July 31, 2014 Third Time's The Charm - Birdlings Flat

Kaitorete Spit along Lake Ellesmere

Another beautiful day with strong winds and warm temps. We started the day entering over 100 species of plants and animals that we have seen on Nature Watch NZ (see http://naturewatch.org.nz/ and look for UF Biodiversity course under projects). The students (or the squad) wanted to go back to Birdlings Flat and we also decided to take the 18 km trip along Kaitorete Spit is New Zealands second longest sand spit hosting several unique species of flora and fauna, including the only native spider with a poisonous bite, the Katipo (don't worry, they are very rare and we did not see any). 

Little did we know the adventure (especially for me) driving the Gatorwaka through quite a few paddocks with a gravel road and judder bars. I wanted to explore the spit (having never been there) and see were the salt water meets the fresh water of the lake. On y va! (french for here we go)

Gate keeping across paddocks.

Sooooooooooo cute!

First up was some marvelous up close views of ewes (sheep that is of the female kind) with their newly born lamb. Lots of ohhs and ahhhhs and their so cute from the squad. The road to the end of the spit was a mixture of pasture, natives (small shrubs, Muehlenbeckia astonii), and of course lots of beach with ROCKS to collect.

Ewww of a different kind.

Rocks, glorious rocks!

View out across the Pacific Ocean.

When we go to the opening where the ocean met the lake, we saw freshwater pouring out of Lake Ellesmere (Te Waihora). It looked green and full of silt. Lake Ellesmere is one of the most polluted lakes in New Zealand (see https://www.selwyn.govt.nz/facilities-and-parks/facilities/lake-ellesmere) and it used to be a big fishing area, particularly for flounder and eels caught by local Maori. However, wastewater runoff from farms (loaded with nitrates) has polluted the lake and there is an effort to improve the lakes water quality by changing farming practices upstream. See also http://www.wet.org.nz/  We had a close look at where all the nutrients go from the urban and rural  landscape. It even relates to back home where plenty of Floridians dump fertilizers on their lawns, and most of the fertilizers end of up our ground water and waterways. One can see our clean/clear springs changing right before our eyes!

We ended the day relaxing on Birdlings Flat (of course collecting more rocks). Watching gannets and other birds fishing and eating fish. 

Dr. H