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Yesterday (Sunday 13th August), two friends and I
saw a pair of Lewin's Rails at Charlie Moreland Forest Park near Kenilworth in
the Conondales (Sunshine Coast hinterland).
I was surprised at seeing two rails together in the
first place and assumed them to be Bandeds. However, something about them seemed
different and before they turned to face us the most obvious thing was the long
bill and lack of the white band above the eye. The pair turned to face us and it
was obvious they were not Bandeds.
I felt the situation was quite unusual as I had
only seen them in brackish swampy coastal areas in Sydney (Cronulla). This site
was a small stream, admittedly well protected with aquatic plants but in a very
thick State Hoop Pine forest that goes into wet sclerophyl natural forest where
we went to look for Black-breasted Button-Quail (without success,
unfortunately). The time was very early, around 7.30am and quite overcast. The
birds moved up the stream into thicker growth but were flushed again shortly
after.
Is this unusual for this
bird?
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