This is our second field trip to a fascinating highcountry area called ‘the Zoo’.
Isolation Mountain becons as we appraoch “the Zoo”.
The limestone bluffs of this area are particularly suited to the Brachyglottis monroi whose distribution is Marlborough and North Canterbury coastal to subalpine. We were fortunate that it was in full flower during our visit.
Above: Brachyglottis monroi
We took a short hike into up the Kekerengu River, Kaikoura and were rewarded by water falls, ferns and bird song. ‘Natures garden.’
A fern that we have identified as Blechnum fluviatile grows happily on it’s rock island.
An unidentified moss also growing on a rock by the stream. Any suggestions are most welcome!
We wind our way toward the forest reserve with Mount Isolation in the background.
The forest in this area was open and dominated by New Zealand Beech trees an easy track led us into it’s interior.
The fern that we have identified as Blechnum discolor grew to an impressive size as show here.
Some of the trees we encountered on our walk where immense like this enormous moss clad specimen below.
Will identifies the beautiful native tree Totara by it’s rough strip like bark. A Totara is shown above and below.
The native tree below is a Rimu identifable by it’s watermark underbark.
Below: We encountered a Matai tree. The close up photo shows the characteristic ‘hammer mark’ bark which is also present in the Miro but is less embossed.
We were suprized by this fungi growing on the side of a beech tree. If you can identify this please send a comment on the link below so we can all share it.
This strange find in the leaf litter is an Aseroe rubra or Stink Horn. They smell quite unplesant for the purpose of attacting flys for spreading it’s spores which are in the brown stuff. It was roughly the size of golf ball in circumference.
Below: A Coprinus lagopus. A beautiful almost see through fungi.
Our bird caller soon attracted a pair of lively Toutouwai or New Zealand Robins (Petroica australis). They are very inquisitive birds and have been known to hop onto a hiker’s boot to pull at the boot laces. Mainly insect eaters Robins can dispatch worms and wetas up to a third their body weight.
We observed a pair of Korimakos or Bellbirds (Anthornis welanura) busy feeding insects to their teenage chick. The chick also appeared to be taking honey dew from the side of the beech tree it was perched on,
Honey dew. Sweet nectar droplets are created by the tiny scale insect (Ultracoelostoma assimile) which lives deep in the bark of South Island beech trees. This insect plays an important role in the forest ecology especially for birds such as the endangered kaka.
The Bellbird chick awaiting it’s next feed.
We had the privilege of overnighting in a musterer’s hut near the Zoo. Tomtits and Bellbirds from the bush nearby came to investigate us while we had our dinner. It turned cold and poured with rain that night but we were as snug as musterers with our little fire place.
And you can’t beat a billy cuppa in the bush!!
Thank you for sharing with us our little trip. If you would like a guided tour to look at New Zealand’s natural wonders please click this link to contact us.
http://www.driftwoodecotours.com/information.php
