Thanks for the replies everyone (all off-list). I returned the next morning
and located five birds, one close enough for binocular viewing, and four that
would have been good if I'd had a scope.
The suggestions I was given were to carefully scan the water edge near the
vegetation, preferably with a scope. I was told I shouldn't bother waiting
longer than 10 or 15 minutes in any one spot if nothing had appeared. The idea
is that any birds that have moved into the vegetation upon seeing me might
eventually come out.
Another suggestion was to scan the edges a long way ahead of where I was
walking, in order to spot birds that hadn't seen me yet. Because of the amount
of pedestrian traffic there (joggers, dogs, prams), this was what worked for me.
The first was seen from the elevated viewing platform at 3 on this map:
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~cussenpk/maps.html
The bird was in full sun at 2c, so I would have needed a scope to see it
properly. Rather than try to sneak around to see it more closely, I moved to 5
because I heard, and finally saw, some Blue-faced Honeyeaters in that direction.
There I found one standing in the water about 20m from the bank, and another
right over the other side. The close one had the sun shining on the water from
behind, but I was able to kneel right at the bank in full view of it and just
make out the three stripes on its face, but no tail details other than the
length. I moved away from the bank, then turned for another look and it had
disappeared. Odd that it waited that long to hide.
I walked around to the opposite bank for a look at the other one in better
light, but found that the houses on that side extend almost to the bank. I
don't know if they really own that land, but it definitely felt like
trespassing, so I don't go in. I suspect that what's really happened there is
that they've extended their yards a little so they can have private jetties.
For what? Fishing? Never mind, next time I think I'll try to come to this part
in the evening instead.
I then returned to the west of the park, 2b on the map, to look for them in
area 9 where I'd seen them the day before. Here I saw one in good light,
facing directly towards me. I waited for a few minutes for it to turn, but a
couple with a pram came thundering over the observation deck, and it
disappeared. It seems like these birds will freeze if you catch them in the
open from a close but safe distance, fly if you're too close, or quietly hide
if they think you haven't seen them.
I found one more standing right in the open on the bank about 100m south of
there, but too far for binoculars.
I'm very happy with the views I got and that I leant how to find them, so
thanks everyone,
Peter Shute
-----Original Message-----
From: on behalf of Peter Shute
Sent: Thu 27/12/2007 4:01 PM
To:
Cc:
Subject: Spotting Latham's Snipe
I've been seeing what I believe are Latham's Snipe in Cussen Park, Tatura, Vic.
I've flushed several from the edge of the swamp, but they rise so quietly that
I can't work out exactly where they hide themselves. They don't seem to make
any noise till they're well up.
Is this the usual way they're seen? What are my chances of seeing one on the
ground? I'm thinking they're feeding in the long grass close to the edge, but
I just can't spot them till they're up.
Peter Shute
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