Late yesterday 27/12/04 at the northern end of Blue Gum Swamp, Winmalee ( 80 km west of Sydney in lower Blue
Mountains) I witnessed a
spectacular display for 35 minutes by a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles. They were
riding the gale force westerly winds on top of Gross Head South. The birds were
several hundred meters apart with wings half folded, legs fully extended and
tails drooping. They may have been attracted into the valley by the presence of
a Swamp Wallaby carcass at the southern end of Blue Gum. The birds moved slowly
back and forth at tree-top level over the mountain resembling Harrier Jump Jets
the way they sometimes remained stationary above the trees. At times they moved
at right angles to the wind and then they would move swiftly upwind only to
allow themselves to be carried downwind for hundreds of meters. At all times
they kept their wings half folded and legs hanging down. They appeared to be
playing rather than seriously hunting for prey. The only bird sound in the
valley was that of a lone Lewin’s Honeyeater calling
from deep in the foliage of a Turpentine tree. Even the Sulpur-crested
Cockatoos were silent. One of the eagles landed on a dead limb of a tree high
up on the mountain and perched for several minutes before throwing itself back
into the gale again with wings half folded and legs hanging. The pair
eventually disappeared over the top of the mountain and into the Gross Valley.
Neil Kirby
