Dear Bird-AUSers.
On a coolish Sunday 31st August, at the end of winter, two dedicated
Western Treatment Plant fans headed off to check out the 'Farm.
Having made several trips there recently it was nice to verify that
spring is upon us by observing an significant build up
of wader arrivals (sharp-tailed sandpipers, curlew sandpipers and
red-necked stint numbers all having greatly increased over
the last week).
The main attraction for the day however was a comparative abundance
of crakes and rails. We saw:
3 Lewin's Rails (1 at Little River (thanks John B for specific
directions), 2 near EP 2 (again thanks John B))
3 spotted crakes (2 at Little River, 1 on a muddy pond near bay).
1 spotless crake (near EP 2).
1 buff-banded rail (at Little River).
It would have been nice to complete the effort with a Baillon's but
we didn't. Indeed, do they exist on the farm these days? Some have
suggested to us they are very scarce or non-existent at Werribee.
Has anyone seen them there recently? Where......?
Regards, Harry Clarke.
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