Cruising the Tohe Twice in One Day
What an amazing way to start the new year! Usually when we do a Tohe run it is only one way, tide dependent. Weather or not we go northbound or sounthbound depending on what the buses are doing and if the tide is late enough we can even aviod them which is better still.
On the 1st Jan 2017 @pjd1 and the whanau rocked up so we decided to do a late afternoon Tohe run as the tides and weather was right. pjd1, one of his tama and my son went up the road while his wahine and the other tama came with me up the Tohe. We syncronised watches as we had to meet at Te Paki stream by 5.30pm so they could swap over and I take the ones who went up the road back down the Tohe. And just as the tide waits for no one, I wait for no one when what I am doing is tide dependent.
I know each time we do a Tohe run that there are always new things to see, but I did think that going up and back down the Tohe in one day would mean that the same things would be spotted and there would not be much difference. Not so - there were different things found on each run which just goes to highlight for me even more what an amazing place the Tohe is and how lucky I am to have easy access :)
Here is a selection of plants, birds, fish and other marine life that we found.
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Taranui (Caspian Tern) (Hydroprogne caspia)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
First day of 2017 and first day out on the Tohe for a while so nice to see this going north and were also spotted going south the same day will @pjd1.
Photos / Sounds
What
Tākapu (Australasian Gannet) (Morus serrator)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
Sad to see this on the bluff and obvious that there is a fishing line of some sort which probably is from a long liner out fishing off the Tohe.
Going north and south the same day will @pjd1.
Photos / Sounds
What
New Zealand Bull Kelp (Durvillaea antarctica)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
Happily surging in a gut at the bluff on the trip north and also seen on the southbound trip.
Photos / Sounds
What
Karoro (Black-backed Gull) (Larus dominicanus ssp. dominicanus)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
The usual suspects out on the Tohe spotted on both the northbound and southbound trips.
This particular one was spotted on the northbound, having a feed if an ika. After we stopped and I got the photos of the ika (another obs) as soon as I walked away there was a big squabble by three karoro as to who was to carry on eating the ika.
On the southbound trip I heard this refered to as the SBG, a term I have not heard before but used alot by @pjd1 until I managed to indoctrinate him and son into using karoro - the others with me on the northbound trip were also indoctrinated to use karoro :)
Photos / Sounds
What
Yellowtail Scad (Trachurus novaezelandiae)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
This ika was been eaten by a karoro (last photo for scale). Spotted on the northbound trip.
Photos / Sounds
What
Reef Sea Star (Stichaster australis)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
The endemic reef starfish is the main predator of kutai (mussels) and helps to stop them taking over everything. As this area has alot of kutai, there are also a lot of these star fish, ensuring that the biodiversity balance is maintained.
@pjd1 is pointing out the round thing (Aue! just been hit by alzimers so can not remember what that is *LOL)
Southbound trip.
Photos / Sounds
What
Cart-Rut Shell (Dicathais orbita)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
This cart rut shell was found dislodged from the rocks and upside down in a rock pool so a perfect opportunity to photograph the animal.
Southbound trip.
Photos / Sounds
What
Dictyota kunthiiObserver
tangatawhenuaDescription
Aue! I know this is not ecklonia radiata but that alzimers is really working now and @pjd1 didn't put this one on the notes! LOL
Will have to sit on the stressful deck for a while after adding this lot :)
Southbound trip.
Photos / Sounds
What
Rig (Mustelus lenticulatus)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
Having @pjd1 here meant I had guidence on what to photograph to help with ID - mainly the gills that I have never focused on before so much appreciated :) Also just realised that we did not see any of these on the northbound trip.
We think this is different from the other one found this day @clinton?
Southbound trip.
Photos / Sounds
What
Gulfweed Crab (Planes minutus)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
I think this is the copmmon rock crab even though found in a sandy area, it could have been living on the goose barnacle log.
Southbound trip.
Photos / Sounds
What
Soft Shore Isopod (Scyphax ornatus)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
I think this may be a sandhopper and I am hoping with the great face photo that you may be able to ID it for us @clinton :)
The finger vice belong to @pjd1 and the last photo, while blurry gives an overview of what it sort of looks like while running away from the dreaded fingers :)
Southbound trip.
Photos / Sounds
What
Shore Groundsel (Senecio lautus)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
Growing on Te Wakatehaua.
Southbound trip.
Photos / Sounds
What
Matuku Moana (Reef Heron) (Egretta sacra)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
Totally stoked to finally see one of these and would not have seen it if my whanaunga @pjd1 did not point it out to me :)
Photos / Sounds
What
Gould's Flying Squid (Nototodarus gouldi)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
Not sure what type of squid this is.
Photos / Sounds
What
Poaka (Pied Stilt) (Himantopus leucocephalus)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
Nice to see these and made me realised they are not lurking around Otaipango this year.
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