THE SECRET POHUTUKAWA & THE REFLECTING POOL NGUNGURU TIDAL RIVER, TUTUKAKA COAST. FOR 37 years Jan and I have lived at Riverlands on the Ngunguru tidal river, Tutukaka Coast. Such is the opulence of its riparian rainforest that new discoveries are opening up all the time as we explore more intensively. Our recent new neighbour Ian Skipworth shares our enthusiasm. Over the past year he has cleared many old logging tracks on the river promontories to extend pest control lines. He has trapped 49 tree munching possums to match our own and other neighbours efforts. As a result, we have only caught three in the past eight months! I once got 31 in a night. Birds and forest are thriving. But in all those decades, a particularly dense and steep mangrove inlet defied our boots and lenses. Until now... From the new Bittern Track we spied a spreading, mangrove edge pohutukawa we had never before seen. In perfect condition. On the south bank of our lovely scenic river some have died from possum damage. Not here. Around it we found a grove of lustrous karaka seedlings. Possum candy... And then, at the head of the inlet, beyond the mangroves and saltmarsh reeds, screened by dense, tall pandanus vines, the forest edge concealed a freshwater pool. A place to see the forest upside down at your feet. A lush, tranquil spot where bright red damsel flies hover and court and small fish lurk beneath weed drift. And the mind goes on journeys...Jerked back into now as birds whisk in to drink.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 19:00:27 +0000
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