Tim Dolby wrote:
> After giving a talk at Deakin University Library I decided to pay Belmont
Common a visit (on recommendation from Margaret and Russell), and was not
disappointed. The list is similar to Russell's earlier posting, with the
highlights being: Spotless Crake (1), Spotted Crake (1), Ballion's Crake
(3), Buff-banded Rail, and plenty of Latham's Snipe (25+) many of which were
in the grasslands around the common. There were also half a dozen
Purple-crowned Lorikeet in the surrounding gums. Oh... and a fox in the
reeds and a stolen car next to the hide.
>
> If you are interested in going to the common I would go soon. Most of the
mud flat area is drying up - so the crake may be forced on. (I'm not sure of
the ecological 'behavior' of this swamp - so I may be wrong?)
Don't rush! This is a feature of late summer at Belmont Common (and many
other wetlands). As the swamp dries out (which is rarely 100%), mud is
exposed, and birds seem to find the beasties on it irresistible. Crakes,
rails & snipe forget their shyness, and come out of the undergrowth, 10-20m
into the open, to feed. Sit quietly in the hide, and the show will start
shortly thereafter.
This swamp receives its water principally as storm water from surrounding
suburbs - the storm water pipes drain directly into it. Levels fluctuate
quickly if there's a decent dump of rain - but we haven't had one of those
in ages.
L.
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