Here are some photos from my latest trip to Malabar Headland National Park. Like my other recent trips, my main aim was to photograph the pair of juvenile Peregrine Falcons. But compared to the trips this one was relatively poor.
As the juvenile Falcons get bigger, they move around the headland and can be hard to locate. When they do fly, its only for about five minutes every hour, so you need to be in the right place and ready. On this visit, I saw one of the falcons fly into Dead Man’s Gulch – the dyke between Magic and Boora Points. When I arrived there, I spotted the adult Peregrine Falcon perched on a cliff. A little later I spotted the two juveniles. One was perched on the far side of the gulch, and the other was perched on my side, and eating a bird.
I also saw a few other bird photographers there. I had met two of them on previous trips to different places.
I followed a rough track towards the juvenile that was eating to see if I could get a better view, but I must have spoke it, because it took off and flew over to the far side.
And here is the second juvenile, also on that far side.
The first one was busy eating.
And then one of the juveniles took off, and soon the second join in.
The adult went across to finish off the bird.
And then it flew back to its original perch.
But a little later, all three were flying. But a fair may from where I was.
The adult left, and the two juveniles carried on.
Then, one of them must have got tired. I landed on the perch vacated by the adult.
It was soon joined by its sibling.
While waiting I met two more bird photographers. I showed them where the Falcons were perched. One of the Falcons lay down – not a good indication of an imminent take-off.
But, it soon got back upright.
And the second gave a clear indication that it was getting ready to take off.
But it was a false alarm, it lay down.
And was soon followed by the other.
I then headed to a nice shady cave to have lunch. When I returned, both juvenile Falcons had left that area. I searched other parts of the headland but could not locate them. So I started back for Maroubra.
Here are a few more bird – a New Holland Honeyeater –
And a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo –
And some more Turtles at the wetland –
