Boats cancelled -Strong Easterlies.

My visit today to Motuora Island has been cancelled due to strong Easterlies. The Tiri Island catamaran has also been cancelled. So we will catch up on other things today.

I was hoping  to be involved in more weta survey work. But also wanted to photograph spring flowers on the Island.

Karo is now in flower at Tuff crater, some trees showing their seed pods too.

I expect these high winds will cause many Karo flowers to drop.

Kahikatea Planting at Tuff

Ten large and very heavy kaihikatea trees donated by Don Turner of Takana plants were planted in wet areas this morning at Tuff Crater by a small group of Forest and Bird and other community volunteers. These trees love to have their feet wet and I have often watched silvereye birds searching for insects in kahikatea on the other side of the lagoon. Monarch  butterflies seem to also like feeding on them and I'm sure other small insects too..

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

Fishing or Trapping?

Well actually some of both. We waded across the river, it was cold just 10 degrees. The air temperature around 11 degrees with the wind chill of a persistent southerly breeze down the river. But the sun was shining and Eliane was keen to continue her fish survey.

Native freshwater Crayfish / koura





I was keen to help and see what might turn up this time. This survey should give an indication of the health of the river and show the potential for food for foraging terns to feed their chicks. These native crayfish/koura are a good indication of healthy water quality.

Great evening with Suzy, George,

Anne, Eliane. Thanks All and a great wine choice Anne. You danced  your legs of at the 'Harley D' club Eliane!

 

More to follow.....................

Naturepath

Introducing Naturepath. A North Shore, Forest and Bird initiative for a proposed NATURE friendly cycleway and walkway linking the proposed harbour bridge Skypath, linking Northcote and Takapuna via Tuff Crater Reserve. This route avoids the sensitive Shoal Bay area which is a Site of Special Wildlife Interest.
 Naturepath Cycleway Route

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Harker Reserve -Tuakau

                                       Vivien falls Harker Reserve

A Bot Soc walk today. in the Harker bush reserve. I was pleased to get to grips with the identification on Diplodium trullifolium  with help from the group pointing out the embossed lower leaves and trowel like upper stem leaves

Mt.Tamahunga

Tagged along with Eliane for  a stroll checking 28 traps on Mt Tamahunga today along three trap lines.
Access to the forest across farmland to reach the  bush with stunning views to the coast.

Large rimu, tairaire, tawa and nikau.
The bright small red  berries of nertera carpet the forest floor in some place as we climbed the ridges and crossed streams in the valleys of Tamahunga bush reserve following the trap lines.

Then checking six coastal traps.

Thank you Anne for cooking dinner for two hungry people and thank you John for entertaining us. A neat evening

Karekare-Waitakeres

Following on from our recent trek up Whatipu beach I wanted to explore the Karekare end in more detail.

The idea was to  walk over the Zion hill track then down to the beach to check out the Tunnel campsite, exploring the wetlands on the way. It was a bit of a mud-slide coming down the hill but what can you expect it's the Waitakeres in winter.

I have been wanting to do this for quite some time but have been beaten by time, tide and weather. You can see from my star jump attempts that I was pleased to be here. Eliane was keen to explore a new area too.

Today was perfect and there are now plans to camp at the Tunnel campsite sometime in the future.

 Waterup or waterfall? Eliane is checking.

The longest mud slide?

Wrybill

Late entry.  I watched 43 wrybill feeding at low tide on the Bayswater side of Shoal Bay on Monday 28th July. Apparently there are 2500 at Miranda at the present time.