Went out on a 2 day field trip to Rotorua for my Geography class, sadly got hardly any new species with the only 2 I can add that I'm certain of being absolute piss garbage, but I'm putting them on as most likely won't get another chance of seeing them again. Tomtit was confirmed through a blurry black and white blob in the valley that was created a few centuries ago by Mt. Tawawera eruption, (quite interesting how quick nature bounces back after a mere century!), with yellowhammer being confirmed by a sudden flash of yellow seen from the bus. Speaking of which, was really quite pissed that I dipped on pheasant, wallaby and hare considering I probably spent about 7 hours simply staring out of my bus window scanning the countryside/scenery for them, although the harriers were nice. Another one I'm pissed about is great cormorant, being fairly certain of seeing one (although I didn't have my glasses on), seeing what may've been a pair through my binocs, but not being able to get a proper focus on a speeding boat, and then upon returning to the spot finding only little shags! So will just have to try for them later probably at Mangere to complete the 'freshwater' nz cormorant set. Although the wildlifing was definitely subpar and could've been much better, I got to skip 2 days of school, see some geysers and went luging, so overall an enjoyable trip I'd say.
Birds
54. Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala)
55. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
Inverts
31. Ring-legged Earwig (Euborellia annulipes)
(id from few months ago)
). Saw my first new bird since Lesvos during a bird census count, and with a bit of luck another one might show up next week. I also managed a short excursion to my local patch to find some neat dragonflies and even a few butterflies. Finally, I got a bonus mammal during a bat survey when a marten darted down the road at night.