South Africa – Marievale Bird Sanctuary [16]

Atlasville, 11 Jan 2012

The Baillon’s Crake is still the subject of ongoing birding chatter on the internet. It was relocated and photographed again yesterday. So, I set off again this morning to try my luck for a second time, taking along a birding friend with me.

We arrived at the same spot that I had been to 2 days ago to find two other birders whom we knew already there. Luck was with us today, in that we located the crake within 5 minutes. However, it was moving around from reed to reed just above the water, making a clear shot for a photo rather difficult. I took about 30 shots, many out of focus because of intervening reeds, several of the back of the crake. However, I did manage one shot that clearly shows that it is indeed a Baillon’s Crake.

Also seen was an African Rail, another of those skulking birds that is not often seen out in the open. I was fortunate to see it crossing one of the tracks.

A juvenile African Marsh Harrier was quartering the reedbeds, against the unusual backdrop here at Marievale of an old gold mine tailings dam, while lower down a Whiskered Tern patrolled the open water areas among the reeds.

Other birds photographed were the irresistible male Southern Red Bishop, and Long-tailed Widowbird, Pin-tailed Whydah, African Stonechat, Southern Fiscal and Barn Swallow.