On our previous outing to Malabar Headland, with Sue, we had only a brief glimpse of one of the Peregrine Falcons. So we were keen to have another look. We decided to make this an afternoon visit, and met at Maroubra Beach at 11:30 am.
We walked out to near Boora Point, without seeing any Peregrine Falcons or any other raptors. But we could not help seeing this large helicopter. It is a US Army Chinook. It flew past several times.
While we were having lunch, we spotted an unusual bird in the sea below. It was eating something.
The bird is a juvenile Northern Giant Petrel. It is perhaps eating a Cuttlefish.
Alana stopped off on her daily walk around the headland to say hello. This was just after 2pm. While we were pointing out the Giant Petrel, a Peregrine Falcon flew past with prey.
It was the male, and the prey it had didn’t look very substantial. we thought the male had probably eaten most of it. It was calling out to its mate as it flew past several times during a period of about 5 minutes.
It then flew off around the cliffs. A few minutes later it flew past again, but without its prey. Perhaps it had cached it, or given it to the female?
It did some nice fly pasts – at their nest area.
And it was cleaning its talons while in flight.
At 2:23 pm, the female flew past. Perhaps it had been eating the food the male had brought and had now finished.
We thought the bird returned to the nest ledge. So there could be eggs.
The male then flew in and perched on a ledge nearby at 2:33 pm. It looked quite settled.
While we were chatting with Alana, we spotted some distant whales.
Alan had told us, that she had spotted some Sun Orchids. And we joined her on a walk to see them. We spotted quite a few that looked close to flowering.
And other wildflowers were coming out.
Back near the Peregrine Falcon nesting ledge, we spotted a passing Australasian Gannet –
It was now close to 4pm, and the male Peregrine Falcon was still on the same perch.
But not long after, it started stretching its wings.
And it took off –
It then returned and perched again on the cliffs nearby.
A few minutes later the female appeared, and landed near the male.
It looked like it was wanting to mate.
It moved to a better position.
In the photo below, you can see the male (near the top of the photo) and the female.
Then the male flew to the female and they mated.
The photo data shows they mated for the usual ten seconds.
The male then did nice slow fly past.
Above the cliffs, it was buffeted by the now strong wind.
The female stayed for minute or two, then flew off.
Another bird photographer, a lady that had come all the way from Wollongong arrived, and we told her about the action we had seen.
We later spotted the female perched near the landslide area.
She flew off, and we heard sounds that indicated the Falcons were mating again near the nest area.
About 4:40 pm, just before we left to walk back to Maroubra, we saw the male fly past again.
It had been a very interesting afternoon.