Malabar Headland – 16 December 2022

This was another excellent trip to Malabar Headland to photograph the young Peregrine Falcons. Some recent trips have been a bit quiet. This one started that way, but we were lucky to observe a great mid air food exchange later in the day.

I met Sue at Maroubra Beach at about 11 am, and we walked out towards Boora Point. We looked for Peregrine Falcons perched along the cliffs, but had not luck in the usual places we had seen them recently. At the nest area, we spotted both adults perched near each other. Here is the female –

While we were watching them, a juvenile flew past –

And one of the adults took off after it –

This was about 12:30 pm. The juvenile flew past a few more times.

We later found it perched in bushes near the landslide area.

Then shortly after 1 pm, the juvenile took off and flew out towards Dead Mans Gulch. At one stage we saw three Peregrine Falcons flying. We were not sure if they were two adults and a juvenile or two juveniles and one adult. Bt the photos show one juvenile returning with food.

It must have got this from the adult.

The juvenile flew to a ledge out of sight. While it was eating, we had a walk back to the nest area, but found no more birds there. We did see one of family of Rufous Whistlers –

Back at the landslide, around 2 pm, we saw the adult female perched on the cliff.

It later took off and flew to Dead Mans Gulch and back.

It sat on this perch from 2:15 till 4:10 pm.

The best action sequence started around 3:20 pm. A juvenile flew past.

It then landed on the cliffs.

Here are the high seas at Magic Point –

We then spotted the juvenile perched in the bushes.

Michael, a friend from the Dulwich Hill Bird surveys arrived with his camera and we pointed out the birds.

The juvenile went for s short flight at 3:30 pm.

Its mother was still in the same place.

And the juvenile was perched close to where it had been before.

The adult female flew to a ledge out of sight at 4:10 pm.

Then at 4:18 pm, the juvenile took off in excitement.

So fat on this visit, and the previous one, I had not been able to photograph both juveniles in the same photo, and I thought it may have been possible that one may have died. But the photo below shows the two juveniles alive and well.

And now for the mid air food exchange. The juvenile flies up very excited. The parent has the food dangling for it to grab.

The juvenile gets very close, but does not quite have the air speed. It starts to fall back.

Both birds wheel around.

The juvenile calls out.

The parent transfers the food to its beak ready to give it to the juvenile –

And I mange to grab a few photos of a successful exchange just before both birds fly under the cliff.

Then we saw the juvenile fly towards Dead Mans Gulch, where it was joined by its sibling.

The sibling without the food flies past at high speed.

And the other sibling flies to a safe place to eat its meal.

When it has finished eating it goes on short flight.

And lands back on its perch.

This had been another very rewarding visit. Thanks to Sue for company, and to Michael for a lift home.