Chris
I think I found your shallow pond at the Bendigo Waste Water Treatment
Complex this morning and looked for Lewin's Rail and others. I did not see
the Lewin's Rail but 2 Buff-banded Rail and at least one Spotted Crake were
scurrying about among the Purple Swamphens. 8 Black-winged Stilts were in
the same pond, along with a few Coots and a pair of Black-fronted Dotterel.
Several Red-rumped Parrot pairs were using the tops of the low dead stumps
in the pond to sun themselves.
As I was watching, I scanned across the adjacent larger pond with the
telescope and spotted a raptor standing in the water, close to the far edge.
As I watched it, and identified a Brown Goshawk, it just stood, not moving
for at least five minutes in about 15cm of water. Eventually it moved and
dragged what looked like a Coot out to the bank. It had been holding its
prey under water, maybe to drown it??? Is the Goshawk smart enough to drown
prey??
It then proceeded to feed on its catch for a good 15 minutes right at the
edge of the water. It attracted several sheep as close observers and then a
few Ravens. Next time I looked it had gone and a bloody, half eaten prey
was left on the bank.
Also on the larger pond were both Teal, Black Duck, Black Swan, Aust. Grebe,
Aust. Shelduck and Red-necked Avocet. A pair of Black-shouldered Kites, a
single Brown Falcon and a pair of Whistling Kites were patrolling the area.
A few Musk Ducks were on the next large pond to the North.
Bob Cook
Elphinstone, Central Vic.
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