Thursday 20 September 2012

Baillon's Crake

Part two of the 'mega' twitch was a trip to Rainham Marshes RSPB in Essex to see if we could get a view of a very elusive little bird, a juvenile Baillon's Crake. Chris had been the day before and after spending 6 hours in the hide had a view which lasted about 5 seconds, I had also heard tales of people spending 15 hours before a glimpse, I wasn't looking forward to this vigil.

The bird had been reported at 7am that day, but on arrival at the reserve at about 1.30 we heard news that it hadn't been seen since. We walked to the hide where a few birders sat and stood staring at a patch of mud and reed bed, some had been there since the morning, some had arrived just after the Crakes' last sighting and were looking a bit down-beat. Chris and I started our vigil.

A Water Rail raised the temperature a little bit when part of it was seen in the reeds and someone called that they had seen something move. A mass rush to scopes and binoculars ensued, but on sighting the red bill of a Water Rail the excitement reduced. This small patch of mud wasn't particularly awe inspiring and some young Coots and Moorhens continued to get the twitchers going as their movement created excitement. All of a sudden the bird was spotted, in a completely different spot to where it was supposed to be! All hell broke loose, people frantically tried to get on the bird, most succeeding, but some were still looking in the wrong spot! I managed to rattle off a couple of shots before the bird disappeared back into the reed bed, not to be seen again that day. We had been there half an hour, result!

This is what all the fuss was about, a small, grey bird, not much bigger than a House Sparrow. Click on this and all the other images for a larger picture.


Can you see it? The last view of the day as it disappeared back into the reeds.
The hide gradually emptied and we bade our farewells. I had imagined hours waiting for this little 'mega' to appear and felt slightly guilty that I only had to put in 30 minutes, not that guilty though!


Glad it was such a comfortable hide! According to the RSPB people this was quiet!
The Baillon's Crake is another pretty rare bird, with only 75 sightings in the U.K. since 1819, although a few have been seen and heard this year, making people think that it is an under-recorded bird.

16 comments:

  1. I would have got really excited about a Water Rail John, this is something else. Well done.

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    1. Thanks Roy,
      I was pleased to see the Water Rail too, it just wasn't the main event :)
      J

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  2. Aha! Maybe I should have guessed when you said Essex on your previous post. It was my blogland friend Marianne who found this in the first place and what a find it was! Well done on locating it so quickly, I hadn't realised until you said just how small it is! As Roy said a Water Rail would do me but this definitely was mega :-)

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    1. That was a fantastic find by your friend Jan! They are small birds and really 'skulky', one blink and you would miss them!
      J

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  3. Great tick,well worth the wait.
    John.

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    1. Thanks John,
      Glad I didn't have to wait too long.
      J

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  4. Congratulations on seeing it John.

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    1. Thanks Keith, it made the journey worth while.
      J

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  5. This bird sounds really rare...I have never heard of this species. Congrats once again on your find! It is a stunning looking bird! Have a great weekend John!

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    1. Thanks Tammy, yes, pretty rare, but very widespread this side of the pond. There are now thoughts that it may have bred in Britain, but there is no concrete proof.
      You too.
      J

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  6. I to would have pleased with the Water Rail John... easily pleased I am.. Great images of your find.

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    1. Thanks Andrew,
      Not easily pleased at all, a Water Rail is a great bird and a treat to see in any circumstance.
      J

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  7. Well done John, one time that you will remember.

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    1. Thanks Bob,
      I will indeed, if only for the bags under my eyes!
      J

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  8. Hi John. I am very impressed by the dedication you and your fellows have so that 'armchair' enthusiasts like myself can enjoy the benefits.
    That looks like a five-star hide to me. I bet they have a bar and a cocktail lounge!
    Click here for Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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    1. Thanks Bazza,
      Dedication with a slight hint of madness!
      The hide was pretty posh, but it didn't have a bar or cocktail lounge, I will have to put in a request!
      J

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