Exploring the Moana After a Tsunami Warning Cancelled

Disclaimer: I do not recommend disregarding Tsunami Warnings and Advisory Notices

Ruaumoko threw a tantrum on 2 September 2016 off the coast of Te Araroa resulting in a 7.1 magnitude earthquake and Civil Defence issued a tsunami warning, - which included Otaipango - that later they cancelled although they did advise "Expect unusually strong currents and unpredictable water flows near the shore. Say out of the water and off beaches and shore areas."

Now I had already planned the day before to go and wander around in the moana this day and even through CD had issued the warnings and advisory notice, the day was fine and the tides were good so off we went. One of the first things I do every time going into the moana, regardless of warnings, is from the cliffs looking down to check the currents, wind, waves, birds, clouds, smells, surf sound and rocks. All of these are tools that when used correctly will let you know what is happening and what will happen in a few hours at the beach and if you know how to read and interpret them correctly then it is easy to work out if it is safe to go in and where to go. So after assessing the main Otaipango and deciding it was not safe there we went and checked out Kauere which passed the safety test and in we went.

As usual we had a wonderful time, seeing the usual suspects as well as discovering beautiful and new creatures we had not seen before and of course, no wandering around would be complete without spotting at least one wheke (octopus) and this one was a cheeky little poser! Check out the full post to see what this one did LOL

Disclaimer: I do not recommend disregarding Tsunami Warnings and Advisory Notices

Posted on September 02, 2016 10:24 PM by tangatawhenua tangatawhenua

Observations

Photos / Sounds

Observer

tangatawhenua

Date

September 2, 2016 02:55 PM NZST

Description

Ok, I think I finally have this right instead of thinking it is a black doris :)

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Fern Caulerpa (Caulerpa flexilis)

Observer

tangatawhenua

Date

September 2, 2016 02:57 PM NZST

Description

I think this is what this one is.

shallow sub tidal zone

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Pillbox Crabs (Genus Halicarcinus)

Observer

tangatawhenua

Date

September 2, 2016 03:10 PM NZST

Description

Maybe Elamena producta which is a total guess as the last one of these I found didn't have the striped legs. Although the NIWA crab book Pg 18 says:
Striking white patches are often present at base of last pair of legs. Legs often purple tinged with
white bands, claw pincers white tipped.

However no purple tinges and the colour bands on the legs seem to be the same for each.

Aha! Just as birds are banded crabs must be also! LOL

Small, body no more that about 8mm wide. Found under a rock in the intertidal zone.

Tags

Photos / Sounds

Observer

tangatawhenua

Date

September 2, 2016 03:13 PM NZST

Description

This "floating bit of seaweed" ended up not being a floating bit of seaweed, but what ever this is, it is super blended into the brown seaweed environment.

Pen marks on the glove are 10mm apart.

Do not even know if this would be under crustacean.

Photos / Sounds

What

Typical Octopuses (Family Octopodidae)

Observer

tangatawhenua

Date

September 2, 2016 03:22 PM NZST

Description

This cheeky wheke, not wanting to miss an opportunity to be on Nature Watch like all of the other wheke in the whanau, tapped the foot of @rongoa a few times to get our attention, else we would not have seen it.

Once it had our attention the little poser then changed colour which I have not captured before. It is hard being a wheke model so at the end of the photo shoot, it shut it's eye to sleep (last photo).

I will have to do more research on this phenomenon, for if the wheke are now letting us know they are there, it will make it easier for @pjd1 and whanau to find them LOL

Photos / Sounds

Observer

tangatawhenua

Date

September 2, 2016 03:31 PM NZST

Description

Here is a small brittlestar (pen marks on glove 10mm apart) which while it looks the same as this one on the front - http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/3708705 it has a different back from and on that obs I learnt that it is not O. maculata.

The interesting thing is that it seems to change the shape of the end of it arms from pointed to flat.

First one I have seen since that last one @sadiem :)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

tangatawhenua

Date

September 2, 2016 03:37 PM NZST

Description

Not soo sure if this is Ophionereis fasciata or not as the front and the back are slightly different from Ophionereis fasciata.

Lurking under a rock in the low intertidal zone.

Photos / Sounds

What

Mottled Brittle Star (Ophionereis fasciata)

Observer

tangatawhenua

Date

September 2, 2016 03:37 PM NZST

Description

Lurking under a rock in the low intertidal zone.

Photos / Sounds

What

Typical Seapills (Family Sphaeromatidae)

Observer

tangatawhenua

Date

September 2, 2016 03:45 PM NZST

Description

First one of these I hvae come across with the blue dashes.

Under a rock in the lod intertidal zone.

Photos / Sounds

What

Tree Ring Chiton (Onithochiton neglectus)

Observer

tangatawhenua

Date

September 2, 2016 03:45 PM NZST

Description

Lurking under a rock in the low intertidal zone.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

tangatawhenua

Date

September 2, 2016 03:54 PM NZST

Description

I think this is what this one is.

Lurking under a rock in the low intertidal zone.

Comments

14th Nov 2016 - The Power of Ruaumoko Exposed journal post showing the changed to the sea bed around the Kaikoura coast after the earthquake on the 14 Nov 2016

Posted by tangatawhenua almost 8 years ago

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