NZ Journal Day 12 (11/20/16) – PART ONE: We spent both the morning and evening of today exploring the wild coastline of Carter’s Beach, just south of Westport. In the morning we surprised some fur seals, and in the evening we were eluded by the Little Blue Penguins, both who call Carter’s Beach home.
A mother fur seal yawning in the early morning. We didn’t see it at first, but she had a baby sleeping in the rocks behind her.
We stumbled upon this handsome devil while walking the coastline. An important rule to note when encountering fur seals is not to get between them and the sea. We failed here and moments after taking this photo he charged for the safety of the ocean, sending us scampering across the rocks and out of his way.
Clara scouting Gibbson Beach here in the Carters Beach area. This coastline is a popular breeding area for the native fur seals and we saw plenty this morning. No other humans in sight!
In the evening we walked the long stretch of Carters Beach in search of the Little Blue Penguins who come ashore at dusk. They spend all day fishing in the ocean and spend the night in the bluffs raising their young.
Carters Beach is experiencing an alarming loss of coastline due to erosion. The beach is lined with the carcasses of trees which once stood proudly on the bluffs, which have now turned to beach.
The erosion issue at Carters Beach is having a negative impact on the endangered Little Blue Penguin as well, since their coastal bluff habitat is rapidly being reclaimed by the waves.
A sobering sight on the Westport coastline…