After a fitful sleep on the sagging wirewove with chatting going on at close quarters we were both a bit snappy with each other this morning, but we return to the South Sea Hotel for a slap-up breakfast and then sit out on the patio as we have a couple of hours to go before our next trip to Ulva Island. Duncan goes for a bit of a walk and then we go to the DOC centre which has allsorts of interesting pictures, exhibits and videos.
The trip to Ulva Island is in one of the big catamarans. Part of the way over we stop the boat to feed the Buller Albatross slightly smaller than some, but still majestic on the wing. We also see Mutton Birds (Titi). We pass by what has been a thriving boatyard in whaling days.
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I thought this white covering of the rocks was bird shit but it is a white lichen.
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We land at Ulva Island and go with Anne - an older woman - on our forest and bird walk. Anne is extremely knowledgeable and as soon as she starts out she thinks she can hear a saddleback. But I am a bit sceptical, but by the time we have finished we have seen the black robin, tui, kereru , kaka, mohua (yellowhead) and saddleback! Anne also explained the ecological protection and the changing nature of the forest.
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Very inquisitive black robbins
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It came way to close to my shoe!!
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The tracks were clearly laid out, but it was easier with a guide
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Anne talking about the hollowing out of trees
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The russet orange of the saddleback
We had a quick change onto the other catamaran that takes us on another smooth trip back to Bluff.
Its a bit of a drag back to Curio Bay and we started to theorise some other ways we could have organised this trip without doubling back to the caravan. In the end we realise it doesn't really matter now.
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