I spent a day in the Northern Beaches area photographing Raptors. I first called in to a sporting field where I had previously seen a family of Eastern Osprey nesting on a high lamp post. The birds where quite active on this visit.
I think that the nest is occupied by three juvenile Ospreys. I saw two of them flying. When I arrived there were two birds sitting in the nest.
A little while later, one of them went on a short flight.
I then spotted a third Osprey flying back from afar.
It flew around and then landed in the nest.
It then, moved to a higher spot.
And took off.
After only 15 minutes, it returned with a nice fish.
It sat well away from the other two birds and started eating the fish.
After a while, it seemed satisfied and then flew over with the remains of the fish and gave it to the other two birds. It was their turn to feed.
I then moved off and caught a bus to the sea cliffs further north. Now I was on the lookout for Peregrine Falcons. It was nice and breezy – good conditions for the birds to be flying. I waited a while and then was rewarded. A juvenile Peregrine Falcon few past.
It then landed in a bush.
It soon took off.
Nearby on the cliffs I spotted an adult perched.
The juvenile continued flying around the cliffs. It seemed to be either hunting for food, or practicing.
The adult was still at the same perch.
More flying from the juvenile. It was then joined by the adult.
I photographed the two birds interacting.
Then, the adult bird flew off out of sight. The juvenile continued flying in the area. It seemed to often fly towards the to top of a pine tree and there it was either hunting for or antagonising some magpies. Perhaps they had a nest in the tree?
One took off and had to peck at the Falcon to keep it away.
The falcon then flew to the top of another piece tree, closer to where I was and perched for a rest and to recover from its pecking.
What followed was most interesting. The branch chosen by the juvenile Falcon was not strong enough to support it. It broke. The bird seemed to get a shock as it fell off.
It released hold of the remains of the brach it had in its talons. But then flew down and grabbed it again.
The bird then left the area. It was by then time for me to head home.
Wow David, spectacular shots!