Malabar Headland Visit – 24 October 2021

This was my nest visit to Malabar Headland to photograph the resident Peregrine Falcons, and to see if their chicks had fledged.

I was quite a warm and sunny day, but not too crowded (it was one of the rare Sundays that the eastern section of the National Park was open) – and I entered the park from the Malabar side as the track between Magic Point and Boora Point is still closed due to track work.

I soon spotted a Peregrine Falcon near the nest area. It was on guard duty.

At one point, it looked like it might take off –

No……

This is not a good sign if you are after some flight shots. Eventually it did take to the air –

After the flight, it settled back down. More long waiting.

It then flew to a cave nearby.

While I was having lunch, an Osprey flew over.

I thought that the Peregrine may fly after the Osprey encouraging it to leave the area. But I saw no evidence of this. However the Peregrine falcon had left the cave, and it later returned to the ledge it had been on earlier.

But it soon returned to the cave. Perhaps it was cooler in the shade?

I then missed the best photos of the day, when its mate returned with prey. It flew in very fast with a rather large bird and went straight to the nest ledge. The guarding Peregrine then joined it.

Then the one that had brought the prey then took off –

It landed on a far ledge.

By this time, two other bird photographers had arrived. One was Roscoe, who I had seen on my two prior visits, and the other was Lenis from the Greenway Bird Group.

Near Boora Point, there was a large bait ball of fish.