Another visit to the Headland. Would the juvenile Peregrine falcons still be around? I hoped so. I checked my records (earlier blog entries) from previous years, and looked at the activity of the juvenile Peregrine Falcons after they fledged and concluded that it would still be worth making more visits, perhaps until the middle of December. I knew that as the juveniles grow, and they do grow very fast, they tend to fly further away from their nest area and so are much harder to locate. And when you do spot them – they can fly a long distance away very quickly – so may not stay around to be photographed.
This time, I was joined by both Sue and Valerie. My high expectations seemed to be dashed however. We did spot a Peregrine falcon fly past at speed along the cliffs when we were walking in around 11 am, and then a bit later – another brief flash. But they were both too short an appearance to get photos. The Headland is a pleasant spot to spend some time, and we experienced beautiful weather, but by 3 pm things were slow to say the least.
There was a hazard reduction burn to the south, and Valerie speculated that the Falcons may have flown down to grab and birds that may have been flushed out.
They certainly did not seem to be on the Headland. Or at least in places we could see.
We spent a fair bit of time sitting in the shade and talking. Later in the afternoon, we met Alana, who was on her daily walk. She stayed for a chat.
Valerie had to leave at about 3 pm and walked out with Alana.
Sue and myself kept a lookout for marine animals as well as birds, and at about 3:15 pm we did spot a small pod of Dolphins.
Then things started happening around 3:25 pm. The two juvenile Peregrines appeared, flying in from the south.
They seemed to be in an active state. We noticed that they seem to be grabbing the very abundant Cabbage White Butterflies.
And it is does not seem too easy to grab them with talons.
I know that Peregrine Falcons do eat insects caught on the wing to supplement their diet, but the behaviour of the juveniles may have been more in the form of learning play behaviour.
The juvenile Falcons also did a lot of interacting with each other.
Below – one of the juveniles spots a butterfly, and so does the second, it turns around to chase it.
A popular activity was the two juveniles locking talons and spinning around.
Time for a rest? As they grow, the juveniles seem to fly for longer and longer without a break, which is good, but as I said above they also fly over a larger area, and you are never sure which is the best location to be in order to photograph them. Another consideration is to get the right angle where they are likely to fly together in good light.
We spotted both juveniles on the ledge. It was 3:46 pm.
But the smaller of the two, soon took off and flew past a few times. It was constantly calling out.
It would dive down near its sibbling.
The we saw the explanation for this behaviour. The larger sibling had food. A parent must have delivered some food while we were looking at the aerial action.
The smaller Falcon landed again, but soon took off and did some more fast passes.
It then landed next to its sibling.
Perhaps it thought it should wait patently and get the leftovers?
Meanwhile, their father flew past at high speed.
The father did another high speed pass. Probably to check on things.
At 4:19 pm, the larger of the two juveniles seemed to be satisfied.
It took off. The other juvenile didn’t look over the scraps. Perhaps there was nothing left?
Time to clean its talons –
And then a fast fly by.
The smaller of the two remained on the ledge for a while.
Then it took off at 4:23 pm.
Perhaps this one was not after food, but was after action? It may have already been fed before we saw it?
We then witnessed some fine flying by both the juveniles.
More talon interlocking while spinning mid air at high speed –
It is really extraordinary to watch this amazing display of flying.
Meanwhile, their father had landed on the ledge with the food. He seemed to be quietly finishing it off.
On of the juveniles noticed their Dad was eating to remaining food, and swooped down.
Their father seemed to want to eat in peace and flew off with the food.
Then some more fast flying by the juveniles.
At about 5:10 pm, things went quiet, so Sue and myself prepared to leave. But the bird show was not finished! A White-bellied Sea Eagle flew past. The adult Peregrine Falcon flew out at high speed to attack it or drive it away.
The Sea Eagle realised the danger.
When attacked, Sea eagles fly upside down and raise their talons to keep off other birds. It started to do this, but then flew away at speed.
We last saw it being pursued by two of the Falcons.
This had been a very special afternoon.