Macleod Morass at Bairnsdale is a popular wetland birding location. At present (January 2026) conditions are very good due to large areas of exposed mudflats with shallow water and good cover around the margins.
At a recent visit we found three migrant shorebirds, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, a Wood Sandpiper, and Latham’s Snipe, as well as Red-kneed and Black-fronted Dotterels, Pied Stilts, Baillon’s and Australian Spotted Crakes plus many other waterbird species.
There were at least sixty Sharpies busy foraging in the shallow water.
The report of one Wood Sandpiper drew a number of birders to the Morass to see this rare shorebird visitor to East Gippsland.
I counted 12 Australian Spotted Crakes however there were no doubt many more hidden in the Phragmites australis, plus one Baillon’s Crake was seen. Lewin’s and Buff-banded Rails and Spotless Crakes are also likely to be in the Morass at present given the ideal conditions.
This second photo of an Australian Spotless Crake shows the white and black undertail well, which is a good ID guide, especially to separate it from the Baillon’s Crake.
While I was photographing the Spotted Crakes a Reed Warbler put in a brief appearance.
With both dry land and wetland habitat, Macleod Morass is a bird rich location where 40 – 50 bird species can easily be seen in a couple of hours.
The following links are for earlier Avithera posts featuring rails and crakes.
https://avithera.blogspot.com/2016/01/baillons-crake.html
https://avithera.blogspot.com/2018/07/lewins-rail.html
https://avithera.blogspot.com/2018/11/crakes.html
https://avithera.blogspot.com/2023/09/baillons-crakes-at-byron-wetlands.html
