I travelled up to the sea cliffs of the Northern Beaches of Sydney again to hopefully photograph some young Peregrine Falcons. I was hoping that the chicks may have fledged.
I for that one of two chicks had fledged and appears to be flying well. The second chick seems to be a lot less developed, and while it could fly between rock ledges, I never saw it do a large flight. It also exhibited some strange behaviour that perhaps indicates a problem.
When I arrived at the cliffs, I spotted that chick on a ledge. It was on its way to lower level.
It looked fine, and I wondered if it could fly properly.
I later found its sibling perched on the top of the cliffs further along. It was obvious that this one could fly well.
I wanted it ready to get some take-off photos, but it flew away from where I was –
But I was bale to get some nice flight shots when it returned.
It landed near its less developed sibling – which areas to still have some if its downy feathers.
Here is the more developed chick –
It then found some left over food on the ledges –
Then a parent (the female) arrived –
Some flying from the juvenile –
And then a second parent arrived –
More flying from the juvenile –
The adult male perched –
I then watched the two juveniles. The less developed one was acting strange.
Here, the more developed one is pushing it –
And it seems that more food, a stealing, had been delivered.
Meanwhile, a male Pacific Koel is calling loudly –
The adult female had remained perched in the same spot, but was now getting ready to fly.
It went for a short flight, then returned to its perch.
A military plane cruised along the beaches –
A little bit more flying from the juvenile –
And a passing Caspian Tern –
Then the adult female went for a flight, and seemed to object to my presence on the cliffs. Perhaps I was too close and the juveniles were feeding?
It settled back on the cliffs.
It was now time for me to head home. It had been an interesting visit.