rover up the steps of Parliament.

He says that he was doing so to draw attention to an appeal by a Professor of Cardiology  for funds for some research he wants to do. As I feel is most probably what he wanted, the attention is on Seymour not on the Professor nor on his research project. How like Trump he is.

Which thought suggests other similarities. Seymour's party gained 8% of the party vote, fourth of the six parties represented in Parliament. What if Trump's actual support is around 10% and the others who voted for him were in reality voting against Carmela Harris; a woman of colour.