This was another very pleasant day spent in Malabar Headland National Park. This small park, when it is open, is a good place to experience Nature.
I was hoping to see Peregrine Falcons again – but on this visit they didn’t seem to be around. Perhaps they have headed to another cliff to make a nest? Or perhaps only away for the day, or even sitting on eggs? It was interesting to see a big group of Silver Gulls floating on the sea below where I had seen the falcons on previous visits. Perhaps they knew the falcons where away and it was safe to be there?
What I did see on this visit where whales – lots of whales. I think I would have seen between 30 and 50 whales during the day. I was there between 8:30 am and about 4 pm. Mots of the whales were quite a long way out to sea, but a few did pass quite close. All where travelling south. This seems a bit early. The ones I saw when I arrived where doing a lot of breeching and tail slapping. I got some photos – but they were a long way out and I was not at either of the points at that time.
I did see, but not photograph, a few lizards. Like on previous trips there were a lot of WattleBirds and New Holland Honeyeaters in the coastal heath. As well there where Superb Fairy Wrens.
Little Wattlebird
At Boora Point, I did spot a single Australasian Pipit sitting on the rock.
Australasian Pipit
And I could not hep hearing a bird calling nearby in the scrub. I wake around a bit trying to spot it, and eventually I did. It was a Horsefield’s Bronze-cuckoo.
Horsefield’s Bronze-cuckoo
Horsefield’s Bronze-cuckoo
I waited a fair while on the cliffs looking for the Peregrine Falcons to see if they would return to their roosts. But no luck. But the waiting did allow me to see more whales.
I did spot the local Nankeen Kestrels. Unfortunately when i saw them – each time they were a fair way off and so my photos are not too good. On two occasions they were being harassed by Ravens.
I also took a few landscape photos on this visit. The coastal cliffs are nice, and so is the wind eroded sandstone.
The wild flowers of the coastal heaths are starting to appear – they will attract more birds and insects.
And some photos of the New Holland Honeyeaters –
Between Magic Point and Boora Point is this dyke. The rocks in the dyke have weathered to soft clay.
Malabar Headland is a great place to spend a few hours or a whole day. Its a shame that more people cannot experience the National Park. The more scenic eastern part of the National Park is closed on 6 of 8 weekend days per month due to shooting at the nearby rifle range. Its worth reading this speech of local member Matt Thistlethwaite which can be found online here.
