VERY LOW FLOW LEVELS IN THE HUTT RIVER AS DROUGHT CONTINUES INTO AUTUMN

River levels on the Hutt River south of the Ava Bridge are lower than ever I've seen.

This was taken between low and mid-tide.

Meanwhile water flows at Taita Gorge are almost as low as they were in January.

Temperatures were also hot at 26 degrees Celsius. Autumn??

Much fewer migratory birds at Farewell Spit in NW Nelson

We have just had a friend return from Farewell Spit in NW Nelson after an absence of two years. 

Farewell Spit normally attracts large numbers of godwits and other migratory birds.

Our friend reports very low numbers of birds compared with previous years.

Combined with the evidence of plummeting insect numbers it is very alarming.