Farewell Spit Eco Tours Blog

This Sperm whale, an older male stranded near the beginning of the Spit after swimming around in Golden Bay for a day or two.

His jaw was removed by local iwi and his body has been donated to science. He was towed away to be sunk and his remains monitored by scientists as they decompose.

The annual Swan count has just been done and there are about 9900 of them on the intertidal plain of the Spit. The Black Swan originally came from Australia, probably blown over in storms. Then in the 1860s  more  were introduced as game birds. They thrive on the Spit as there seems to be an unending supply of zostera (Eelgrass) for them to eat. Last year there were about 6000 Swan and there have been up to 14000 in the past.

Twenty one Pilot whales are now swimming safely away from Farewell Spit thanks to the effort of local Department of Conservation staff and volunteers. Some of the original number were stranded and could not be helped. However the use of a small boat to shepherd the whales out to sea as the tide fell was very effective. A small army of helpers was on hand to assist but the majority were not needed. This was the third whale stranding on the spit in just a few weeks. Three beaked whales on the ocean beach a Sperm whale in Puponga and now the pilot whales. The Farewell Spit whale trap is very effective this year.

Murray’s last trip for the year provided him the opportunity to see the Curlew again, last time out about 3 days ago he saw four of them. The Far Eastern Curlew are the largest of the migratory waders to visit the Spit and we do not see them often. They are similar in size to a White Faced Heron and almost the same colour as a Godwit.

 As the Moon rose last night Collingwood residents were given a rare treat as a pod of more than fifty Dolphins cruised past the beachfront only a few hundred metres from the shore, they were big ones and there was some speculation as to whether or not they were Pilot Whales but a wee boat went out amongst them and the occupants confirmed that they were Dolphins, steaming along at high speed rounding up fish like it was going out of fashion. Dolphins are common in Golden Bay but don’t often come that close to shore near here.

We have been expecting to see Variable Oystercatcher chicks for the past week or two but have seen none. Until today that is!

The little rascals have been keeping well out of sight untl today. Tim and Elaine saw five pairs between them, ranging from a day or two old to just fledged.

Just through the gate and halfway between the high and low tide marks another Sunfish washed up, this is the second in a very short time and very accessable for the public as at he moment it is only a short walk from the end of the main road.

There have been numerous sightings of banded birds on the trips this summer.

More so this year than any other.

John saw a Godwit with a yellow flag or band on each leg today they were high on the left leg and low on the right.

December the 29th is the date for this Summer’s Aorere Raft Race reporting time at Beardmore’s beach is Noon for a 1.00pm start.

On the same day there will be a Market in the main street of Collingwood from 10.00am till 2.00pm.

A thresher shark almost two metres long appeared on the hightide mark halfway along the ocean beach. These sharks are characterised by the long caudal fin which can be up to 50% of the length of the fish. The tail is used to round up it’s prey by slapping the water then to stun the animals it wishes to eat e.g. small fish and squid.