Spent a few enjoyable hours at the SW (Kowald Rd) end of Ewen Maddock Dam Sat
morning. This is a place I regularly check-out, good mix of waterbirds, bush
birds, and a small patch of lowland rainforest.
Since my last visit the water level has dropped quite a bit, finally
exposing some mud. I live in hope of seeing a Lewin's Rail there (one was
sighted about 2 years ago), but could only find a Buff-banded Rail, and that
wasn't on the mud.
Waterbird numbers, both species and birds, have also increased with
Black Swans and Great Crested Grebes back, lots of Aussie Grebes as well. Best
bird of day was a pair of Whiskered Tern flying over water, then resting on the
white buoys. Also got Green Catbird in rainforest for first time, and first
Spectacled Monarch of season there. All-up, a respectable 57 species with no
raptors nor parrots (how could that be?).
I was thinking that the more exposed shoreline should increase the
prospect of crakes & rails in the coming months, but then realized that I've
never seen anything other than the Buff-banded Rail there.
Have other Sunshine Coast/SEQ birders got records of other crakes &
rails from the dam? I wondered whether the meleluca swamp habitat there was
more or less likely to be suitable for these elusive birds. Any thoughts anyone?
Russ Lamb,Maleny,SEQ
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