My walk from the station to home takes me across Truganina Swamp which
lies between the suburbs of Altona and Altona Meadows to the west of
Melbourne. We moved to this area in May 1997 since when I have recorded
over 90 species at this site. Yesterday evening I saw or heard 48
species including a Black swan pair with 3 young and nesting
White-headed Stilt. Also present were 7 other species of wader; Masked
Lapwing, Red-capped Plover (also probably breeding); Greenshank, Marsh
Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Latham's Snipe.
Clamorous Reed-Warblers and Little Grassbirds were heard calling from
the reed beds and Brown Quails whistled from the grassland.
The real reason for this posting is that I heard a call I could not
identify. There were possibly 3-4 calling birds in an area of shortish
(15-20cm) grass/vegetation in an area that is occasionally flooded,
generally damp but at the moment drying out. When I got home I listened
to the bird calls on the Simpson & Day CD. I tentatively identified the
calls as Stubble Quail.
Now the questions:-
Do Stubble Quail occur in the grasslands around Melbourne?
Would this be an unusual record?
Do any other species have calls similar to Stubble Quail?
If anyone would care to check this out the birds were heard calling on
the western side of Truganina Swamp, west of Laverton Creek and
immediately north of the Western Treatment Plant fence. Truganina Swamp
can be found on pages 53-54 of Melways.
Good Birding
Roger
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Roger Hicks Tel : 03-9369-6023 (home)
4 Hakea Court, 03-9865-8613 (work)
Altona Meadows
Victoria 3028 E-mail:
Australia
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