Geoffrey et
al,
Many thanks for your efforts tracking down
the birds. Katarina, my Swedish friend, and I have had, as they say in the
classics, “crippling views” of a Baillon’s Crake on the grass
verge by the “shelter” at Norgrove Park on Monday afternoon, and a
Spotless Crake walking along the edge of the reeds on one of the submerged
concrete ledges directly opposite where we saw the Baillon’s, at 0730
this morning. We also tried a few spots (Kelly’s etc) for the Australian
Crake but dipped. If the ACT Government can give us a few more sites like Norgrove Park, then I may not be so critical of
their conservation efforts!
On the same vein, last night Stuart Rae
took Katarina, her partner Anders, and I for a pleasant (??? – try it with
arthritic ankles!!!) jaunt through the Aranda Woodlands off Bindubi Street looking for Katarina’s
“bogey-bird”, an Australian Owlet-nightjar. Again thanks to Stuart’s
expertise, no more bogey-bird, and a nice Sugar Glider thrown in as a bonus.
Once again, tanks to all who responded to
my initial request for information. Katarina has picked up over 20 new species
on this, her tenth trip to The Great South Land and is mow very close to 600
species here.
Cheers,
Mark
From:
Geoffrey Dabb [
Sent: Thursday, 7 January 2010
2:36 PM
To: Mark
Clayton
Cc:
Subject: Norgrove crakes
Mark
- I had another look this morning. If you put in 20
mins looking over rail (west side) of that first bridge, I think you would be
sure of brief or partial glimpses of the Baillons as they clamber over and
through the Juncus (eg the
below). That plant has got quite dense and lank and it is not as
good a viewing possie as it was. There are also at least 2 Spotless in
there that are rather warier. I saw one on 2 separate occasions scurrying
for cover across the small open patch where you look straight down on the VB
can. They make quite a loud ‘chip, chip’ when
disturbed. G
