I could have kicked myself.
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Missing one photograph could be regarded as misfortune but to miss both was surely carelessness, and I tiptoed back and forth along the outcrop in the desperate hope the wallaby would re-emerge from the undergrowth.
I was on the nature walk trail near The Wall at Mount Canobolas and had been enjoying myself immensely. I'd been meandering along the trail at a much slower pace than usual - I was still recovering from a severe bout of Covid - and I'd paused by a 600-year-old gum tree and spent several minutes watching the birds in the morning light.
I loved the challenge of photographing animals. The thrill of a good shot never really got old and I was pleased I'd managed to capture some of the colourful birds before they'd disappeared into the bush once more.
![I was able to get plenty of good shots of the birds. Pictures by Rebecca Nadge. I was able to get plenty of good shots of the birds. Pictures by Rebecca Nadge.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/213266301/83c730be-6ffa-4bc4-b6ef-66e44fb63083.JPG/r44_516_3733_2703_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The mist was still lifting, adding a kind of mystery to my photos, and I was starting to feel a little more invigorated after walking in the fresh air.
I branched off to walk to the top of Young Man Canobolas and overlooked the valley. It was a nice view but I turned my back to it and instead sat on a rock to breath in the cool breeze.
![A moody sky from The Wall lookout. A moody sky from The Wall lookout.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/213266301/c9c52728-0588-4593-9800-d7728fb85fc2.JPG/r0_276_4000_2525_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
My body was starting to protest after the uphill walk and I was annoyed at how weak I felt, but I perked up once I was back on the flat trail and was soon lost in thought about the trips I wanted to take and the stories I wanted to write.
I was so engrossed I didn't see the rock wallaby until I was nearly on top of him, and we both leapt in surprise before he shot off at a rapid pace along the impossibly steep hillside and darted into the bush.
I scolded myself to pay attention as I continued along the track and only a few seconds later I was rewarded as I spotted a mob of kangaroos.
They were good posers; I shot some photos before looking excitedly through the viewfinder to capture video footage too.
![I loved the challenge of photographing animals. I loved the challenge of photographing animals.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/213266301/51f9868d-6bc3-4d54-a5c6-e825d3aa9b54.JPG/r0_604_4000_2853_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Creeping forward, I stumbled slightly on a rock and heard another tell-tale thud as the rock wallaby launched out from the bush again.
What were the chances, I thought, exasperated, and I watched hopelessly while the wallaby disappeared into the bush to my left, the kangaroos hopped away on my right and all the while a white cockatoo screeched constantly overhead.
The wallaby couldn't have gone far, I reasoned, and I spent an embarrassingly long time walking stealthily back and forth to try and catch another glimpse as I willed the cockatoo to shut up and let me focus.
![There was plenty of wildlife along the trail. There was plenty of wildlife along the trail.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/213266301/c29eac09-ec0e-447e-955b-c02691ea6c9a.JPG/r0_373_4000_2622_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Eventually I admitted defeat and walked along the final stretch to the lookout. It was a good view, in fact the whole walk had been really quite scenic, and I was looking forward to editing my photos later.
I made my way back to the car and opened the door before a bird in a tree above caught my eye. The glare ruined the shot but I couldn't help but take a closer look, and realised with awe it was feeding chicks in a nest.
I felt bad having parked underneath and quietly left them to it, before pulling out onto the road and heading home for lunch.
![The bush was looking fresh after some rain. The bush was looking fresh after some rain.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/213266301/557dc4ed-187a-477a-b8e9-234ea98632a3.JPG/r0_373_4000_2622_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)