This Is My Patch

Today was another holiday for me - Ah the joys of working at a University - so it seemed a great opportunity to do some blip-touring around Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora, getting some shots in for a project I'm working on.

After paying a visit to the bird hide on Harts Creek, I decided to head down to Timber Yard Point and then through to Fisherman's point and Taumutu, where the Lake meets the sea at the end of Kaitorete Spit, before returning to home via Boggy Creek and the Kaituna Lagoon.

I'm glad I went as I saw and did plenty; spied more stilts and shoveler ducks at the hide, terns and swans at Boggy Creek, the morning catch of flounders coming in at Fisherman's point, and then gathered a few pieces of greenstone on the shore at Taumutu.

My final stop saw me go down onto the dry lagoon bed and capture photos of a large group of Royal Spoonbills (I counted over 90 in my photos!), both on the mud flats and on the wing. What a great sight.

Today's shot however is of a white faced heron on the boat ramp sign at Timber Yard Point. This was shot from the car, through the passenger window, to provent the bird getting spooked. I love the way he is totally owning the sign. It is indeed his patch...

Not wanting to get all tourist board on it, but Lake Ellesmere is a fascinating place that I'm sure most people from Christchurch haven't explored. If you've got a spare day and don't mind a drive, head out for a look. Just remember to take your camera and binoculars.