ADULT & JUVENILE RED-BILLED GULLS OR SILVER GULLS, GOVERNMENT GARDENS, ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND

MALE CHAFFINCH, MATAMATA, NEW ZEALAND

SHARON & GEORGE IN FRONT OF HOBBIT HOUSE, MATAMATA, NEW ZEALAND

HOBBIT HOUSES IN MATAMATA, NEW ZEALAND

   Matamata is a town in the shadow of the Kaimai Range Mountains, on New Zealand's North Island. South of the town, the Hobbits Movie Set was created for Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" films.  Within Matamata there are a number of buildings which have been built or renovated to look like Hobbit houses.

PIED CORMORANTS OR PIED SHAGS, THAMES, NEW ZEALAND

VARIABLE OYSTERCATCHER, THAMES, NEW ZEALAND

COMMON MYNAS, THAMES, NEW ZEALAND