Sometimes you’ve got to…….
Dec 6th, 2008 by Duncan
………take things into your own hands. For 12 months or more Gouldiae has been promising me a Baillon’s Crake at the Heyfield Wetlands, but every time I’ve gone over it’s been “it was here yesterday” or the like. Well enough is enough, time to find one for myself, so with Gouldiae tied up with the arrival of his second grandchild, I took advantage of a nice day to go up to Peach Flat where I knew there were two, (thanks Deidre) The wetland was looking great after being refreshed by the recent rain, the reed warblers were singing and black duck and swamp hens were working through the water-milfoil. There didn’t seem to be as many odonata as on my previous visit, maybe the reed warblers had thinned them out, but at least the Blue Skimmers had increased.
The crakes have been seen on the northern section of the wetland, and when I reached the first stand of vegetation there was a loud splashing as a coot took off, and I caught a glimpse of a Baillon’s disappearing into cover, oh great, thanks very much coot. Thinking I might see it from the other side I continued around the lagoons, but had no luck so trudged back to the vehicle for a drink and a bite to eat, pausing for a distant shot of a Fan-tailed Cuckoo by the creek.
After lunch I did the circuit again, this time sitting down for a while hoping the crake would show, but again no luck. I noticed Chris the caretaker in the distance showing a couple around, and we exchanged waves before I worked my way around to the south side again. I was just about there when I saw Chris’s little terrier swimming across to me, it had become separated from its master and wanted to stay with me. Well that was OK, until a minute later when I spotted the crake close and coming towards me and I started to lift the camera. At this point the little dog decided it needed another cool off, jumped back into the water and away went the crake. Now I couldn’t go crook at a little lost dog could I, and my forbearance was somewhat rewarded shortly after when the two Baillon’s Crakes left the reeds and started to make their way across the milfoil the the opposite shore, too far away for a good picture, only a record, but there’ll be another day, won’t there, I hope…..
And what did I do with the little dog? Well, I put it into the car and took it home to Chris, it would have made it home by itself, but it was a long hot walk for a little animal and I’m a very kind-hearted bloke. And tolerant. 
Pictures, from top.
Peach Flat wetland, the northern lagoon.
Clamorous Reed Warbler.
Fan-tailed Cuckoo.
Baillon’s Crake.
Click the first two to enlarge.
Sorry you didn’t get the close views you wanted of the Crakes – but it sounds like such a great place that an excuse for a second visit – soon! – sounds pretty good. The photo of the Reed Warbler is especially good.
You couldn’t begrudge the pooch a dip in cool water on a 32 degree day! I’d have been in the lake with it. (Well, maybe that’s going too far.)
But you did get to see the crakes.
Hi Mick, yes, I can see myself back there again soon!
Snail, the flamin’ thing had just swum across thirty feet of water and was drenched, just likes swimming I guess.
Sounds like a great walk and glad you found the crakes even if you didn’t get as close as you might have wanted…
Hi Duncan
Nice post with a humane touch. A caretaker of a wetland with a dog is not my idea of “appropriate”. Still I am glad you took the dog back to its home.
Denis
Just got to be … what’s the word? Persis…no, dogged, that’s it! Isn’t it?
Great that your perseverance worked.
Bailon’s Crake is a rare migrant over here and I am yet to see it.
Good bird!
Off topic: I am getting some Australian visitors on a birding tour here in Feb-Mar. I’d like to ask them to bring some books. Could you please rcommend me a book each related to the following categories.
1. Australian Dragonflies
2. Australian Biogeography
3. Australian Wildlife
I will CGP, I will….!
Not to worry Denis, the little dog is rarely there and only likes a swim. More interested in chasing a ball than anything else.
Trust you to find the appropriate word Tony, good one.
Hi Amila, email on its way re. books, cheers, D.
Nice one DF,
Got a Baillon’s at last! Not as pretty as Phoebe though!
Regards,
Gouldiae
A bit late with this Gouldiae, I’ll grant you, Phoebe is nice.