At last! A Tui in my garden

When the Tui sits in the Kowhai tree
and the sun tips the mountain tops with gold
when the Rata blooms in the forest glade,
and the hills glow with sunny tints untold.
I love to roam through bush and fern
and hear the Bellbird sing
and feel the touch of the wind on my face
while the joy in my heart does ring.

from the NZ Folk song "Homeland Aotearoa"
Lyrics by A.G. Hall 1920's

For many weeks I have have heard him singing in the bush. His harsh but melodic song was a welcome change from the call of the less than welcome Indian Mynah birds and magpies squabbling over territory. The only one I welcome right now is Mr Hawk. Mr Screech has vanished again so I guess he'll appear again sometime soon. Finally at last the Tui (pronounced Too - ee) made an appearance and I had the camera ready as he fed on the flax flowers just near the house. Tuis are wonderful birds and found only here in New Zealand. I'll plant some more flax for him and his little family then make sure the possums are well and truly kept down in numbers. Hopefully I 'll see him again and soon. Native bush just isn't the same without a tuis' call to give it a voice with a wonderful song. Just like the wonderful song lyrics above I learned as a little girl of just six for a school end of year concert. Strange how some songs just never leave your memory long after you've ceased to sing them.