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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