Late this afternoon I went for a walk into the valley below Katoomba,
just to get a bit of exercise before dinner. As I set out, a
Pilotbird hopped onto the track in front of me, then another. It
didn't matter that I hadn't brought my binoculars, as they were too
close for that anyway. I couldn't have scared them away if I'd tried
and ended up herding them along the track for some distance as I
walked. Half an hour later when I returned, there were four
Pilotbirds together in the same spot, and a fifth calling nearby!
At least two of them appeared to be young birds, being duller than
usual especially around the face, although they did have the rich
chestnut at the base of the tail that the adults have. They were
constantly making a very soft wheezy upslurred whistle that I've
never heard before, while one of the adults on the track suddenly let
out the more usual loud, sweet "Guinea-a-week!"
A lovely way to end a summer's day.
Carol
Carol Probets
Katoomba
Blue Mountains, NSW
(100km west of Sydney)
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