Whangateau estuary
I have always been intrigued since being educated by John Walsby about how stingray feed on cockle shells in our estuaries. Staying at the excellent Whangateau campsite for a couple of nights recently I was reminded of a memorable visit to the Whangateau village hall at the edge of the Whangateau harbour in January 2011 that I first met John who was part of an environment open day event.
In the morning there were snorkeling activities for children. Then talks about the many marine creatures on display in tanks on trestle tables in the hall. Roger Grace the expert underwater photographer was also present. Sadly, Roger has since passed away.
After the excellent talks John offered to take a group to explore the now waterless estuary. What I haven't mentioned is that the weather was atrocious on that day and although there was a good number of visitors at this event only 7 of us were game enough to join John on what was to be for me a not to be missed opportunity to learn from an excellent educator.
 |
| Whangateau estuary with John Walsby January 2011 |
 |
| Whangateau estuary with John Walsby January 2011 |
 |
| Whangateau estuary February 2024 |
With a little imagination you can see the shape of a stingray as it flutters its wings to clear the sand so exposing in a little pit the buried cockle shells which it would then devour leaving only small fragments of shell.
 |
| Stingray cockle feeding pit. |
Fortunately, the weather on our present stay is very different and we have had yet another week of sunshine and heat.
Tawharanui open sanctuary
The sands at Tawharanui were too hot to walk on barefoot but I did enjoy exploring one of the wetlands on the Tawharanui peninsular behind the predator proof fence of this open sanctuary.
 |
| Tawharanui white sand beach |
 |
| Tawharanui predator proof fence |
 |
| Tawharanui wetlands |