Morning in the Pohangina headwaters

When we left Leon Kinvig hut for the steep climb out over the Ngamoko Range, mist still clung to the sides of the valley. Mornings like this in places like this make the heart sing.


[7 January 2013, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 14 mm, ISO 200, 1/500 at f11]

All content © 2013 Pete McGregor

Whio (male) at Leon Kinvig hut

When I photographed this male whio, the light had almost gone, but ISO 800 and some careful work in Lightroom rescued an otherwise very dark photograph. This is how you often see whio — at dusk, the edge of the water, the edge of the night.

I didn't know I'd see him again a few weeks later — that time accompanied by a female.



[17 December 2012, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 286 mm, ISO 800, 1/200 at f5.6. Grain added.]

All content © 2013 Pete McGregor

Beech forest near Leon Kinvig hut, Pohangina valley

The quickest way to Leon Kinvig hut, in the headwaters of the Pohangina, is to climb up and over the Ngamoko Range. We struck almost perfect weather when we visited the hut a couple of weekends ago. This is typical of much of the beech-dominated forest in the middle reaches of the Pohangina headwaters — old, gnarled trees, too many of which are dead or dying (for still uncertain but probably complex reasons); a dense, low understorey of various grasses and assorted shrubs; a sense of age and time and an uncertain future. When we left to climb back out in the early morning, mist still lingered and everything was saturated.



[7 January 2013, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at14 mm, ISO 200, 1/250 at f11]

All content © 2013 Pete McGregor

Rifleman (titipounamu)

Whio weren't the only birds we encountered. At Leon Kinvig hut late on the Sunday afternoon a pair of titipounamu (the rifleman; Acanthisitta chloris) flitted about in the shrubbery. The autofocus on the Panasonic 100–300 was apparently designed for photographing sloths and that, coupled with the low light among the foliage, meant the likelihood of a reasonable photograph was somewhat less than that of the US enacting sensible gun laws.

I guess I got lucky, so maybe there's hope for those who'd rather not see an assault rifle with a 50-round magazine in every US home.




[6 January 2013, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 223 mm, ISO 400, 1/40 at f5.6]


All content © 2012 Pete McGregor

Male whio (blue duck), Pohangina river

The family of whio swam towards us and the male climbed out onto a boulder near the edge of the pool while the female and the two big ducklings (that's one in the background) paddled around nearby. We sat, entranced, watching them. Through binoculars they seemed to be within touching distance.


[6 January 2013, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 177 mm, ISO 200, 1/640 at f8]

All content © 2012 Pete McGregor

Subadult and female whio, Pohangina river

Last Saturday a friend and I walked over the Ngamoko Range to Leon Kinvig hut in the Pohangina headwaters. The following day we wandered downriver a short way and had the unexpected treat of meeting a family of whio — mum, dad, and two almost-fully-grown ducklings. They seemed more interested in than afraid of us, and swam close to where we sat quietly watching.

The bird on the right is one of the subadults, the slightly out-of-focus bird behind, with her left foot raised, is the female.

That evening we saw another pair of whio in the big pool right next to the hut, and watched them until dark. Days in the Ruahine don't get much better.


[6 January 2013, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 300 mm, ISO 200, 1/640 at f8. Check the previous two posts for photographs of a male whio and younger ducklings from the survey just before Christmas.]


All content © 2012 Pete McGregor

Whio (blue duck) chicks, Pohangina River

This is what we were hoping for. These four whio ducklings were swimming with their parents in a pool between Leon Kinvig hut and the Top Gorge. An unexpected but wonderful sight — one that more than compensated for rain and greasy riverbeds.

Happy New Year.


[18 December 2012, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 300 mm, ISO 400, 1/320 at f5.6]


All content © 2012 Pete McGregor