Last year, I had been unable to visit malabar Headland at this time of the year due to the Covid lockdown, so I was keen to make regular and frequent visits this season. This visit was a bit quieter than the last few, but there was still some good action with the Peregrine Falcons. And there was another visitor – a White-bellied Sea Eagle.
On this visit, I was joined by Sue. We met at Maroubra and walked out along the track. Near Magic Point, we watched this Australasian Gannet hunting for fish.
It is amazing to see how streamlined they become when diving.
And this dive, the Gannet caught fish.
The Gannet flew off with the fish. I wonder if they have to land to swallow a large fish, or if they can swallow it on the wing?
Sue and myself just arrived at the Peregrine Falcon nesting area, and were talking to Biggles, another bird photographer, when a large raptor cruised past. I quickly pointed my camera at it and took a sequence of shots. It was a juvenile White-bellied Sea Eagle, and it was carrying a small fish in its talons.
I don’t think the Sea Eagle knew that Peregrine Falcons were about. I expected a Peregrine Falcon to fly out and attack the Sea Eagle. They don’t like other birds near their nest. And indeed this is what happened, but it occurred too fast for me to photograph the altercation. I just have one of the Peregrine Falcons back perched back on a ledge. There was no sign of the Sea Eagle.
It was now about 11 am. The Peregrine Falcon here is the female. Not long after, it took off and flew to another ledge.
At about 11:15 am it took off again and this time it flew away from the area.
It didn’t return until and hour and a quester later, about 12:31 pm.
Then all of sudden the female took off and landed out of sight nearby – perhaps on the nest ledge. And at the same time the male appeared. It was now 12:50 pm.
A minute or two later the male took off.
Then it went quiet. We didn’t see any Falcons until 2:45 pm. Then the male appeared suddenly perched on one of the ledges.
After about 5 minutes, it took off.
And in about another 5 minutes the female appeared.
Then about 2 minutes later it took off and flew away along the cliffs.
Then another quiet lull. At about 4pm, the female turned up again.
It first landed on one perch.
Then a few minutes later it moved to another ledge.
It soon started calling. We expected the male to turn up and mating to take place. But the call went unanswered.
A few minutes later the female took off.
And then it was time for Sue and myself to walk back to Maroubra. On the way back we saw this Sooty Oystercatcher, one of three, on the rock platform.
This was perhaps a typical day of oberserving the Peregrine Falcons. Some good action and the chance for some nice photos, but also some long quiet periods. But we could use these times to look for whales – and we did see a few, but those we saw were all a long way out to sea. And there was also quite a few bird photographers present – as well as Biggles, there were also Simon, Sol and Simin. Some for only brief visits.