dougalm's Journal

Now on a multi-stage journey to walk on along the beach from Paekakariki to about Scotts Ferry in the Manawatu. This will be done at about low tide.

First Stage (15 April) Fine weather - no wind
From the southern point of Paekakariki Beach to the Paekakariki Surf Club building. The predominant seashell on the foreshore was the Triangle Shell with a few Ringed Dosinia, Tuatua, Green-lipped Mussel, and whelks. Also several Cake Urchins mostly broken into sections.

Second Stage (17 April) Fine weather - slight south-easterly wind
From the Paekakariki Surf Club building to the Whareroa Stream. Again the predominant seashell on the foreshore was the Triangle Shell with a few Ringed Dosinia, Tuatua, Green-lipped Mussel and whelks. Also several Cake Urchins mostly broken into sections.

Third Stage (23 April) Fine weather - no wind

From the Whareroa Stream to the Raumati boat ramp (near the swimming pool).

The predominant seashell on the foreshore was the Triangle Shell with several Ringed Dosinia, Tuatua, and a few Green-lipped Mussels, and a few Cake Urchins. Very few whelks. Many Little Black Mussels on the rocks of the seawall. One dead fish (washup) that had been filleted - hard to identify.
Seashells not as plentiful as compared to stages 1 & 2 of this walk.

From the Raumati boat ramp to the Waikanae River.

The predominant seashells on the foreshore were the Triangle Shell and Tuatua. Several Ringed Dosinia, and a few Green-lipped Mussels. Very few whelks.

Seashells very plentiful especially on the northern Raumati beach area.

Seven dead fish (washup) - 4 Australasian Snapper, 2 NZ Blue Cod, and one unidentifiable skeleton. The Snapper and Blue Cod had been filleted.

A short walk from the Waikanae River to the beach end of Te Moana Road, Waikanae.

The predominant seashells on the foreshore (at the hightide and low tide marks) were the Triangle Shell, Tuatua, and Ringed Dosinia. A few Green-lipped Mussels and very few whelks.

Three dead fish (washup) - 1 Australasian Snapper (head only), 1 John Dory, and one unidentifiable partial skeleton.

A large colony of White-fronted Terns near the river mouth. A few Caspian Terns. Several variable Oystercatchers feeding at low tide along the foreshore.

A short walk from the beach end of Te Moana Road, Waikanae to the Waimeha Stream. This walk at mid tide.

The predominant seashells on the foreshore (at the normal high tide mark) were the Tuatua and Ringed Dosinia. At the Spring full tide or storm high tide mark it was mainly Triangle Shells. Very few whelks.

Two dead fin fish (washup) - 1 Kahawai, and one Rig (spine and tail only).

A few variable Oystercatchers, Red-billed Gulls and Black-backed Gulls.