The day started off fairly quietly. I started off by myself and walked out to Malabar Headland from Malabar. On the way out I saw no Black-shouldered Kites or Swamp Harriers. And at the Peregrine Falcon nesting spot, I had to wait a long time for any action.
I arrived at the Peregrine Falcon nesting area around 11 am, and then had to wait till a little after 1 pm when the male Peregrine Falcon arrived with prey.
But the male flew past the nesting area. I waited a while in case it returned, and then walked back towards Magic Point to see if I could see the bird on the cliffs.
At the landslide area, I saw a few feathers floating up in an updraft, and wondered if the Peregrine Falcon could be on a ledge underneath me. I made my way further along to a spot where I could see down. I then spotted the male –
Soon after, it flew off with the prey to another spot on the cliffs.
The Peregrine falcon seemed to be eating the prey –
I then moved to a closer position, but found the food had been abandoned.
I then walked back to the nesting area, to see if the male was there. I could;d not see it. I then waited for Valerie to arrive. Just after she arrived around 2pm an amazing Humpback Whale Show started. There were two pods of whales, both not far out to sea, and it seemed if each was trying to outdo the other.
And then, if we hadn’t seem enough, a Dolphin Show started! A pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins swam past –
When all that died down, an old military aeroplane flew past – it was a Douglas C-47 Dakota.
Then there was a lull. Here is a passing Australasian Gannet –
We then decided to go to the landslide area to see if we could see a Peregrine Falcons that may be there. The prey the male had brought in was still the same.
Then, around 3 pm the female Peregrine Falcon flew past.
The female flew off out of sight.
At 3:12 pm the female returned and landed on a nearby ledge.
About 4 minutes later, it took off and flew around a bit.
It then landed close to where the food was.
It then went down and started eating.
It then took off with the food and flew to a ledge out of sight.
Not long after that, we decided to leave.
One last bird on the walk back to Maroubra Beach – a New Holland Honeyeater –
I think this visit, the Peregrine Falcons were overshadowed by the Whales. As to the status of the Peregrine falcon nest, I am not sure what is going on. I would have thought that eggs would have hatched by now – but I have not seen evidence of young birds being fed. On past observations of the last 5 breeding seasons I have seen the young birds fledge between 14 October to 10 November.
Many thanks to Valerie for joining me on the cliffs and for a lift home.