I travelled up to the cliffs of the Northern Beaches again, to photograph a nesting pair of Peregrine Falcons. The day was a bit mixed. The parents seemed a bit unsettled by my presence, even when I was a fair way from their nest area, so I did not stay too long. Perhaps there were feeding young chicks at the time?
Here are some photos from my visit –
I waited for this bird to take-off.
Then no sight of the Peregrine Falcons for a while.
A Great Cormorant flew by lower down –
And I spotted these fish –
The Humpback Whales were active, but a long away out –
And then a Peregrine Falcon returned –
When they fly at you like this, although they are never really close (I was using a lot telephoto lens), it indicates that they do not like you being there. Time to move away. The Peregrine Falcon did a few more circuits.
And then settled on the cliffs.
Later, the second Peregrine Falcon cruised past –
The first stayed where it was, probably guarding young.
It had been a shorter visit than I had intended, but it was getting hot, so I decided to head home.
David
I have been watching your blog for signs of the Peregrines at Malabar but it does not look hopeful but they seem to be operating on the Northern beaches
Does this mean Dee Wye or somewhere else? I would be grateful for any info.
You had a ball there last year . And made the comment to me that one had to take the opportunity when it presented itself which turned out to be correct about Malabar
Your Sept 24 2023 ‘Bullets’ are still the best I have seen, especially the one with the slightly pink rock face behind it. Stay well.
Ian
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Good to hear from you again Ian. I hope you are well. The Northern Beaches Peregrines are on the cliffs of Dee Why. I was there yesterday – and there are 2 chicks. One can fly well, the other was only moving between the ledges. I am not sure what is happening at Malabar Headland this season – but I think nesting has failed.
Thanks for that David . Sounds to me as though the best time at Dee Why might be in about 10 days time; does that sound about right ;and in the afternoons.I have only been there once but the gaps in the foliage seemed to all face East.That was 2 years ago and I was not there long so maybe wrong.Do you stand behind the railings?
Yes – I would think that would be about right, and then OK, perhaps, for a month or 6 weeks. The cliffs at Dee Why are not as good as Malabar Headland in general – a lot of trees that can block flying action and limited observing spots. I do walk around the railings at the two main spots I photograph from. Care is needed at one of the spots.
Thanks David .I will let you know if I am coming.We may coincide.
Thanks for all your blogs .You educate a great number of us.
My best wishes Ian