Malabar Headland – 25 July 2022

I was keen to head back out to Malabar Headland after two daily quiet recent trips. Both of these trips had been during bad weather. This time the weather forecast was good. I was accompanied by Valerie and Sue.

But despite the fine weather most of the time on our visit was very quiet. On the walk out, we spotted a few whales, but when we sat down to watch for them near Boora Point – they seemed to go quiet. The rough seas may have contributed to this. Nor and dolphins or seals. The main thing we were wanting to see however were the pair of Peregrine Falcons – and they too were very quiet – initially. But they made up for it just before we left. In fact we witnessed the Peregrine Falcons mating three times within 30 minutes.

Now for the details. On the walk in from Maroubra, we spotted a distant Swamp Harrier. It was flying high above the rifle range.

And near Magic Point, we saw this Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo –

One we arrived at the Peregrine falcon nesting area, we scanned the cliffs with our binoculars to see if we could see any perched birds. We had no luck.

But it was pleasant to sit down and look out to see, looking for whales and sea birds. We did see a very distant Black-browed Albatross –

And here is one of the Gannets –

After lunch, we scanned the cliffs again – and this time we did see a Peregrine Falcon sitting on a ledge. We sat watching it.

It went to the toilet – which is often sign it is about to take off, but not this time.

While we were watching, it was nice to see Alana again – a local walkers who always stops for a chat.

We had watched it for nearly an hour and a half without much action on its part, but then things happened. First, I saw the flash of another Peregrine Falcon flying along the cliffs. I disappeared under a ledge. The one we had been watching was the female. It was the male that had just arrived.

The female then started calling. It was a long plaintive call. We had all heard this call before and knew what it meant. The female was letting the male know it wanted to be mated.

It kept on calling for about ten minutes, on and off.

Then it changed position.

The male was ready. It flew over. This was at 2:57 pm.

The mating was over in 9 seconds.

The male flew off.

The female stayed in the same place.

The female disappeared for short while, but later came back to the same spot. The male then perched on another part of the cliff.

At 3:19 pm the female started calling again, and moved to its receptive stance.

Once more the male arrived.

The second act took 10 seconds.

The male flew around for a bit.

At 3:26, the female called again and was answered.

The third act took 9 seconds.

This had been amazing to witness. But there was more. The male then did some high speed, high precision, flying around the cliffs.

And then it landed again.

But it soon took-off and ddi some more fast flybys.

The male then flew off. Perhaps off for some hunting? The female remained on her ledge.

It was time for us to head for home. On the walk back to Maroubra, I snapped a New Holland Honeyeater flying after an insect.

And a White-faced Heron flew past –

As I said above – it had been amazing to witness the Peregrine Falcons renewing their bonds. A very special privilege.

Thanks to Valerie for driving out and back, and to bother her and Sue for great company on the day.