The Birds of Muriwai

The gannets you'll be seeing today are Australasian gannets. They nest here, incubating their eggs for 44 days and then remain a bit longer while their young grow, practice flying, and get ready for their approximately 2000 km flight across to Austrailia. 

They are quite a spectacle to see and hear (and smell) and I was lucky enough to get a really good look at a pair of them as one returned from feeding and was welcomed home by its mate. (third video)

Here's the good stuff...

We are just starting our walk from the carpark to the first viewing platform. This is looking south. Look at the apparent size of the people down there. 

We're on the steps going down to the first platform. Arram agreed to pose for a picture here because, back in 2012, I took his picture not far from here. He looks happier today than he did way back then. He was feeling a bit grumpy that day I think. 

Same steps, same handrail, but Arram is now about twice as tall as he was in this picture. 

And here is Amiri standing tall above the thick carpet.  Allie is taking a break in the tall grass, much like Amiri is doing in the next picture. It was also taken on our 2012 trip. 

The view north from one of the viewing platforms. I didn't take many pictures from the platforms, but I did take some videos. 

In the past, when I uploaded my videos to Youtube, I was able to remove shakiness from the video. Today, I wanted to do the same with two of these, but could
no longer find the feature in the edit screen. So the first one shakes a bit unfortunately. The third video has a sequence in it too, when I try to zoom in on some terns, that also shakes. If, in their last 'upgrade,' Youtube removed that edit feature for good, I'm guess I'm going to have to get much better, and steadier, when I take my videos. I want to give you the best product  I can after all. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwU6_zWgY9w&feature=youtu.be



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvWfBwWGfxo



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU_q-WqhBcw&feature=youtu.be

To the right of the gannet platforms lie 'Fishermans' Rock. It's now at low tide, and the rock looks completely safe. During a high tide not long ago, a man was washed out to sea and drowned. 

After watching the gannets, I turned my attention to the north end of the beach, and noticed something about the blowhole rock. Check this out.

There is the rock and the blowhole.  The new cave-in looks bigger than it was.

 I first showed you a picture of the collapse of the rock surface near the blow hole on 1/17/17, but it looks as though that new hole has opened up even more since then. 

Well, Arram has been patiently waiting to go down and kick his soccer ball around on the beach for a while and we are all tired of smelling the gannets. While they are undoubtedly beautiful and entertaining to watch, their personal hygene habits leave a lot to be desired, and make viewing them in person for any length of time, from downwind, quite a trial.  

My next post will be from the beach.         -djf

South end of Muriwai

It's time to leave the cave and look for more adventures. Arram reports that crabs have been very scarce so far, in fact, nonexistent. That's not too surprising. Crabs love mud and Muriwai is not a muddy place. We'll keep our fingers crossed that maybe we'll find some crabs under the rocks we'll soon reach. 

We had just started our hike to the south end of the beach when I came across this lady marking in the sand. She is a sand artist. She said that she and her partner were planning to make a labyrinth. I'll check back later and see how it turns out...

There is another smaller rock formation above the car park. This one is much larger. 

The family has outdistanced me. They are almost to the south end. Look at the layers of rock. The largest boulder visible on the left side and many of the smaller ones are all pillow lava.

If you're interested, here is a link to an explanation of pillow lava. Who knew?

This site also has a much better picture of the cliff face that I showed you one picture above. 

https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/pillow-talk/

Lookin' for those elusive crabs...

Despite Arram's efforts, and those of the entire crab-hunting team, no living specimens were found. 

Here are some videos of the area...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2pxi__-7qU&feature=youtu.be

This next video shows a really tiny water fall Jeanne showed me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvnGUcV6PWA&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEgTFtajvIw&feature=youtu.be

There are some very narrow beaches (sandy) up there past those rocks. If I was 25 again, I'd have scaled the rock field to explore them. As it is though, that sort of thing is beyond me. 

I haven't adjusted the color. It's really that bright a green. 

I like this bit of cliff face. Just above the nearly horizontal crack line, on the lower right half of the picture, I can imagine small human-looking figures emerging from the rock. They make me think of the statues of saints I have seen in cathedrals in Europe. I can visualise larger statues in these grotto-like openings. The small picture below gives you an idea of what I'm talking about. 

  What do you see from your perches on the pillow?  "Goompa, (Arram coined a new term for grandpa) look up above the cliff."

As the afternoon wore on, many more surfers arrived to replace those coming out. 

It's lunch time. We have an ideal view. Allie has some chairs set up for Jeanne and I and the chilly bin holds our Subways. 

Food, water, and rest. Just what we all needed. 

Here is the product of the sand artists' creativity.  

The next post will take you to the gannet nesting rocks and I'll take a nostalgic look at a couple of places along the way.      -djf

Lets go to Muri-Why? Why not?

Yeah, yeah, I know. I've shown you several posts featuring Muriwai Beach in the past.  But consider for a moment. Do you really think you know Muriwai? 

The southern-most portion of Muriwai is about half a mile long. It is bounded by lava outcropings on the south and a sea cave on the north. The waves in between are very popular with surfers.  Then there are the gannet colonies and the rocks, including the blow-hole. Then, there is the northern portion with it's miles of sand. It extends all the way up and past the beach we call Birthday that's a good 10 miles north of the swimming beach at Muriwai. 

I don't think I'll run out of interesting photos of this amazing place. 

I've said that I think that Bethell Beach is my favorite beach over-all. That's because it is somewhat closer to us and because it has just so many things to look at. Muriwai is my favorite jaw-dropping beach though. That means there is a place on the beach that I think is so awe-inspiringly gorgeous that photography is completely unequal to the task of bringing it to you. And I so wish I could. 

Remember back when I was taking pictures of the moon and I said that upgrading my equipment wouldn't really give me That much better pictures? Well, I think the same can be said about my favorite spot at Muriwai. I don't care how good a camera I had, I wouldn't be able to show you what it really feels like to stand on the sand, with the wind and the surf and the sun, and gawk at the spectacle of the 'gannet rocks.' 

This past Saturday was perfect. We had a blue sky and warm but not hot temperatures. Allie issued a parental decree at breakfast. "We are going to Muriwai," she announced. 

We had had crepes moments earlier with chopped Grany Smith apples, strawberries, kiwis, bananas, and chocolate and strawberry yogurt. We adults were also fully caffeinated. 

Allie made her pronouncement regarding our plans for the day and then added, "You guys know what to do to get ready. Hop to it."  (I think she was talking to the boys but Jeanne and I jumped too.) We left less than an hour later.  (She didn't really have to push us very hard. Arram wondered if he would find any crabs and Amiri dreamed of getting good and wet.)

We made a brief stop at the Subway shop on Lincoln Road and then off we went to the beach. Please come along. 

Not all my pictures came out as well as I had hoped. Some of them taken in the sea cave are out of focus. I think it is because the constant motion of the water and possibly the outside light reflectiing from the water on to the cave's walls and ceiling gave my camera fits. Well, it did it's best. What I have is pretty good. Take a look at our day. 

Arriving at the car park. 

There is a much more gradual route down to the beach over to the left of this path. 

It's actually steeper here than it looks. Jeanne and I considered this route carefully before committing to it. We took our time and made it just fine. 

We did take the easier way coming back up though. 

When he got to the beach, we turned right and were pleased to see the sea cave entrance  was high and dry. (for the moment anyway)
Those are terns. They are also nesting but the gannets rule the roost(s). 

We're getting too close for the tern's comfort. Off they go.

Allie and the boys are checking it out. 

Allie, Jeanne and Arram are just to the left of the cave, searching the rocks there for crabs. (one of Arram's special interests at the moment.) Amiri can't wait to see the cave. Nor can I. 

 We've never been in this cave before. It's floor is smooth sand.
Look at the colors on the walls.

Amiri takes his time and is watching to see what the sea might do. Surf sounds are very loud in here. 

There were some small waves that came in and tickled his toes.
Then, it got more exciting...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HicoyVzk8bQ

Later, after the tide went out a bit, we ventured farther into the cave and looked at what was around the corner toward the sea side opening.  Notice that it gets bigger as we go in. 

Allie counted her steps as she returned to the shore-side opening of the cave. It was 55 paces, and she made them taking fairly large strides. 

I'd estimate that it is 25 or 30 paces from the camera to the sea-side front of the cave shown here. 

Looking straight out. That's only about a foot or so of water. 

Angled just a bit here to see the off-shore rocks better.

 I like this picture of Amiri. With the tide no longer making waves an issue, Allie and Amiri were able to go back in and take a few minutes to just soak in what they were seeing. 

Time to head down the beach to the south end. 

 The terns have relaxed again. 

 They are fast moving. I didn't have much time but caught a couple of them holding still. 

 This is it.  This is my favorite area of Muriwai. Especially when the gannets are nesting. They soar against the sky and rocks and are just so spectacular. 

Well, that's it for today. I'll continue to bring you much more Muriwai very soon. -djf

Massey University and Long Bay

A couple of months ago, Jeanne found a flier on a table in our Community Center. It was asking for volunteers, 65 to 80 years of age, to take part in a Massey University study of ageing and health. She decided to participate. 

Accordingly, one day we travelled up to the university and found the building that housed the testing facility. While Jeanne filled out forms, was measured, tested, poked, prodded, scanned and questioned, I continued to ride the buses, finally reaching Long Bay. That's on the Pacific side of the island. 

I took a few pictures that you might enjoy...

The center of campus

We got her there on time. "See you in about six hours, Hon." Good luck.

About 40 minutes later, I arrived here at Long Bay. It was a misty, moisty morning. 

Looking straight out.

Looking north along the beach at high tide.

Looking south

Don't know what that is, some fancy yacht I suppose. I've never seen a ferry like that that I recall. I'll keep my eyes open when I'm around Auckland's harbour again. Maybe I'll spot it. 

Dredging?

As the morning progressed, it became a little clearer. This is an education and recreation center that serves the area.

A group of students is here today to learn kayaking 

As you can see, conditions here are ideal for beginners.  Not only are the waves minimal, it is also very shallow. At low tide, all these paddlers would be sitting on sand.  Those farthest out are in knee-deep water.    

That afternoon, I picked Jeanne up and found her no worse for wear after the experience. A bit tired out and hungry, but pleased that she had taken part. And, she had a $50 grocery coupon in her pocket as a thank-you. 

As a follow up to the study, she had to record everything she ate and drank for the next four days. A couple of weeks later, she also received in the mail a very detailed report and summary of all tests they had taken. She found that she was in pretty good shape. She was instructed to give the report to her doctor during her next scheduled visit. Since then, she and her doctor have used the report to fine-tune her health maintenance program.     -djf