Malabar Headland – 1 November 2019

The passing whales at Malabar Headland are declining in number, but the juvenile Peregrine Falcons are still putting on some amazing displays of flying. And a few Sea Eagles and Kestrels add to the show.

On the way out, I stopped to photograph one of the usual birds – A Superb Fairy-wren –

I next saw a fairly distant Sea Eagle. It was being escorted by a few Ravens.

And there was also a Nankeen Kestrel around. It only made brief appearance.

Further out, I scanned the cliff ledges for the juvenile Peregrine Falcons. I spotted one – but it didn’t look very active.

I sat down to wait, and then one of the others flew past.

It landed on high ledge, then soon took-off –

Nest, it tried to land on a bush. The bush was too weak to support it, and so it flew off, or tried to. It seems to have got a talon caught up in the bush!

Eventually it freed itself.

Another of the three juveniles turned up with a prize. What had it caught?

It was examining its prey, when a Sea Eagle flew overhead.

The Falcon took-off!

The Eagle gave it a glance and continued on its way.

The Falcon took the opportunity to take a bite out of its prey.

Hmm…. a strange taste. It had got  a Bansia cone or some other bit of vegetation.

The Falcon is not sure what to do. So it takes another bite.

It still does not taste like a bird. So it tries a third time.

I think the Sea Eagle is amused. The Falcon discards its booty.

This juvenile Peregrine Falcon decides to take on the Sea Eagle.

The Eagle looks around and sees two Falcons.

But now there are two Sea Eagles, and the two Falcons.

The juvenile Peregrine Falcons decide to play by themselves instead.

The two Sea Eagles display some interesting behaviour. The fly close together and both start calling out. I have not heard their call before – its a strange honking noise, more what you would imagine a goose would make. I assume this is courtship behaviour?

The things became quite for a while. Later one of the Falcons decided to fly.

It looked back and saw one of the Sea Eagles.

The Sea Eagles slowly flew towards the sea.

This juvenile Peregrine Falcon, looks like it has just had a swim.

Meanwhile its two siblings were better off. One had some prey –

And so did the other. Or it had been given a bit by the other bird. It soon finished eating and took off.

By this time, I was ready to leave. I slowly walked towards Maroubra Beach. on the way I spotted the Nankeen Kestrel.

The Kestrel soon vanished. An adult Peregrine Falcon was on its way.

It had a brief encounter with a Sea Eagle.

But then the pair of Sea Eagles arrived.

Three Sea Eagles! The Falcon flew off.

Two seem to have bonded pretty well.

The third one flew out to sea. I saw it make two dives for fish, but it didn’t seem to catch anything.

This was another very interesting day.