Mangawhai Magic days

Staying again in a beautiful location overlooking the Mangawhai estuary. Today the harbour is like a millpond with birds flying across looking for feeding sites. Godwit, SIPOS, Vocs.
No sight of Fairy Tern today just the gentle roar of the surf on the ocean beach beyond the sand spit.

Photos to follow.

Motuora Island Tank Set-up

At last a clear fine day for a visit to Motuora. Today the main task is creating a level base for the two huge water tanks and then spinning them round and locating them ready for plumbing in.

Water tank tipped onto sand base

This all went very well.

Slight adjustments

Lots more sand needed for the tank base.

Pushing tank into position

Other tasks of the day were cleaning the seabird nest boxes and burrows and identifying the plants in the nursery.

And a chance to photograph a dotterel in breeding plumage and a kereru.

NZ dotterel in breeding plumage

 

Kereru in kowhai tree

.

Yet another Okura Judgement Day.

A good result 13 votes to 4 against accepting the council officers recommendation that the  IHP (Independent hearing panel) recommendation that the RUB (Rural Urban Boundary) be moved at Okura to allow development

 Its been a long week listening to the Council members as they deliberate over the IHP (Independent Hearings Panel) for the Unitary Plan for Auckland. I prefer to call it the 'Unitary Thought'- for it seems that it is all and only about massive development of land in and around the city of Auckland. 

Auckland Council Chambers.

A few wise men and women-trying to preserve the character of Auckland from total speculation.

"One Swallow............

What is the saying? "One swallow doesn't make a summer". Yesterday at the Northboro reserve at Shoal bay there were quite a few welcome swallows although it was a cold day but the sun was shining.

 

 

 These birds were catching insects above the freshwater area at the head of the Northboro mangrove inlet. The pipe crossing this area is covered in spider webs. A good place for spiders to catch insects too.

 

 This is a great place to watch eels. Only caught a glimpse of one today. That appeared when a small boy with his mother threw in some bread for the ducks.