I visited this site on Saturday morning, and could only find one
Baillon's Crake, right up the east end towards the pond outlet, as John
described. Only a short look, as cars have been entering the paddock on
the north side of the pond, and at one stage I had three hoons in a car
spinning its wheels in the dirt between me and the bird.
I returned on Sunday morning and found a Baillon's Crake a little
further to the west in the same pond, this time a very long view, and a
brief look at a Spotless Crake in the same place, as both birds flew
towards my side of the pond.
I also easily found an Australian Spotted Crake just on the east side of
the bridge, exactly as John described, and watched it for several
minutes. No hoons this time, just a dog owner sitting in his car while
his dog ran around excercising itself.
Thanks for reporting your sighting, John. I've briefly looked along here
several times when passing, but there seems to be some psychological
advantage in knowing the birds have been seen recently that helps me
spot them. Anyone else noticed that?
Peter Shute
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peter Shute
> Sent: Friday, 19 September 2008 12:37 AM
> To: John Tongue; Birding Aus
> Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Baillon's Crake at Altona
>
> That is a well known spot, to some people anyway, but as far
> as I know the water levels have been too high for a while.
> I'll have a look Saturday morning if it doesn't rain before then.
>
> I had to really think to work out where you meant - it's a
> netball/basketball centre, not netball/baseball. The
> Victorian Baseball and Softball Centre is about 1km upstream
> from there, near Truganina Swamp, and I assumed you must mean that.
>
> It's Melway reference 208 K2 in case anyone is trying to work
> out where it is, on the road in to Federation Steps (Andrew
> Park Drive).
>
> Peter Shute
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: on behalf of John Tongue
> Sent: Thu 18/09/2008 8:10 PM
> To: Birding Aus
> Cc:
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Baillon's Crake at Altona
>
> Hi All,
> People may already be aware of this, and/or not that amazed -
> but for us who have been chasing this species for some time,
> we were quite surprised!
>
> Two Baillon's Crake (and a Spotted) were showing well on the
> ponds at 'Truganina Reserve', Altona, yesterday (17.9.08).
>
> When you come down the lane beside the Netball/Baseball Centre, you
> come to a little bridge over a connecting 'trickle' between
> lagoons.
> Then there are two main ponds to the East, before the 'creek'
> joined Laverton Creek.
>
> The Spotted Crake was in the westernmost of the two (the
> larger pond) working in and out of the reeds on the southern
> side of the pond. The two Baillon's Crakes were in the
> smaller, more easterly pond, again, working the reeds on the
> southern side. We stood quietly on the north side, and got
> cracking views of all three birds as they wandered in and out
> of the reeds. The first Baillon's was observed at 1030, near
> the very narrow outlet to the pond, just down below one of
> the little eucalypts planted in the native garden. The
> second was further back to the West a little later, and the
> Spotted Crake was almost back to the little road bridge.
>
> Happy birding to any who want to look for these birds.
>
> John Tongue
> Ulverstone, Tas (Leastwise, we will be tomorrow!)
> =============================== www.birding-aus.org
> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>
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