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Redpolls - like small streamlined sparrows with a splash of red
Redpolls (Carduelis flammea) are tiny finches which look like they’ve been blooded in some primal hunting ritual. They are supposedly common, but yesterday evening was the first opportunity I’ve had to both study them closely and get some decent photos. I was watching a tui when a small flock of around a dozen arrived in the kowhai tree, jittering and singing like caffeinated pixies. I couldn’t believe my luck and hurt my neck peering upward, afraid they would take off before I had the opportunity to see them properly. The light was going, it was after 6.00pm and all but the very top of the tree was in shadow. I need not have worried, they were settling for the night and I left before they did. The female only has a red streak on the top of her head, whereas the male looks like he ate a rare steak without cutlery. Manor Park, Lower Hutt.
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This week's prize winners
Congratulations to the winners of the $100 grocery vouchers. The winners are:
Blair Roddick from Blenheim
Greer Bell from Snells Beach
Dorothy Burt from Levin
Hannah Rice from Aranui
Winners must get in touch with us here before Tuesday, 25th February to claim their prize.
Not a winner this time? Never fear, there's always next week.
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The Online Garage Sale of the Summer
It's time to clean out the garage (or closet or cupboard!) and make some money back on your summer goods. Get involved with the Neighbourly online garage sale on Saturday, February 22nd.
Whether it's time to let go of your spare tent, your beach umbrella or maybe clear some clothes from your wardrobe, the Neighbourly garage sale is the place to do it - it's free and it's local!
If this is your first Neighbourly garage sale, the way it works is that you list your items individually ahead of the event and members perusing the garage sale items online will contact you to buy it.
Make sure you check out the treasure trove of bargains on Saturday, February 22nd - it's well worth a look!
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Kiwirail don't care about our community. Ava bridge.
From Kiwirail. Received today February 10th.
Work on the Ava railway bridge is scheduled to begin later this month, meaning that the walkway will be closing from 24 February.
We’re mindful that the walkway is well used by the community. The upgrade to the bridge is essential and urgent, and involves replacing the sleepers that the walkway is attached to – to keep the rail bridge in good working order for commuter trains we have to do the maintenance work now.
We are continuing to talk with Hutt City Council and are open to replacing the walkway in the future in a way that is safe and compliant. Funding for a replacement would need to be sourced via Hutt City Council as KiwiRail is only funded for work on the rail corridor, and public walkways sit outside of that.
🤬🤬🤬🤬
So mindful that they didn't mention it in nearly ten months of chat with the council.