I had organised another day at Malabar Headland with Sue and Valerie. Our previous visit had been very interesting – especially observing the nesting pair of Peregrine Falcons. This visit turned out to be just as interesting if not more so.
On our walk out to the headland from Maroubra Beach, Sue spotted some Dolphins swimming not too far off.
And a Gannet was hunting for fish –
The New Holland Honeyeaters seemed a lot more active this visit compared to the last few.
This one is just about to grab an insect –
We arrived at the Peregrine Falcon nesting area around 10 am and it was quiet. We scanned the cliffs through binoculars and could not see any birds. We then searched the cliffs at Boora Point. None to be seen there either.
So we went back and sat down, and looked for whales and dolphins. We did see a pair of military vessels speeding along.
And there were New Holland Honeyeaters –
Then around 11 am, a Peregrine Falcon arrived. It was calling as it flew in and it had prey. It was the male.
The female must have been nearby out of sight. Perhaps it was sitting on eggs? The male kept calling.
The male landed on a ledge and very soon the female arrived.
Then the female was given the food.
The male then flew off and landed on a ledge about 100 m away.
The female enjoyed her meal.
About 20 minutes later, the female was satisfied. The male had flown off somewhere out of sight. Perhaps to the nest to take over egg sitting? The female flew over, close to where the male had been earlier.
The female then started calling and movings its body into a position for mating. The male soon arrived.
Like our previous observations, the mating took about 10 seconds.
The female then took off.
It flew around a bit then landed on another ledge.
It is possible to get a close view from a high vantage point.
Then it flew around a bit more.
And it landed on one of its usual spots.
The female then started calling again – as though it was ready for more mating. But this time the male did not answer the call. So the female took off.
It flew out of sight – probably to the nest. It was now around 11:50 am. We did not see either of the Peregrine Falcons for about an hour. It was a good opportunity to have our lunches.
Ataround 12:50, we spotted a Peregrine Falcon flying low down about half way down the cliffs. Then all of a sudden a Peregrine Falcon flew out screeching loudly.
The Peregrine Falcon that we had seen arrive must have been an intruder. The one that flew out screeching flew at it at speed and we saw the intruder being chased away.
The resident returned.
It flew around a bit then we flew off somewhere out of sight.
For the next bit it was quiet. So we decided to do a bit of walk, partly to warm up – it was cold sitting in the wind.
We walked around the headland to the south side, out of the wind, and bumped into local walker Alana again. She was on her way out on her daily walk.
We looked for and found one Sun Orchid. Not yet in flower – but close.
Some of the other wildflowers are starting to come out.
Back at the nesting area, we spotted the male Peregrine Falcon on a ledge. It was now about 2 pm.
And we did see some whale tail slapping.
About 2:45, the male took off and ddi some nice flying.
It then landed on the same ledge where it had earlier taken the food for the female. There was some left, and the male now ate.
We could watch it from a high and somewhat dangerous vantage point.
We left it sitting on the same ledge around 3:10 pm and started walking back to Valerie’s car at Maroubra Beach.
On the walk back, another walker told us to look out for a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo feeding near the track. A short way along, we spotted it and a second one.
And at the beach a large film crew where filing a TV drama.
It had been a great day. Many thanks to Sue and Valerie for company and to Valerie for driving us all out.
Great to see all your photos & thanks for the mention, Alana