Well, I didn’t quite get to the Leura Cascades. On the map, the last section was a steep downhill run so I went the other "not so steep way," and saw a cliff edge approaching. Knowing that cascades have to be below that, and "downhill" is not my strongest (walking) gradient, I figured a cascade is a cascade is a cascade. I’ll try and get to the public car park tomorrow (early) and go in from there. That track HAS to be in good condition.
The birds: I'll start with two precious gems: the southern yellow robin who flew by my feet, dug up an earthworm and it took it back to the nest. I couldn't breathe! This is the bird I saw/heard yesterday that I thought was a rose robin. Had the robin bit right!
Later, I met up with the superb lyrebird who more or less glared at me to stop so it could go on with its digging. I did, it did, and I hope I’ve got some great video of it. (Just have to rotate the video - sorry, that's about 2 days way). AND I saw the “chi-chortle-chi” bird near Varuna – a warbler I think but I’ll have to look it up. AND I saw a striated thornbill going into its hanging bunch-of-leaves nest and excited chicks welcoming it. HOW CUTE IS THAT?? It was right by the path…(HUH??)…in a really marshy narrow bit under an overhang. As you do.
Now I'll add the regulars (and what regulars): scrubbies, fantails, shrikey, spiney, sulphurs, pied curras, I keep forgetting to add black-backed magpie, wattlebirds (both kinds), crimson rosella (I think, not sure it wasn't a king parrot). Heard: kookas, whipbird, and a bunch of gorgeous tweets that belong to flitting shadows in dense bushland. Yeah right.
Writing: better today, improving one scene. Pleased.
Other news: The ABC were filming scenes for the upcoming third series of Dance Academy at three locations in Katoomba. WOW! Great work for these young actors and crew. Thank you ABC.
Tomorrow it's a shorter walk, then packing up to head to Sydney and eventually home. It's always hard to leave Katoomba.
Happy writing, birdwatching, bushwalking, editing...
Bo
x
PS The lyrebird video will be posted soon