Site closed-use NFOBB.com
I have given up on this site today and have moved the blog. Use nfobb.com in future.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Morning beach visit.
Sue and I went down to Bushy Beach about 9am this morning. When we were there last night we had noticed what looked like blood on the penguin path by the viewing platform. We wanted to have a check in the bushes to make sure there wasn’t an injured bird lying in there, as expected we found nothing. Phew!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Fine Friday
After another morning shifting earth from one pile to another and a fruitless few hours trying to get this site to work with me it was time for the beach.
Had a nice walk, lovely calm day but chilly in the shade. Only fur seals for company on the beach but back up at the hide a few folk soon appeared but didn’t hang around. However a nice couple from Somerset, UK came early and were patient and were well rewarded. Becky & George saw the first Yellow-eyed Penguin come in at 4.10pm and by the time they left at 5.45pm a total of 20 YEPs were seen arriving. But it wasn’t the numbers that made the day special, it was again the platform performance that was stunning. 2 walked past at 4.35 only 15 minutes after they came ashore, another strolled by around 5pm and there were another two standing and singing close to the platform. They were still there when we left. There were 37 visitors this afternoon including a few families with youngsters and all were well behaved. Excellent.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
A day in the life….
Rehab; Spent the morning yet again shifting dirt. It isn’t the best fun I can think of but I am beginning to see the benefits of the labour. I have managed to reclaim quite a large area of grass from the mud pile. Obviously though the earth pile is getting bigger, not sure what to do with that! After a welcome shower I spent ages at the computer trying to understand how to do what I am typing now, still can’t get photos up but I do keep trying.
Beach; It was a gorgeous day for a walk on the beach with a blue sky and shining sun but without the cold wind of the past two days. I saw 5 fur seals and the little blue on it’s nest before going up to the hide to start the penguin watch. A couple of smoking Spaniards were entrenched in the hide so I stood at the fence awaiting the first arrival. A Yellow-eyed Penguin came ashore at 3.40 and by 5.45pm when I left I had counted a total of 20 (3/4, 11/5) coming out the surf. The viewing experience around the platform was again awesome for those that waited it out. About 4.45pm the first YEP appeared in the bush by the platform and there was constant viewing and listening from then on, similar to last nights experience. Enjoyed chatting to Harriet and Daniel early on then later had an interesting long talk with Wayne Turner who sometimes helps out at Katiki Point. Total of 47 visitors today, the nice weather boosting the numbers.
Links
Hi still having problems with this site but for photos go to our Webshots page. To contact us email to NFOBB@ymail.com .
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Sorry
The folk that run this blog have changed the format so I am having to redo the sidebar and the whole site, would have been nice if they had warned us eh?
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Tough start great finish
Rehab; The day used to be filled with penguin duties like feeding, cleaning and swimming the birds, how 
things have changed. I was on a mission this morning and was down at the builders yard just after 8am collecting the first trailer load of concrete gravel. I wanted to shift about 3 tonnes in close to the yet to be laid concrete slab and would try and reverse across the compound as the ground was dry. Rain was forecast hence the hurry. It took three loads but it was all done by 9.45am. Excellent but I felt bu**ered. Spent the rest of the am shifting earth around, Mmm.
Beach; Pleasant walk along the beach, saw 5 fur seals and the usual herons and oyster catchers. The wind was strong and cold and when I got up to the hide it felt like a gale was blowing. Had a chat to Kevin (DoC ranger) who was up inspecting the hide and offered our assistance with nest monitoring
should DoC decide that this year a closer watch was needed after the disastrous breeding season last year. There were quite a few folk about surprising on such a blustery day but many didn’t last long. The Irish quartet left for Dunedin but the American duo stayed and saw 6 Yellow-eyed Penguins arrive within 10 minutes around 4pm. They should have stayed longer as one of the 4pm arrivals walked past the platform at 4.20pm. I managed to get all the visitors from the hide across to the platform to watch the walk past. All were well impressed. However due to the poor weather everybody left shortly afterwards and by 4.40pm I was on my own and stayed that way until I left at 5.45pm. I had a great time seeing 23 (1/4, 18/5, 23/5.30) Yellow-eyed Penguins come in. For the last half hour I had four of one of the rarest penguins in the world within 5 metres of the platform and all in full view. They took turns to sing out loudly as if competing in Penguin Pop Idol! Awesome stuff and all to myself how wonderful was that. After over a full year of penguin watching duties, spending up to 18 hours a week down at the hide, I still get overawed with my favourite birds.
things have changed. I was on a mission this morning and was down at the builders yard just after 8am collecting the first trailer load of concrete gravel. I wanted to shift about 3 tonnes in close to the yet to be laid concrete slab and would try and reverse across the compound as the ground was dry. Rain was forecast hence the hurry. It took three loads but it was all done by 9.45am. Excellent but I felt bu**ered. Spent the rest of the am shifting earth around, Mmm.Beach; Pleasant walk along the beach, saw 5 fur seals and the usual herons and oyster catchers. The wind was strong and cold and when I got up to the hide it felt like a gale was blowing. Had a chat to Kevin (DoC ranger) who was up inspecting the hide and offered our assistance with nest monitoring
should DoC decide that this year a closer watch was needed after the disastrous breeding season last year. There were quite a few folk about surprising on such a blustery day but many didn’t last long. The Irish quartet left for Dunedin but the American duo stayed and saw 6 Yellow-eyed Penguins arrive within 10 minutes around 4pm. They should have stayed longer as one of the 4pm arrivals walked past the platform at 4.20pm. I managed to get all the visitors from the hide across to the platform to watch the walk past. All were well impressed. However due to the poor weather everybody left shortly afterwards and by 4.40pm I was on my own and stayed that way until I left at 5.45pm. I had a great time seeing 23 (1/4, 18/5, 23/5.30) Yellow-eyed Penguins come in. For the last half hour I had four of one of the rarest penguins in the world within 5 metres of the platform and all in full view. They took turns to sing out loudly as if competing in Penguin Pop Idol! Awesome stuff and all to myself how wonderful was that. After over a full year of penguin watching duties, spending up to 18 hours a week down at the hide, I still get overawed with my favourite birds.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Excellent stuff.
Rehab; The building site seems abandoned as we wait for…………….progress?
Beach; Brisk walk on the sunny but cold afternoon along the narrow beach just after high tide which was at 2pm. Had a chat with Dennis Dove who used to run the penguin tours at Bushy Beach but whose concession hasn’t been renewed. Seems DoC have had a change of mind over the suitability of tours to nest sites, wonder what data about Bushy Beach is used to back up the changed thinking. I think he has been treated unfairly.
Beach report; Strange watch with fantastic penguin viewing but not a lot of interaction with the visitors
who were mainly not English speakers. Still there were some nice folk amongst the 43 people who came along today. Penguins-again they were awesome. The first Yellow-eyed Penguin came ashore at 3.15pm, for the first time anyway. When it got up close to it’s path entrance and noticed the fur seal sleeping nearby it was back down and into the water. This Yellow-eyed Penguin did manage to sneak past the seal (who isn’t actually a threat) on the third attempt. I counted 26 (3/4, 18/5, 26/5.45) penguins come in this afternoon but it was what they did once ashore that made it magical. There were penguins around the viewing platform from 4.15 onwards with much singing and shouting. Two seperate couples were seen mutually preening, a wonderful experience. To see a pair of penguins using their sharp beaks to preen around their partners, most vulnerable, eyes is a very moving and intimate experience for me. Great stuff. Excellent viewing for all who came. Such a treasure that is so undervalued by the local community.
Beach; Brisk walk on the sunny but cold afternoon along the narrow beach just after high tide which was at 2pm. Had a chat with Dennis Dove who used to run the penguin tours at Bushy Beach but whose concession hasn’t been renewed. Seems DoC have had a change of mind over the suitability of tours to nest sites, wonder what data about Bushy Beach is used to back up the changed thinking. I think he has been treated unfairly.
Beach report; Strange watch with fantastic penguin viewing but not a lot of interaction with the visitors
who were mainly not English speakers. Still there were some nice folk amongst the 43 people who came along today. Penguins-again they were awesome. The first Yellow-eyed Penguin came ashore at 3.15pm, for the first time anyway. When it got up close to it’s path entrance and noticed the fur seal sleeping nearby it was back down and into the water. This Yellow-eyed Penguin did manage to sneak past the seal (who isn’t actually a threat) on the third attempt. I counted 26 (3/4, 18/5, 26/5.45) penguins come in this afternoon but it was what they did once ashore that made it magical. There were penguins around the viewing platform from 4.15 onwards with much singing and shouting. Two seperate couples were seen mutually preening, a wonderful experience. To see a pair of penguins using their sharp beaks to preen around their partners, most vulnerable, eyes is a very moving and intimate experience for me. Great stuff. Excellent viewing for all who came. Such a treasure that is so undervalued by the local community.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
…………………………………..speechless
Beach watch; Awesome, fantastic, wonderful, …………..I saw 24 Yellow-eyed Penguins come ashore at 
Bushy Beach between 3pm and 5.45pm. It was great to see so many couples come across the beach step for step. The first penguin at the viewing platform walked past at 4pm, 2 more at 5.10pm and another standing in full view singing and calling after 5.30pm. I saw penguins close to the fence preening each other, I heard constant singing and calling, I saw birds high up the far hillside and I think I suffered penguin overload. Most of tonights 38 visitors shared my wonderful experience and left overawed by the awesome Yellow-eyed Penguins at Bushy Beach. The visitors tonight were all well behaved and respectful which was a great help with so many around the vieiwng platform and the path fence. The photo shows the pair coming up past the platform before they dived into the bushes on their way home for the night. It is a great time of year for penguin viewing and with the penguins renewing their pair bonds it is very beautiful and moving.
Bushy Beach between 3pm and 5.45pm. It was great to see so many couples come across the beach step for step. The first penguin at the viewing platform walked past at 4pm, 2 more at 5.10pm and another standing in full view singing and calling after 5.30pm. I saw penguins close to the fence preening each other, I heard constant singing and calling, I saw birds high up the far hillside and I think I suffered penguin overload. Most of tonights 38 visitors shared my wonderful experience and left overawed by the awesome Yellow-eyed Penguins at Bushy Beach. The visitors tonight were all well behaved and respectful which was a great help with so many around the vieiwng platform and the path fence. The photo shows the pair coming up past the platform before they dived into the bushes on their way home for the night. It is a great time of year for penguin viewing and with the penguins renewing their pair bonds it is very beautiful and moving.
