Return to Malabar Headland National Park – More Raptors and Whales – 12 October 2018

I had visited Malabar Headland National Park last week, on the one day it was open to the public. The others days it was closed due to shooting at the adjacent rifle range. I was not planning on visiting the headland so soon after my last visit, but this time I was contained not by it being only open for a day, but by the weather. I had planned to go further afield, but a look at the weather radar revealed a lot of patch rain was on the way, so Malabar Headland seemed a good alternative as it does offer some shelter.

I was soon on the bus to Maroubra Beach, and then started walking out on the path towards Boora Point.

Not far past Magic Point, I noticed a Sea Eagle flying past. I quickly pointed my camera and got a few photos of it.

But then it suddenly seemed to shift course. It veered away, and then I could see why. Another bird was bearing down at it. It was a Peregrine Falcon. It was not after the eagle for food, but rather defending its nest.

What followed then was amazing as the eagle had to fly inverted with its talons pointed towards the Falcon. Incredible to witness!

They then became too distant to see. I continued out along the track.

Closer to where I have observed the Peregrine Falcons on previous visits, I stopped and scanned the cliffs with binoculars. I soon located one of them. I got to a good position and took a few photos of it, then had to wait patiently for it to take off. This took a while, as the bird was quite settled.

I was lucky however, when it did take off, I was ready with my camera. A lot of the time, these birds take off away from you, but this time it did fly off in close to my direction.

It then cruised around a bit and did some diving towards the sea.

It then landed back in it origin spot. I looked down at it as it looked up trying to see me. An unusual view.

It then took off and flew to another ledge not afr away. This one was higher up, level with the top of the cliffs, and offered if anything better views of it taking off. Then more patient waiting. I have been in this situation now quite a few times. Sometimes you look away for a second or two, and then look back and find the bird has gone. And there are good reasons to look away – eg whales passing nearby. But experience has also shown me what signs to look for when the bird is abut to take off, as eventually it did. Again, my patience was rewarded – another nice takeoff sequence –

It settled back to a lower ledge, but then the other falcon of the pair turned up. I could not see if it had food or not – it was too quick. I flew under a ledge out of sight and was joined by the first one there. I imagine they had gone to their scrape (Falcon nest). I think the bird I had been watching take off was the female, close to the scrape, on guard duty while the (smaller) male was off finding food. Because none of the birds was at the nest for a long time, I assumed there were chicks rather then eggs waiting to hatch.

The male then left the scrape area and settled on a perch.

Then the female flew out and perched and about ten metres from the male. They seemed pretty settled.

It was then that some whales cruised past not too far out from the cliffs.

I then left the Falcon area and watched more whales breaching near Boora Point. I went out to the point and watched them pass.

When I returned to the Falcon area, the male had left, and the female was again on guard duty. It then started to rain, so I sheltered under a nearby overhang.

I then heard a bird calling. It sounded like one of the Falcons. I went for a look. The female was sitting quietly at its perch. The same place I had earlier seen it. The calling came again, and I was able to spot a Peregrine Falcon chick. It looked quite well developed – perhaps at least a month old. It had walked along the ledge from the scrape and was now in sight. It was calling its mother, probably for food.

It was then time for me to head back to the beach.

On my way, near Magic Point I spotted a hovering Black-shouldered Kite.

I got some photos of it flying around looking for prey.

I then watched as it dived into a gully.

It dived out of sight and then then flew back up without a catch. More hovering – closer this time.

It then flew away. I continued heading heading back.

Back near the carpark, I photographed one of the usual residents, a male Superb Fairy-wren –

And a New Holland Honeyeater –

And at the carpark, a Magpie was being harassed by a gang of Noisy Miners. The Magpie however seemed completely oblivious to the Miners.

It had been a most interesting and rewarding day.