Yesterday (27/2/08) I noticed small, restless flocks of Silvereyes
moving around and a Rufous Fantail came through my garden (Katoomba,
NSW), sure signs that autumn is coming.
I went for a short walk early this morning in very misty weather on
Narrow Neck plateau to the south of Katoomba. Birds seem to be
responding well to the wetter conditions of La Nina - I get the
impression there are better numbers of small bush birds around
generally than we've been seeing towards the latter part of the
drought years.
While I was driving out along the plateau, a Pilotbird darted across
the track in front of the car. At this time of year, I find that
Pilotbirds start to spend more time on the clifftop areas in habitats
not normally acknowledged in the books for this species.
Walking out beyond the gate I encountered a pair of Beautiful
Firetails foraging in full view for as long as I wanted to watch.
They were amongst a mixed flock which also included White-browed
Scrubwrens, Eastern Yellow Robins, Red-browed Finches, Eastern
Whipbird, Grey Shrike-thrush, White-throated and Red-browed
Treecreepers, the latter on the smooth upper branches of Eucalyptus
sieberi, and the former on the rough bark lower down.
This was just past a wonderful rock outcrop overlooking a hanging
swamp, known unofficially as "Morning Tea Rock". For years there was
a family of Black Rock Skinks here which I would look for every time
I walked past. A while ago someone pushed off a large chunk of
boulder which slid down to the ground leaving an ugly scar, and
there's no longer a suitable sized crevice for the skinks. It mars an
otherwise beautiful and very special area.
Cheers,
Carol
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Carol Probets
Guided birding in the Blue Mountains & Capertee Valley
PO Box 330
Katoomba NSW 2780
Web: http://www.bmbirding.com.au
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