This was another pleasant day spent out on the Headland, but relatively quiet as far as the Peregrine Falcons where concerned. I was glad of Sue’s company on the visit. We also met up with Sam, a fellow bird photographer later in the day.
On the walk out, we saw a number of lizards – skinks and a couple of Jacky Dragons like this one –
And here is a Superb Fairy-wren –
We saw a pair of Sooty Oystercatchers early on the walk out from Maroubra Beach.
And the Flannel Flowers were staring to bloom –
At Magic Point, we heard the call of a Rufous Whistler –
Just past Dead Mans Gulch, we saw a single Slender Onion Orchid – Microtis parviflora –
Hopefully more of these orchids will appear soon.
We also spotted a Peregrine Falcon fly past. It looked like it was off hunting.
We went to the Peregrine Falcon nesting area, and waited to see if any show themselves. I thought the one we had seen earlier may return with prey to feed young chicks or the female if it was sitting on eggs. But we did not see one for a long while.
We did see some Humpback Whales –
And then we met up with Sam, and it was good to catch up with him about his whale and bird photography. We left him at the nesting area, and Sue and myself went off to look for more orchids.
Near where a few weeks earlier we had seen some Spotted Sum Orchids (Thelymitra ixioides) we saw a few different Sun Orchids. They were Shy Sun Orchids – Thelymitra planicola
These orchids seem to be fairly rare.
We also spotted few Bladderworts. I think these carnivorous plants are Ultricularia uniflora.
Back at the Peregrine falcon nesting area, Sam has spotted a distant Osprey, but no Peregrine Falcons.
We did see some passing Humpback Whales.
Sam had to leave to pick up his daughter from school. About 20 minutes later, we spotted a Peregrine Falcon perched on one of the ledges near their nest (scrape). It must have snuck in quietly.
It was the male. After a bit of preening, it took off a few away at speed.
We settled back to wit to see if it would return. At one stage, it flew past in very high speed dive, too fast for us to work out where it had gone.
We had to make do with some more whales –
Here is a passing Australasian Gannet –
And some more whales –
And a few last photos of the eroded sandstone of Malabar Headland –
