HAWKESBURY AREA, NSW - 21ST MARCH 1998
Last Saturday afternoon, I went with my birding mate, David Koffel, to
find him a Lewins Rail to add to his life list.
We started the afternoon at about 1 pm at the McGraths Hill STW (near
Windsor), hoping to see if any unusual waders have popped in. There were
about 8 Red-kneed Dotterels there but the only migratory shorebirds
present there, were a Double-banded Plover, 2 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and
a Black-tailed Godwit . A good number of both Teal species were also
present aswell as a few Australasian Shovelers.
About this time last year at this STW, I saw one Long-toed Stint,
together with 2 Sharp-tailed and 2 Pectoral Sandpipers all in breeding
plumage. I was hoping for something similar on this Saturday afternoon.
At about 3:30 pm, we arrived at Dharug NP at the western side of Mill
Creek. We were off to see some Rails at a section of the park which is
off limits to the public as you have to get to a swamp via a private
road. I was granted permission beforehand with a NSWNP ranger, who
resides at the end of this private road. We saw here one (and heard
another) Lewins Rail aswell as a Buff-banded Rail and Spotless Crake. The
good thing about this swamp is that you can get very close to the Rails
almost within 1 meter of them (and I am not exagerating, even without
playing a tape, because the clear muddy sections were they feed is
limited. The Rails feed away taking little notice of you and at times, I
have been looking at the both rail species from above them).
Others birds of interest seen along the private road that afternoon, were
4 Brown Quails, 3 Brush Turkeys, 8 Wonga Pigeons and Azure Kingfisher.
Glossy Black-Cockatoos were also heard upon departure.
We went spotlighting around Central Colo on about 8 pm, hoping to see a
Masked Owl, but had a fine view of a Barn Owl on a fence post there as a
complimentary prize.
A fine afternoon and evening indeed !
Edwin Vella
P.S. I saw atleast 88 Plumed Whistling Ducks yesterday afternoon (Sunday,
22nd March) at the Richmond Turf Farms.
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