About a year ago, I had been on a walk with Valerie to the Cape Baily area of Kamay Botany Bay National Park and been amazed by the magnificent flannel flowers that were out. I suggested to Valerie and Sue another visit to see how they were going this season. We all had an amazing day in the full splendour of Nature.
It was a day with a lot of highlights! The Flannel Flowers were magnificent. The sandstone patterns and the cliffs were great. We had very good experiences observing raptors, especially a pair of Nankeen Kestrels and an amazing flying display from a Peregrine Falcon. And then a pod of Dolphins appeared just below us, and appeared to be rounding up fish.
We travelled down in Valerie’s car and she parked near Potter Point. We then started walking north along the tops of the cliffs towards the Cape Baily Lighthouse.
White-faced Heron
Sculptured sandstone
We stopped here, just north of there lighthouse, for morning tea.
Looking down, we spotted some Humpback Whales –
Australasian Pipit
And now the Flannel Flowers – Actinotus helianthi
The Flannel Flowers were probably at their best near Blue Hole Hap.
we walked north a bit further and then found a nice spot to have lunch. Later a White-bellied Sea Eagle flew past.
It was being harassed by Ravens –
On the way back, we spotted a Nankeen Kestrel perched on top of the cliffs.
It then started calling.
More calling, and then it took off.
It landed a bit further along, and then more calling.
It was calling to its mate. Its flew over to the female, then they mated –
We hadn’t even seen the female, perched on the clifftop a bit further along, waiting for the male. The male then flew back and landed near us.
And then the female took off and landed a bit past us.
She was joined by the male again. More mating?
No.
Then some fast flying –
And even faster flying –
This one has some prey in its talons.
Superb Fairy-wren
We listened and looked carefully at the small birds in the heath. Earlier we had heard and briefly seen an Emu-wren, but it didn’t show itself enough for a photo.
White-browed Scrubwren
I have observed a nesting pair of Peregrine Falcons around these cliffs in previous seasons, and I thought they may be nesting currently. But we had not seen any earlier when we walked north. But on our return walk, one suddenly appeared with prey –
It flew down under the cliffs and deliver the prey – probably to a nest. It then flew back up, and for the next 30 minutes were were entertained by some nice fast aerobatic flying.
It would fly past, then land on the cliffs out of sight, then a few minutes later it would re-appear.
Then when the flight display seemed to be finishing, and we were just about to continue our walk south, Sue looked down and spotted a Dolphin.
Then we all spotted more Dolphins –
They were moving around in circles, so we assumed they were heading fish.
Next a White-bellied Sea Eagle flew south –
Caspian Tern
Another White-bellied Sea Eagle sighting –
And, just as we arrived back at Valerie’s car – we spotted a Black-shouldered Kite –
What an outstanding day!!