Birds in flight

Another ferry to Cessnock, picking up a club pilot. Perfect vis no clouds, winter midday. On the windy side with a few hard low bumps.

1500 feet just this side of the Kurri smelter I see two white objects that could only be birds tracking across my path. I wonder what sort of birds they are and realise I only have to turn right a little to intercept them. I am about 200 ft above their level. Twenty seconds later I am slightly aft and they are to my right flapping hard, arrow straight, in the approximate direction of Dungog. They are white (or light brown and white) pigeons (of course). The lead bird is on the left and his wingman is close in, one length back and one wingspan apart. Impressive.

You dont always see birds. Can be scary when they are right in your 12. They can be surprisingly high up. On the way back there was a wedge-tail eagle in our 12, but high; maybe 300 ft higher (1800 ft above ground level). I turn little left to ensure he doesnt do a dive onto us for some appalling reason, but he doesnt. Soaring serenely, unlike his pigeon prey.