Long Reef – 3 December 2021

I had spent the previous day at Malabar Headland, and that had been very good for bird photography, so I thought I would follow it up on another of Sydney’s headlands – Long Reef. It too turned out to be a very good day. I saw a Peregrine falcon, two Kestrels and three Ospreys. The Ospreys provided the best photo opportunities.

When I arrived, things were quiet. I walked down onto the headland rock platform and could see an Osprey  through binoculars. It was perched in a tree on the north side. I walked over towards it.

Another bird photographer had just arrived, and I pointed out the Osprey to him. Then he spotted a second Osprey perched about 50 m away.

While I was watching the first one, the second one took off and soon returned with a stick. Ospreys do this – collecting sticks to build a nest. I think these birds are juveniles (and probably siblings) – so this could be instinctive behaviour – something they practice.

The first Osprey then flew over to join the second.

The a Nankeen Kestrel flew past. I watched it though binoculars and saw it was joined by a second Kestrel. They were flying over the rock platform.

Then one of the Ospreys took off and headed out towards the platform.

It was joined by the second Osprey.

And a third Osprey turned up. I think this is also a sibling.

They did some nice flying around the headland. I climbed up to the lookout to get a better and closer view.

One of the Ospreys suddenly gave a warning call.

A juvenile Peregrine Falcon had arrived. The Ospreys made them selves scarce.

The Falcon made a very fast and steep dive and vanished behind part of the headland. I did not see it again. Two of the Ospreys re-appeared.

They flew off and there was a lull in activity. Here is a Great Cormorant flying past –

I had had my lunch and had wandered out o the headland rock platform to look for migratory birds. But it was very windy and if they were there, then they were hiding as I didn’t see any.

I thought the Ospreys may have finished flying for the day, so I decided to leave. While walking around the headland on the north side I photographed this White-faced Heron hunting –

WhenI arrived at the sop where I had seen the Ospreys earlier, they were back – this time all three perched in the one tree.

I postponed my departure and waited to see if they would do some more flying.

Eventually one did take off.

It started hunting on the north side of the rock platform.

It then flew around to the south side, so I climbed up to near the lookout level.

But the osprey soon returned to to the north side and started diving for fish. I was too faraway for good photos.

It had caught something!

It had only caught some seaweed.

More hunting.

I was walking down to the lower level and missed its successful dive. It had caught a nice fish.

it landed on the rock platform with its catch. But it was too windy, so took off and flew to a slightly more sheltered spot.

I could get reasonably close without disturbing the bird. I did not want to prevent it having its meal.

Ospreys seem to constantly look up when eating, watchful for predators or perhaps another bird swooping in and stealing its fish.

I left the Osprey to finish its meal. Walking out via the north side, the other two Ospreys were no longer there. Further around I did spot one of the Nankeen Kestrels –