An early Prince Henry Walk brought a few more birds (at last) and an awe-inspiring view of the Jamison Valley.
A couple of hours later, I took the train to Wentworth Falls for my unheroic set of walks, starting with my favourite "Darwin's Walk," named after the great scientist who walked through this area in 1836. WOW! A gorgeous day. After skirting the top of the actual Wentworth Falls, I walked along the Shortcut Track (another favourite) to the Conservation Hut. Found a shady spot for lunch, and was immediately joined by two white-browed scrubwrens. Now THAT was hard to take! Walked back to another Falls lookout, then back along Darwin's Walk to the train station. Yep, I'm dead.
The bird list:
Eastern spinebills, wrens (possibly variegated?), crimson rosellas, thornbills, grey fantails (one told me off until I finally saw it), clogs, pied currawongs, three glossy black cockatoos, sulphurs, galahs, wattlebirds - red and little, white-browed scrubwrens (a favourite). AND...Mr and Mrs Rufous Whistler - the first time I've ever seen them! I'm SOOOOO excited!
Heard: kookas, fantail cuckoos, treecreeper, eastern whipbird.
Not sure: rose robin - the call was right, and some other bird I have NO IDEA what it was and I don't have my field guide...AAAAAAAAAH! Grey/brown bird about wattlebird size, black eye, in sun has a glossy green sheen to its feathers. To quote a famous book: WHAT BIRD IS THAT???
Writing: Not quite so much today (feeling guilty), will do more tomorrow.
Tonight: Lasagne at Papa Dino's in Katoomba Street. Delicious! Worth the walk (although my legs are telling me otherwise!)
Leura Cascades tomorrow - providing there's no slippery and ridiculously steep descents on tiny steps with no handrail.
Happy writing, birding, bushwalking, everything
(and editing)
Bo
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