Look who gatecrashed for a free breakfast

 This is a wild rabbit that has made itself at home in the orchard area that also holds most of my chooks and ducks.  It has been around since it was quite small but scooted off rapidly when I was feeding out -  until recently.

 I was impressed to see it happily come and feed among the birds a few days ago but the camera didn't cooperate that time.  I thought I would see it again and this morning it hopped up and started to enjoy the wheat.

 It is quite comfortable in the midst of the poultry.  It was bumped by a hen at one stage and lurched a little, adjusted and carried on nibbling.

 Needless to say it wasn't too scared of me as I moved around doing the chores.  It continued to feed happily a couple of metres away.

I don't want a tribe of rabbits in the orchard but this gate-crasher can carry on for now - one of the charming surprises that come when you live in the country.  It's also evidence of the power of food!

Update:  This afternoon I was feeding some pullets (around 16 weeks old).  they are a nervy group of pure heritage birds.  I was watching them eat and discouraging the swarms of sparrows trying to pinch their food.  Then the chooks started to cluck nervously and shy away from the area behind the water tank where I couldn't see.  A few moments later Rabbit appeared and calmly nibbled some pellets.  the young birds were quite non-plussed, and kept a watchful distance in a circle around Rabbit.  No photos of that but shortly later, back in the orchard, who should appear but....

All Bright and Shining.

This fellow popped up a couple of days ago. He was wandering along the road as I turned in the gate to the sheds with a load of firewood. After I had driven in, backed the trailer and parked he was in the driveway, eating fallen pears. He was not at all nervous about me being nearby.

A few minutes later he was strolling by the house and I snapped him wandering around the garden. His lack of fear is a worry - I suspect he has been recently released.

We see a few pheasants around here (they are released for hunting but also just to have them about, I think) but not ones as unafraid as this one.  

"I hope it doesn't sting!"

I spotted this interesting critter on the kitchen window a couple of weeks ago.  Here it is:

I hadn't seen this insect before and it got my attention - the body and "tail" are around 10cm long.  Some searching revealed it is a giant ichneumon wasp, introduced here in the sixties to help control another wasp, Sirex noctilio, that is a pest in forests. 

That long "tail" is an ovipostitor to lay eggs in the grubs of its host species deep in trees and dead logs. 

There is a good discussion here: http://bugeric.blogspot.co.nz/2009/06/giant-ichneumon-wasps.html

Halfway down the comments,  Fallon says this: "I just smashed one of these evil-looking bastards with a hammer. It did not look harmless and was sure that "tail" was some kind of needle. And I live on the south island of New Zealand! Invasive? Thanks for the info. Will not kill the next one I see."

They certainly look a touch menacing but no need to smash them!