In the South Island, about one in 20 fantails is a black morph, this chocolate brown guy with a grey/black head. It’s the same species (Rhipidura fuliginosa) as the more common pied morph, it’s just a genetic anomaly. Oddly, the fantail’s scientific name is more suggestive of the uncommon black morph than it is of the more well-known pied morph, “fulignosa” means sooty.
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 be eaten, but even following protection in the 1920, their population hasn’t boomed. Like many natives, their reproductive success is low because of introduced predators and because of nests getting flooded or otherwise destroyed by human activities. Fortunately for the variable oystercatcher population, the adults live a long time, up to 30 years.
The South Island pied oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi) population numbers sit at around the 110,000 mark, making it one of the most abundant oystercatchers in New Zealand. They hang around the coast, except during the breeding season, when they tend to move inland to breed on braided riverbeds.
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 is generally low because they wait until there’s lots of fruit around.
These two harriers (Circus approximans) demonstrate how variable their colour can be. The birds start out a chocolate brown colour, like the one in the left, and each time they moult, they become lighter in colour. In Māori, the term kāhu-kōrako is used for older harriers. Kāhu is their Māori name and kōrako means white/albino.
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 low tide.
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 cave in the rock in the foreground; a lot of the coastline has these crevices carved out by wave action.
Although neighbour Marlborough is better known for its wines, the part of the Tasman District that stretches from Riwaka over to Richmond and from Ruby Bay to the Moutere Hills is dotted with vineyards. This photo, taken late last year, shows vines near Kina Beach, on the Ruby Coast.
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