Another oystercatcher today, this time the variable oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor). Whereas there are over 100,000 South Island pied oystercatchers, there are far fewer variable oystercatchers, only around 5000-6000. That’s an increase on their numbers from the 1970s, when there were only about 2000 left. Their numbers dropped to such low levels because they used to [...]
Kaiteriteri
This is a large rock near Split Apple Rock that a group of spotted shags (Stictocarbo punctatus) have made into a favoured roosting spot. Spotted shags do breed on cliff faces around the Abel Tasman coast, but their real strongholds in the breeding season are the Canterbury and Otago coastlines and Wellington Harbour.
Kererū/New Zealand pigeons (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) are found in many parts of the country, in both native and introduced forests. Their preferred food is fruits of native trees, although they will eat leaves and flowers when their favourite fruits aren’t available. But they’re fussy about this preference for fruit, so much so that their breeding rate [...]
On the drive in towards Kaiteriteri, Stephens Bay Road turns off and goes down to two little bays, Stephens Bay (of course) and Dummy Bay. This rock formation sits at the northern end of Dummy Bay. The beach at Dummy Bay is full of nooks and crannies, and the best time to go is definitely [...]
This is the same spot as yesterday, but from sea level, so you can get a better view of the cave in the rock. Left of the rock is Little Kaiterteri and in the distance beyond the rock is Kaiteriteri and Kaka Point.
At the southern end of Little Kaiteriteri, there’s a track that goes up and over the hill to Dummy Bay. Kaiteriteri Beach is the golden strip in the centre of the frame, and it curves around towards Kaka Point. Beyond Kaka Point lies Marahau, the entry point into the Abel Tasman National Park. Note the [...]
This is Kaiteriteri Beach as seen from the southern end of Kaka Point. The brown patch behind the cluster of shops is the Kaiteriteri Inlet at low tide, and next to the shops is the mostly-empty campground. The hill behind the campground is covered in native bush, while the ones further away host exotic forest [...]
Once you get down to the beach from Moonraker Way, Split Apple Rock is just off the coast. The peaks in the distance are the Marlborough Sounds. The birds on the large rock behind Split Apple Rock are spotted shags (Stictocarbo punctatus), which are common along the coast in the Abel Tasman. During the breeding [...]
It’s easy to tell manuka and kanuka apart when they’re flowering, but how do you tell when they’re not flowering? It’s all in the foliage. The flowers and pods in the centre of the photo mark the tree as manuka. Its leaves are smaller and firmer, spiky to the touch. The clump of leaves being [...]
Manuka and kanuka are two New Zealand native trees that people find difficult to tell apart. It’s easy when they’re flowering: manuka flowers are set further apart on the branches than kanuka flowers, and manuka flowers don’t form the dense sprays that kanuka flowers do. These are manuka flowers.
