Crakes galore

["Marnix Zwankhuizen" <>]

Yesterday evening we went for a stroll around Yerrabi Pond. On the east side by the Waterfront park there is a tiny patch of isolated reeds littered with rubbish. Here by chance I watched a Baillon's Crake foraging on a small patch of mud immediately below the footpath from 2 metres away (no binos required). There were also 2 immature Swamphens plus parent here. This was after finding a (different) Baillon's in the SE corner of the pond earlier in the day and counting at least 3 Baillon's Crakes at Fyshwick Sewage Ponds (FSP) just before the storm. That made for a 5 individuals in 1 day!

 

Highlights at FSP:

 

3 Baillon's Crakes (1 SE cnr Pond 6, 1 W side Pond 6, 1 E side Pond 4)

1 Spotted Crake (SE cnr Pond 6)

2 Freckled Ducks (Pond 6)

14 Blue-billed Ducks (9 males/5 females, probably more, Ponds 4 & 6)

4 Chestnut Teal

>100 Australasian Shoveler

2 Little Grassbirds

 

Cheers

Marnix