Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Buff-banded Rail

This post is for World Bird Wednesday

A couple of weeks ago (July 5) I posted about being invited to see some Bush Stone-Curlews - (which I should have called by their new name of Bush Thick-Knees! - thanks Tony!) - in a very beautiful and bird-friendly garden. Brian and Sue were kind enough to invite me a second time - this time to wait and see if we could see one of a pair of Buff-banded Rails (Rallus philippensis). Brian and Sue have a yard that backs onto public reserve land which runs along a creek. This land is not mowed so there is dense vegetation here. My birding books says that these birds prefer areas of rank grasses near water. Possibly this is where the birds live permanently but they frequently wander through the garden area as well. They had been walking through the garden at the edge of the tall grass just before I arrived and after waiting a bit one of the birds walked out into sight and then quickly ran along beside the tall grass and disappeared again. The only other views I have had of rails have been very brief and certainly not long enough to get a camera focused on them. Thanks again Brian and Sue!
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21 comments:

  1. ArijaJuly 19, 2011 at 7:04 PM

    These are so beautiful. Now this is a bird I have not come across as yet, where there is life, there is hope ...

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  2. mickJuly 19, 2011 at 7:47 PM

    Thanks Arija, I've only had brief glimpses before this. Different part of the country mean different birds - it would be great if we could all shuffle around for a while!

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  3. TexWisGirlJuly 19, 2011 at 10:43 PM

    looks like a good-looking prairie chicken. :)

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  4. UnknownJuly 20, 2011 at 4:52 AM

    Very handsome bird!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  5. theconstantwalkerJuly 20, 2011 at 4:59 AM

    What a lovely bird to see Mick...
    You see so much variety on your patch.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  6. jooJuly 20, 2011 at 6:16 AM

    It's a lovely bird!

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  7. eileeninmdJuly 20, 2011 at 8:15 AM

    Rails are always a cool sighting. They seem to be so secretive. Great captures and sighting.

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  8. SpringmanJuly 20, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    Wow Mick, Your buddies came through for you big time again! The pictures of the rail are really something! Their garden sounds fantastic. In the age of manicured lawns we sure displace a lot of wild life and your friends home sounds like a refreshing break from that. I'll bet they truly appreciate your enthusiasm for their space!

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  9. Martha ZJuly 20, 2011 at 2:19 PM

    It's nice when you can see birds like this in your own back yard. I'm fortunate to have a similar situation. I don't see rails though but lots of quail and an occasional wild turkey. In winter I have lots of hawks coming to my feeder but not for the birdseed.

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  10. Stewart MJuly 20, 2011 at 7:44 PM

    Hi there - now thats not a bad bird to have on a garden list!

    I also can find "up-to-date" references to "Thick Knees" and "Curlews"!

    Cheers Stewart M

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  11. Hilke BrederJuly 20, 2011 at 10:26 PM

    Great capture of a secretive bird, Mick! I have never been able to see, never mind capture, any rail.

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  12. Mike B. @ slugyard.comJuly 21, 2011 at 6:20 AM

    Beautiful bird! I love seeing your shorebirds from Down Under.

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  13. AnonymousJuly 21, 2011 at 6:23 AM

    They are beautiful birds!

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  14. LarryJuly 21, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    Great shots Mick! Typical rail behavior eh? They are tough ones to catch out in the open. Well done! And what a beauty. I would love to see one of those.

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  15. Stewart MJuly 21, 2011 at 7:11 PM

    Hi Mick - I had a look at the Birds Australia web site today and they still list the Bush Stone Curlew as just that! I think I'll be sticking with that name.

    Cheers SM

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  16. NatureFootstepJuly 22, 2011 at 1:05 AM

    lovely shots of a difficult bird. :)

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  17. Crafty Green PoetJuly 22, 2011 at 2:14 AM

    what beautiful markings this bird has!

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  18. SondraJuly 22, 2011 at 7:54 AM

    What a great opportunity its a fab looking bird very colorful!!

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  19. ReenaJuly 22, 2011 at 11:31 AM

    Love learning about your birds there!

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  20. UnknownJuly 22, 2011 at 10:59 PM

    So colourful & beautiful!
    It must be amazing to have these in your garden, whoa!

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  21. UnknownJuly 26, 2011 at 3:23 AM

    Glad you captured this fellow, I think I haven't seen it before and it's a fantastic bird.

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