I was joined by Sue for another visit to Malabar Headland. This visit was a lot quieter in terms of action from the Peregrine Falcons and also in the number of other visitors.
We met around 9 am at Maroubra Beach and walked out onto the headland. The seas were big, which may have contributed to the reason we did not spot any whales.
As soon as we arrived at the Peregrine Falcon nesting area, we saw the male perched high on the cliffs.
I was not ready with my camera when it took off. It flew under the overhanging cliffs out of sight – probably to the nest scrape. Soon after a peregrine falcon flew out from the same place. It was the female.
It landed on the cliffs. It then started to call out. It was the sort of gentle call we have heard it make before when it wanted the male for mating. However, the male did not come over, so it then started preening.
And then it prepared for take-off.
It flew off towards Dead Mans Gulch. We looked along the cliffs but could not spot it.
The female had been perched abut 20 minutes. Then we think it returned, as we spotted the male flying nearby.
The male then perched on a ledge. This was about 10:30 am.
The male took off about 11:10 am.
Then things went quiet. Both the Peregrine Falcons were out of sight. Perhaps they were both at the nest. So we decided to go for a walk around to see if any orchids were out on the south side of the headland.
The wildflowers were certainly starting to bloom.
And one of the Sydney Water building seemed to have a new coat of graffiti.
We spotted a distant raptor. It was a Brown Goshawk.
And we found a number of Sun Orchids – not out, but only buds.
And some other birds –
New Holland Honeyeater
Shearwaters
We headed back to the Peregrine falcon nesting area and had our lunches. No birds were visible until 1:43 pm. At that time we spotted the female perched on the same rocks it was on earlier.
It stayed there for a few minutes, then took off.
It seemed to fly off around the cliffs.
Then local walker, Alana arrived and she stopped for a chat.
We stayed around till about 2:30 pm then decided to head back to the Beach. Here are a few more birds seen on the walk out.
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
New Holland Honeyeaters
I think it is likely that the Falcons now have eggs, and one of the birds is usually sitting on them. The male and the female seem to swap about.
Great photos, showing such detail, especially the Peregrines in all their different actions.