The first photo sets the scene, 6 am on a still Sunday morning with the swell having dropped dramatically overnight, even more than predicted leaving a variable .5 to 1m.
It was only just an hour after low tide, so I was not expecting much action. I was the first in the FREE car park, so first on the rock, just how I like it, hence the moon setting photo.
This is a NZ dotterel (plover family) they are typically a sandy shore bird, but this one was feeding on tiny shrimps in the green seaweed and was not concerned about us, up to 2 m away moving around. During the winter we had 3 male chaffinches doing the same.
3 NZ fur seals sleeping under the cliff
Heading back to the car, I came across this Little Blue Penguin which had been hiding under some steps, but disturbed by too many people It was heading up the road to the car park so I chivvied it into some long grass and was pecked on the knuckle for helping. They are the worlds smallest penguin, I think this a young last years chick being only 10 inches long, they are about 12 inches when mature. They are more common on the East coast than here.
This taken at 11 am at least 100 surfers in the gentle conditions.
Proceeds from the trip, only the small ones up to 8 am then the rest in the next hour and a half when it went quiet. I put 2 more snapper and 1 gurnard back. I was the only serious fisherman there the other 5 being "Sunday Asians" mostly after small fish down the side of the rock.
I get a kick from predicting conditions from the night before using my extensive experience there, great when it works out.
https://www.surfline.com/surf-report/muriwai-beach/584204204e65fad6a7709674?camId=617b823666de3660a1ad6bd7
Try this URL during NZ daylight time, 13 hours ahead of you, you should get at the least a still photo from the surf camera plus surf and tides etc, live is by subscription.
On mornings with a moon I can get a good idea of the surf when I get up at 4-30, the white water shows up.
The next morning, too calm and only a kahawai, a gurnard and a small Bronze whaler shark.
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