This was a most extraordinary day! Probably the best day of bird photography I have ever experienced. The main object was to take more photos of the juvenile Peregrine Falcons – and it looked like our visit was optimal for this. The three chicks and come a long way in their flying ability, and were now practicing their hunting and defensive flying. This provided many photographic opportunities. It also turned out to be a great day for photographing whales.
On the day, I met up with Jan on the headland. He stayed till early afternoon. And I was also joined by Ken. He was there from late morning till we left around 4 pm.
The walk out was very good. This time I was able to get some nice pictures of a calling Golden-headed Cisticola –
And there were some New Holland Honeyeaters –
And Superb Fairywrens
When I arrived at the current location of the juvenile Peregrine Falcons, the action had already started. A parent was on patrol overhead –
And one of the juveniles was coming in to land –
That was a good start.
I had particularly wanted to get photos of the young Peregrine Falcons flying together – and this was a good start. But things were interrupted by some passing Humpback Whales –
Then back to the Peregrine Falcons – more amazing action.
Time for a rest? The birds thought so too. A Sea Eagle was passing overhead. Time to get out of sight.
One of them was having a snack.
And then time for some more flying.
Now – all three were in the air. Could I get photos with all three? Yes.
Another whale was making a noise nearby. Time for a pause from the Falcons.
But it was a short pause. The Falcons were up some more action –
Time for a break. Here are some of the fish swimming in a huge shoal below the cliffs –
And Ken photographing –
The photos above may look like non-stop action. It was not actually like that however. Often we were waiting for long periods, an hour or so, with not much happening, then all the birds would be in the air for a few minutes where we had the chance of getting our photos. You had to be ready with your camera all the time. Often the parent (female) Falcon was soaring high overhead. What also helped was it being a windy day. Raptors like to fly in the wind.
Not long before, we had started talking to Ash, a visitor to the Park that I had met previously. He was a reptile enthusiast, and so got on well with Ken.
It was now time to head back to the bus stop. But there would be some more photographic opportunities. Near Magic Point, we spotted a Sea Eagle.
A little while later, we saw it had some prey in its talons – it looks like it had caught a Shearwater.
But that was not all. At the same time as the Sea Eagle flew over, another pod of whales was passing by and breeching.
And a few last photos – one of the many Eastern Long-necked Turtles in the pollution pool near the Park gate, and a Jacky Dragon. It had been an amazing day!
