I had another fun day of bird photography in the Northern Beaches region at three different sites. I had two aims – to photograph raptors and also to photograph migratory birds. The migratory birds dictated my timetable. I wanted to go to far end of Long Reef and this is tide dependent. The low tide was at about 3:30 pm, so I delayed my visit there till after 2 pm.
I started at the sea cliffs and the nest site for Peregrine Falcons. I think this pair of Falcons have two surviving chicks (out of three) but I only saw one of them flying. Perhaps only one has fledged? Anyway, this chick and its parents put on an amazing air show for me.
At first one of the parents seemed to object to my presence. It made a few circles around and dived towards me. This was when I was a fair way from their nest and on a walking track used by many others.
But after a look at me, the bird settled down.
I waited on a lookout, and then I spotted a juvenile flying with a parent.
The juvenile seemed to be undergoing flying lessons. It was following the parent.
The second lesson seems to involve another passing bird – a Darter. The poor Darter was subjected to a mock attack from the Peregrine Falcons.
The third lesson was mots interesting. One of the adults appeared with a dead bird.
Then the second adults appeared. The first one dropped the dead bird and then the second one caught it.
How it was junior’s turn. I didn’t see the juvenile catch the bird – it was out of my view, but it flew past with it.
I then headed up to Rat Park and the Osprey nest. When I arrived, one of the Ospreys was visible near the nest.
This was the male. The female was on the nest, out of sight. It suddenly appeared when it flew off and completed short circuit of the park.
Two Masked Lapwings came close.
The male joined the female back on the nest.
I don’t know if the female was sitting on eggs or not. At last on this visit, I did not see them being harassed by the local Currawongs.
I then caught ta bus back down to Collaroy and walked out to Long Reef. I had lunch on the lookout. While I was eating, an Osprey flew past. It was hunting for fish.
And my lunch was also interrupted by a passing pod of whales. They put on a good display of breaching.
But my camera was shifted to a passing Nankeen Kestrel.
Back to the whales –
And far to the south, North Head was ablaze from a hazard reduction burn that had got out of control.
I then headed down onto the rock platform. Here is a passing Pied Cormorant –
A fair way out, amongst the Cunjevois, I saw a lot of small migratory birds. Be warned – I am not sure of my identifications here. First some Pacific Golden Plovers –
Two Ruddy Turnstones –
Another Pacific Golden Plover –
Some Red-necked Stints –
Here are flock of Red-necked Stints and a single Grey-tailed Tattler.
I left the migratory birds and started walking back.
A Little Pied Cormorant –
Pied Oystercatchers –
Then I saw an Osprey –
Walking around on the north side I spotted a hovering Nankeen Kestrel –
It suddenly dived –
It landed not far from me, and then looked like it had lost its prey.
Perhaps it was over there?
No.
Perhaps over there?
Yes! It had a small skink.
It flew off with the lizard, and delivered it to its chick –
The juvenile is almost as big as the parent, but it does not have the yellow around its eyes.
The parent then flew off after more prey.
The juvenile remained where it was.
Then I spotted the Osprey. It had a fish. But the Nankeen Kestrel seemed to be attacking it. Probably worried by the presence of its chick.
The Osprey took off.
The parent then landed near its chick to see if all was OK. It was, so it flew off again.
The chick also did a short flight. Not a very well controlled one.
It had been an outstanding day of observing Nature.