Ruapehu -What a difference a day makes!





Helen, Philip, Sooz, Margi, Dennis & Leslie.

Here we are on route for the Lower Tama lake and then the Upper Tama lake.  Thanks Dennis for the group photos



Lower Tama Lake

Fantastic time and here I am at the upper Tama lake with a view behind me of the lower Tama lake and Ruapehu and no, its not raining now.

 

The Upper Tama Lake

 

Botansing in the rain and getting absolutely soaked through.

Miranda on Valentines Day

Great day to be here and people to catch up with and heaps of birds including godwit and wrybill.

Bird Island for High Tide

The weather was far better today for our planned visit to bird Island for a high tide bird count and checking the traps.

 

..................Photos to follow.

TPPA signing 04.02.2016

This was a huge march of at least 15 thousand people. I know little about the TPPA but who does?

 I wanted to attend to protest  against the  secrecy that our present Government operates under. If its only a trade deal then what do they fear. Truth is its about increasing outside control by multi-national companies and that could have a significant affect on New Zealand's precious Environment.

One Wedding and a Fairy Tern nesting site!

A Happy New year to all.

Here I am in Perth for a wedding which fortunately coincided with the Australian Fairy Tern nesting time. The wedding is in the Margaret river area near Dunsborough.  The nesting site near Fremantle.

I had discovered this site on a previous visit during October 2014 but this was too early to see the fairy terns arrive from further around the coast. I also found nesting sites on Rottnest Island off the coast of Perth.

 Unlike our NZ fairy terns the Australian fairy terns are  colony nesters and their are plenty of them. Fairy terns are found in only three places, NZ, Australia and New Caledonia. The NZ population is the smallest and they are one of our rarest birds.

Fairy tern adult with fish for offspring.

Apparently last year there were over 70 pairs at this site near Perth. This year estimates say between 100-200pairs. In NZ we have only 44/45 Fairy terns with just a few nesting pairs.



First flight for Fairy tern chick

So I have taken the opportunity to watch these birds up close. I'm out watching them feeding most evenings as the site is only 10mins away from where we are staying. This is very challenging to do in NZ although I have been watching birds on the East coast for the last three seasons. Getting close to single pairs without disturbing is a real challenge.

Fairy tern with garfish

I am particularly interested to see the fish that they are feeding their young and these seem plentiful mainly from the ocean nearby.

Temperatures are hot and very hot 42 C max so far.

Penguin Island was also on the list of places to visit. This small island managed by the Parks and Wildlife Department has colonies of crested terns bridled terns and is the nesting site for the blue  penguin. I also spotted some Fairy tern here too and banded rails frequent the picnic area behaving like sparrows looking for picnic scraps.

Crested Tern with fish

Photos to follow.........................

Christmas with your Monday Friend

Christmas celebration time again enjoy a great day on some beautiful beaches on the East coast.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL

Miranda

Photos to follow..............

Climate March Auckland 28.11.2015

Amazing turnout for the Auckland Climate March yesterday

 

 

 

 Photos to follow..............

Pippit

After visiting the beautiful Waitawa reserve yesterday We are back North of Auckland on the East coast surrounded by NZ dotterel and VOC nests but this young pippit with a damaged wing feather stole the day I think.

 

Photos to follow.

VOC Nest -Shoal Bay.

Having watched the Variable oystercatcher chase off a hawk I was expecting that it was defending either eggs or chicks and sure enough today I found the nest site on the shell bank with three eggs in it.

Hot and Wet

Two late entries of recent visits to the East coast.

09.11.2015


16.11.2015

Photos to follow.

Matapouri Coast and hidden pathways.

Back on the Tutukaka coast exploring familiar beaches and hidden paths some leading to secluded beaches.
A solo juvenile godwit on the beach and three endangered pateke duck exploring a drainage ditch in daylight at Wooleys Bay. Sea primrose in flower at Ngungaru, Wooleys bay and at the Mermaid pools.

 

I wanted to revisit the Mermaid pools. Its a steep tricky path at the end of Matapouri  beach probably not to be attempted when wet. The pools were a stunning colour and quite still like a millpond today. On my previous visit a couple of years back the sea was wild and I couldn't get in for a dip. Today was perfect, the cool fresh water took my breath away.  The sun warmed rocks soon warmed me up as I dried off. I'm not sure that a Merman pool is quite so interesting as a Mermaid pool.

 

Whale bay as beautiful as ever I had to have a swim here and later I climbed high above the beach to a headland that maybe could be a pa site.

 

 

On the coastal path to Whale bay native clematis is in flower these are the male flowers.

 

This is a great coastline with so much to explore and the rivers entering the little estuary at Matapouri are great for kayaking too.

Behind Matapouri beach I discovered a hidden pathway leading  to a beautiful  grove of Nikau palms in the DOC Otito Reserve.


 Photos to follow.....

East Coast Return

It's that time of the year when we return to the East coast in time for the nesting season. It is good to be back and I thought to myself that there can be few other places that would trump this one as a place to spend some hours exploring and enjoying good friendships.

 

Dotterel nests and Variable oystercatcher nests riddled the sand dunes and four young pied stilt added to the scene along the river edge.

Finally a very bright full moon reflected on the tributary leading to the sea as the tide turned as we settled down for an evening meal to round of the day.

Glen Kowhai and Duck Creek Reserve

What an interesting walk today with Bot Soc led by Maureen Young. Some fantastic bush with so many interesting species of ferns and orchids and other plants. All amid a lovely setting complete with a river flowing along and through this stunning bush reserve.

 

 

 

 

Early start - Island in the sun.

Up before the crack of dawn yesterday morning to kayak to the island to check equipment and to count  the birds at the Northern tip at high tide.

Mahurangi Regional Park

Godwits have arrived on the beach at  Sullivans bay. There were 29 then later these were joined by another 10. It was approaching high tide so they just stayed out of the way of the few visitors to the beach today.

Miranda - Return of the Godwits

Interesting talk at the Shorebird Centre today by Lee Tibbitts about tracking godwits.

I was pleased to photograph and identify this Pectoral Sandpiper a rare migrant to this part of the world. Keith and Adrian were able to confirm my ID. Many Thanks.

More Photos to follow..............

Shakespear Regional park

Another stunning day and an escape to watch NZ dotterels guarding territory on the beach.

 Photos to follow........................

Motion Detect Cameras

A beautiful day. A clear blue sky day warm and still on the water, ideal for the paddle across to the Island

Dome Forest Walkway

A Bot Soc walk today. Photos and more to follow.

 

Weather Window

Yesterday we took advantage of a weather window to kayak out to the Island to check the newly installed solar power driven sound gear. I was impressed.

High Tide Roost.South Island pied Oystercatcher and red knot in flight