Another visit to see the quickly growing up Peregrine Falcon chick.
The day started off very quiet. I arrived at the nesting area and soon spotted one of the adult Peregrine Falcons perched nearby. I think it was the female.
It stretched its wings a few times but did not take off. Later, close to noon, the second adult flew past at speed and headed to Boora Point. I went down that way and soon spotted the adult and the chick perched on the cliffs. The adult had brought some food for the chick.
The adult then took off.
It perched on the clifftop nearby. I made my way closer to it. I thought it would soon take off. Roscoe had now arrived as we got some photos of it.
A few minutes later it did take off and flew away from me.
It flew around for a bit then flew off. So I turned my attention back to the chick. It was still busy eating.
When it finished it then cleaned its talons.
And sat down for a rest after its meal.
But not that long after it soon awoke!
One of its parents had arrived.
The parent took off, and the chick seemed to think about following it.
It too took off and flew down the cliffs and perched on a stick.
Then it took off and flew off to a place we didn’t see.
Then an intruder turned up. It was a Brown Goshawk. It seemed to be hunting the Starlings.
It didn’t stay very long. We then looked along the cliffs for any of the Peregrine Falcons. We could not find any, but we did see the Red-bellied Black Snake.
We then headed back to Boora Point and we spotted one of the adult Falcons. Michael had also arrived with his camera. We waited to see if it would take off. The time was now about 1 pm.
it gave signs that it was getting ready to take off –
But it settled back down.
Another poo.
Was it now getting ready to take off? We had watched it for about 30 minutes.
Yes – it did take off.
It flew off and we dint see any more Falcons for about an hour. Around 2:30 pm the chick arrived. It flew around and then landed on the clifftop.
The it took off for some more great flying.
It then landed further along the cliffs and started having a wash in a puddle.
About ten minutes later it got excited again.
One of its parents had arrived with some more food.
The parent had given the chick a rather large bird to eat.
Back to the parent. It perched on the clifftop. And this time we thought it would take off n our direction (into the wind). It did.
The chick was still struggling with ist rather large meal. It was trying to take it to a better place to eat. But it was struggling getting into the air.
With some effort, it took off and flew down out of sight to lower ledge.
Both the parents were perched below in different spots on the same ledge.
One took off.
It flew around for a bit then landed further along the cliffs.
This take off was not so good for photos.
By now, 3:50 pm, the chick was on the clifftop.
I missed it taking off and it flew around for a bit then landed somewhere out of sight.
Here is Roscoe looking around for it. We were also joined by Karen in looking for the birds.
It was time for me to head home. I did spot one of the adults perched near the nest on my way out.
What had started out as a quiet day had turned out to be an excellent session of bird photography.