About ten or eleven of us there this morning from about 5:45am onwards. Ruth
and I arrived at about 6:10am. Visibility was poor due to fog – we couldn’t
see the mudflat directly opposite the platform clearly and the mudflat to
the right of the platform was entirely obscured.
The Lewin’s made a fleeting appearance at about 6:15am – emerging from the
reeds and scurrying to the left (from our point-of-view). The view was too
fleeting to “tick” the bird (for those of us that haven’t seen one before).
For the next 45 minutes or so the fog appeared to get thicker. The Lewin’s
made another appearance at about 7:15am –almost exactly the same as an hour
previously. Once again, too brief a view for me to “tick” it.
Peter Shute went to the northern platform after the second appearance and
was able to see the bird on and off for about a minute in the reeds. I’m
sure that he will post if there’s anything additional to mention.
At least four Spotless Crakes, two Black-fronted Dotterels and about four
Sharp-tailed Sandpipers were also seen. Numerous Little Grassbirds,
Golden-headed Cisticolas and Clamourous Reed-warblers also appeared as well
as a Swamp Harrier and a Black-shouldered Kite.
Paul Dodd and Ruth Woodrow
Docklands, Melbourne
From: Dave Torr
Sent: Friday, 25 January 2008 4:16 PM
To: Paul Dodd
Cc: Peter Shute; ;
Subject: Definite Lewin's Rail - Mt St Joseph, Altona, Vic
Ray and I had a good look around 0730 - ran along the mud opposite the
platform. 4 Spotless crakes as well
On 25/01/2008, Paul Dodd <HYPERLINK ""
> wrote:
Fingers crossed - a few of us will be there tomorrow am to see it!
-----Original Message-----
From: HYPERLINK
""
[HYPERLINK
""
] On Behalf Of Peter Shute
Sent: Friday, 25 January 2008 8:17 AM
To: HYPERLINK "";
HYPERLINK ""
Subject: Definite Lewin's Rail - Mt St Joseph, Altona, Vic
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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