Another day on the Headland, with Valerie and Sue. I was trying to get more photos of the juvenile Peregrine Falcons in flight.
We had fine cool weather, with a strong wind coming from the south this visit. We spotted the Peregrine Falcons throughout the day, but they really didn’t do too much flying – and none together.
Near the carpark at South Maroubra, we saw a Willie Wagtail harassing a Raven.
The Raven was probably too close to the Willie Wagtail’s nest. The Raven eventually flew away, but as it did so, another Raven flew down and landed in almost the same place.
Here is a Jacky Dragon enjoying the Sun –
I know Peregrine Falcon enjoying flying in the wind, so I expected to find them on or near the south facing cliffs near Boora Point. it was here that we spotted one lying down resting, in almost the same place we had seen two a few days earlier.
And we spotted its sibling reasons a bit further along the same ledge.
It was too windy to sit and watch them for more than a few minutes, so we retreated to a spot sheltered from the wind, and had our own break – morning tea, and then lunch.
After lunch, I had a look, and one of the juveniles had gone and the other was awake.
And I could see their father perched nearby.
There must have been the remains of prey there, because the adult picked up what looks like a Starling head.
He then flew off to different spot.
It started to look like another lull in their activity.
Then the adult male took off and headed out into Long Bay.
A bit later, a White-bellied Sea Eagle flew past. At first it was low down, near the sea, then flew high over Long Bay.
We watched it to see if it would be attacked by a Peregrine Falcon. But it eventually flew too far away to be seen in our binoculars.
Meanwhile, the remaining juvenile Falcon was still in repose.
Then its father flew in with prey.
It spent a while preparing it (remove feathers), then proceeded to eat most of it.
It then walked over to the juvenile with the last bit.
The juvenile ate it, but seemed to want more. The father took off.
And landed further along on lower ledge.
Things were quiet again.
Atone state, the other juvenile flew past and didn’t stop.
Its sibling didn’t stir.
We then went for a walk around the cliffs. Here is theWWII search light building at Boora Point. Like its partner building on Magic Point, they were placed on a lower level than the guns of the battery. The power supply building for this light is near where the path meets the road on that side of Boora Point.
After our walk, all the Peregrine Falcons seemed to be out of sight. We went back to the nest area, and after a fair break, an adult flew past at speed.
We walked along the cliffs and eventually spotted it perched near the landslide.
Michael, from the Dulwich Hill Birdos now joined us. We waited for the bird to take off –
And then we spotted one of the juveniles. It was flying close the the rifle range.
We moved close to Dead Mans Gulch, and we were lucky to see the juvenile flying cost by for a few minutes.
It then flew off. It looked like that may have been the best action of the day so we too departed for home. Thanks again to Sue and Valerie for company on the day, and to Valerie for al lift there and back.