Malabar Headland – 16 September 2019

With rain forecast for most of the week, it looked like Monday would be the most reasonable day to get out, so I headed back to Malabar Headland National Park for some more bird photography. And it turned out to be bird photography, since on this trip I didn’t spot any whales, dolphins or seals. But the birds were nice.

Before I entered the park, I stopped at a small pollution retention pond. There were some Welcome Swallows swooping close to the water surface, but also some other birds – Tree Martins. I can’t recall seeing them before – only the more common Fairy Martins. Here are some photos, first a Welcome Swallow or two –

Now the Tree Martins –

A short way in the park, I spotted a Golden-headed Cisticola low down in the heath –

Below on the rock platforms were two Little Pied Cormorants –

And some cliffs.

Lots of Ravens were around –

A number of Superb Fairywrens were about. Here is one –

And one of the many New Holland Honeyeaters –

But it was the Peregrine Falcons that I was mainly wanting to see and photograph. One of the pair was around and quite active during the first part of the morning. This was roughly between 9 am and 11 am, then it flew away till around 1:40 pm when it reappeared. I assume that its mate is at the nest. But at no time while I was around did the Falcon bring back any food – either for itself, its mate or any possible chicks.

It flew to another ledge.

The bird appeared fairly settled, and sometimes you need to wait and hour or more for it to take-off if you want get some action sequences. But this time it took off after about ten minutes. You need to be vigilant as its easy to miss it taking off.

Here is the take-off sequence –

It then landed on another perch close to Boora Point. This time, it flew off very soon after I spotted it.

It flew back to its nesting area, and perched close to where I had first seen it. Then it took off and landed on top of one of the cliffs. But not for long.

Some more flying.

It then settled back on top of one of the cliffs. I knew it would not stay there long as it was close to where people on the track walk past. It was watchful, constantly scanning the sky.

I was ready for when it it took-off and got a nice sequence of shots –

It then flew away. I was waiting for it to return, and was hopeful that it may reappear with a bird that it had caught. No. I spotted it flying back, and it approached a perch, but then changed its mind and circled around to land on another spot.

This was a nice landing sequence.

It then settled there for a while. I got some more photos, but missed the take-off. It flew away towards the sea.

I didn’t see it again for more than two hours. During that time, I had my lunch, looked for whales or other sea life, and photographed some of the other birds. Some of the Ravens made an appearance – very close to the nesting area. It was as if they knew that one of the Falcons was away, and if the other one was around, then it would not leave any chicks. They were calling out loudly – not something they would do if a Falcon was hunting nearby.

I was ready when the Peregrine Falcon returned. I was able to get some more photos of it perched, taking off and flying. Here are some –

It was then getting quite windy. I had gone on a short walk around the area and it was rather cold now in the wind. Time to head home. Here are a few more photos I took on the way back to the bus stop.