Spotlighting for Kokopu, 6th Sept, Near Levin

[Stella]

The Horowhenua branch of Forest and Bird is doing a trip to Lake Papaitonga (just outside Levin) looking at glowworms on Saturday 6th September.

I just spoke to the guy running it and the general point is a 'night ramble' looking at things that come out at night.

Me being me, we have now added spotlighting for kokopu (and eels and koura) who abound in the streams in this reserve.

PeteS and I will be going down, and also exploring the creek at Himitangi Beach on the way back, which is apparently a great spot for giant bullies. Maybe will check a few other spots if time, weather and enthusiam allows.

Anyone else interested in coming? We may be able to take a couple of people, or if you would rather meet there, it is 7pm in the Papaitonga carpark.

[Cricketman]

i would love to come and do that!!! but alas, too far for little old me... but good luck and let us know how you get on matey

[museeumchick]

I missed the last expidition, so am definately in for this one

sounds good

[Stella]

Cool!

Would you like a ride down with us or meet us down there?

The local area manager from DOC will also be coming down with us. He has done a bit of work with native fish.

[Foxglove]

:bounce: :bounce: Sounds like a great trip!

I'm real sorry I can't be there I love Papaitonga.

I found paraphanta (oops, properly Powelliphanta) snail shells there along the streambeds.

Have a great time!

Are Margarette and Geoff still involved with Horowhenua FB? If so, give them my regards. We were in the Waitohu Streamcare group together.... ah happy memories of planting things and potting up... life before fish :lol:

[Stella]

Well the trip last night was great!

The party comprised of PeteS, a girl doing her masters on mudfish, the local DOC manager and I.

We met up with the Forest and Bird party (four people) at the carpark, and, after the customary introductions, set off into the bush.

Near the start there is a boardwalk with a lot of boggy areas underneath. These were carefully peered into just in case there were any mudfish. We did see something small swim away but didn't have time to tell if it was a tiny fish or an insect. Sadly no mudfish we seen, despite our best efforts, but 'Mudfish-girl' and I are now determined to eventually see them in the wild at night!

We carried on to the first bridge and stream. Very quickly some large, well-patterned crayfish were spotted, and a fat, full-grown (circa 20cm) banded kokopu was seen resting in a pool. I managed to get the nets in so there was one in front and one behind, virtually touching him. He seemed rather sluggish and disinclined to go anywhere, so I moved quickly: gave him a fright, lifted the nets up and..... no fish! Little sod.

Once the water cleared we notice he was still sitting near the same spot!

The second attempt was much more successful and I showed the party the large thrashing fish.

I always try to explain a bit about the fish to the people on the trip, but it is funny the things that I have just got used to and forget about: one of the ladies was quite surprised to see that the fish didn't have any scales!

The next couple of bridges each had a few kokopu near them. Mostly they were quite big, but there was also a small, skittish and very well-marked fish, about 10cm long. Mostly the fish sat in the beam of light so we could watch them, but some shot off immediately.

Some areas were just full of pairs of glowing eyes - crayfish. We didn't see any eels, but I know they are there, probably growing fat on crays.

On our return trip we crossed the first bridge again. Lo and behold that kokopu was still sitting in the same hollow!

We did actually see a few glowworms, which was the point of the Forest and Bird trip. Not many, but they are there. Possibly it was too dry for them.

We left the Forest and Bird people and headed to Himitangi Beach to look for giant bullies in the little stream that runs along the beach. I hadn't looked there before but had been told it was a good spot.

The shivering really didn't help with holding the torch still, but we did manage to see about a dozen. No huge ones sadly, but some were maybe 10-12cm. I think the strangest thing for me was seeing what looks like a typical bully sitting on a sand substrate and surrounded by sea shells. Would be interesting to create a sand-substrate tank for one!

Then back home for hot chocolate and gingernuts all round! Soooo much fun!

[PeteS]

Yep is was a great trip. The banded kokopu were so cool and all those glowing crayfish eyes were amazing.

We also saw a few whitebait in the Himitangi Beach stream.

I wish we had seen some mudfish, but hay we can always go back again.

The Native Fish Hunt Syndrome is taking over.

[museeumchick]

Fail!

Gah!

so i got busy, then had a short nap... which turned into a large one, by which time it was too late for fishhunting, instead i went to a fancy dress party as a spider (excellent legs!).

sigh, am sooo busy that i keep forgetting things, and my internet at home isnt fuctioning - grrr. I will go fish hunting, I will I will

....eventually

and find myself a cute koura