Between Christmas and New Year I normally go banding at Werribee Sewage works – it’s nowhere as bad as it sounds! In fact it can even become rather picturesque.
While waiting for the waders we were hoping to band to arrive in the catching area this rather brave Australian Spotted Crake was showing very well. Normally a bird that you only see dashing from one dark corner of a weed bed to another, today they put on a real show. They were everywhere! I think I must have seen at least six different birds – and at times we could see two feeding in the same pool. It certainly passed the times as we waited for the waders.
You can find more birds here at World Bird Wednesday.
You can also find my most recent post on my other blog by clicking the Paying Ready Attention link on the RHS of the page.
Enjoy the birds.
Beautiful...I love to go birding in my side of the globe, and seeing your country's species of waterfowl is a treat!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting.
Interesting bird Stewart!! Birds like the oddest places. Here Eagles have move into the landfill sight. But what's even stranger is they don't seem to migrate either. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeletehe's really beautiful! love the bluish hues!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bird! Love his colors! Hope your week is going well!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Oh wow, what a great colour beak he has!
ReplyDeleteYour Crake is beautiful. Great sighting and photos. Thanks for sharing this world bird.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful bird to see Stewart.
ReplyDeleteI hope 2012 is a great year for you..
Great photos of the Crake. You were very lucky to find them out in the open like that.
ReplyDeleteThese shots are great. It's amazing what you can find and where.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking bird! I've never seen a crake. Nice color in the eyes and legs.
ReplyDeleteSweet goodness! Lucky you! :D
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots of this Beauty!
Nothing better than a few birds getting their portraits taken :D
What a neat looking bird which only becomes apparent when enlarging the image. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen this bird. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThese are fun looking birds. Happy New Year~
ReplyDeletesome nice photos there Stewart; I've not even heard of the crake before; good to learn something new. Well done on your banding contributions.
ReplyDeleteNice bird shots! Glad to hear it's a little cooler for you.
ReplyDeleteVery much like our Water Rail here Stewart. Great shots.
ReplyDeleteAwesome captures of this really cool bird, Stewart! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen them in wild and it's so cool to see them in your photos, Steward!
ReplyDeleteHandsome bird. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove your shots of the crakes. Strange for a shy bird to appear in such numbers.
ReplyDeleteLovely colours and great shots!
ReplyDeleteI posted the last of my birds from my MP trip this week on WBW. Back to Brisbane birds next week.
Amazing stuff Stewart! The view is always changing isn't it? Great shots!
ReplyDeleteCheers Sir!
Wow Stewart! Your Australian Spotted Crake looks much like our Sora in the US. They are also rarely seen in the open but I always feel like I've been blessed by the bird gods when I am able to see one. Marvelous photos you took! Sewage treatment ponds are often birding hot spots over here also.
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