Date:    19/10/2019
River:    Avon River, Christchurch, NZ
River Conditions:   1.998 cumecs at Gloucester Street bridge. Water mostly clear. Grade 1.
Weather Conditions:   Sunny and warm, nor-easterly breezes.
Number on Trip:    2 people.
Time on River:  0.75 hours.
Comments:  Just as we were getting ready to head down to the river with the kayaks to see Greta the Paradise Shelduck, she flew in to visit us. We fed her some duck feed and then coaxed her to follow us. She waddled across the road following Lauri as she towed her kayak behind her, but stopped in the Red Zone to have a bit of a nibble on some grass. We carried on walking down to the river and launched into the river from the bank. Lauri headed off upstream while I got sorted out and on the water.

I seal launched into the river and powered off after Lauri. There was no sign of Greta at the Swanns Road bridge, where she often hangs out, so we continued on upstream, enjoying the sunshine and beautiful surroundings.

Not wishing to over tax Lauri, we just went as far as the Stanmore Road bridge and did a quick slalom run through the bridge piles before paddling back down the river. Spotted a large brown rat running along the bank near the Old Avonside Girls High, but didn’t manage to get a photo. We also spotted a pair of Paradise Shelducks, that we had previously named Flame, due to the white “flames” around the male’s eyes, and Moll, his aggressive girlfriend.

Back at the Swanns Road bridge, there was no sign of Greta so we continued down stream to the Riverbend Refuge, where the Green Lab group have installed a series of giant eel sculptures, a picnic area and native plantings. Spotted a pair of female Shelducks hanging out together, but no sign of Greta. So we paddled back to the Swanns Road boat ramp and got out there. One of our neighbours was there with here son, making tiny boats out of sticks, so we chatted to her after we got the boats out and loaded up. Suddenly in a flurry of wings and honking, Greta flew in to join us, and we sat on the dock together, enjoying the view and sunshine.

It ended abruptly when another pair of Paradise Shelducks appeared and the female launched a flying attack on Greta and drove her off, up the road. The drama continued as Greta decided a puddle on the side of the road was a great place to hang out, which was fine until a jogger with a dog ran through, panicking her and causing her to fly into the road with oncoming traffic. I managed to the drive her off the road and down to her spot on the river, whilst balancing my kayak on my shoulder. We sat with her for a bit and then wandered home for lunch.