birding-aus

Red-legged Crake at Whim Creek, WA

To: "BIRDING-AUS" <>
Subject: Red-legged Crake at Whim Creek, WA
From: "Mike Carter" <>
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2007 18:01:59 +1000
Although ostensibly one of the more cryptic, this must be one of the easiest 
birds I've ever twitched! Lack of suitable habitat nearby means that it is 
confined to a small area of watered lawn and garden beds at the Whim Creek 
Hotel now mainly used as a mining camp! Mind you when Frank O'Connor, 
Richard Baxter & I arrived at 13.35 on Friday (I left home at 03.45) Morgan 
O'Connell, the whistle blower, told us he hadn't seen it all day but that 
the cleaner had at 06.00. Nevertheless, it took Greg Harewood (like Morgan, 
an Environmental Management Consultant) less than 5 minutes to find it 
hiding at the base of one of the small garden shrubs which he knew it 
favoured. It then ran under a donga and stayed partially hidden under one 
hut or another for the next two hours. At around 16.00 it started to venture 
forth several times only to retreat again. By 16.30, as the sun sank lower 
and its competitors, 3 Magpielarks moved off, it became very bold and almost 
indifferent to people moving around or showing interest in it. It still 
preferred shade to sunlight while it foraged around the lawn and garden. The 
cleaner says it has been there three weeks.
No one has yet raised any objection to birders entering the camp area but it 
is important to remain quiet and not knock on huts to avoid disturbing 
sleeping shift workers.
No cats have been seen there but a possible Northern Quoll could be threat.
I've sent two pictures to Tom Tarrant to put on ABID. A stunning bird!

Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza  VIC 3930
Tel  (03) 9787 7136

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