Definite Lewin's Rail - Mt St Joseph, Altona, Vic

["Peter Shute" <>]

While nothing like the "few minutes" Joy had 5 minutes after I left last night, 
I had a good 30 second view at 7am today, 5 minutes after I was *supposed* to 
leave, with Ray Vassalo.

It came out from the little gap between the coarse yellow reeds and the fine 
green ones opposite the south viewing platform, wandered a few metres to the 
left and then into some thick grass. I haven't seen any birds go in there 
before. It seemed a bit nervous and I feel that our movements around the scope 
may have spooked it a little.

The gap between the reeds I mentioned seems to be a place that you must keep 
your eye on for the Lewins's and the crakes, although they have appeared from 
several other places. 

We also saw several Spotless Crakes in various places around the pond. The 
water level is slowly dropping and the mud is slowly appearing in spots.

Peter Shute


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