To photograph juvenile Peregrine Falcons – you need to strike while the iron is hot. There is a brief window of time from when the young birds fledge till they become so good that they fly further and further away from the nest area – too far for it to be worthwhile trying to find them on the cliffs.
On these cliffs, the time, I think is almost over that you can easily find them and have a good chance to photograph them flying.
I travelled up to the Northern Beaches after the Greenway Bird Survey, and was soon walking to the cliffs. But, on the way, along one of the beaches, and just a few metres from a cafe, I spotted this White-faced Heron with a Rat –
The Rat did not look to happy, but the Heron was having a lot of trouble dealing with it.
Once on the cliffs, I soon spotted two of the juvenile Peregrine Falcons. Both were resting.
One took off –
I waited to see if the second would fly.
Far out to sea – a Humpback Whale –
The juvenile did start to stretch its wings, and move around bit, bit then it settled down for a nap –
I moved to a better vantage point, and had my lunch while waiting for some action. Then two juveniles appeared together –
An adult appeared. It didn’t have food with it.
The juveniles seemed to be after some food.
This one suddenly dived and landed on the cliffs out of sight –
Another flew past fast and then landed in a bush –
One took to the air again –
The adult flew past again –
The adult above was the male. It flew off – perhaps on a hunting mission. Then the female appeared –
It landed nearby –
But not for long.
Then a bit of a lull. Then I spotted a juvenile perched on a lower ledge –
A nice take-off –
But once in the air, it had a nasty encountered with a Magpie –
And it flew back very fast –
And another loop –
It must have been given some food –
And a last shot of some of the other photographers.
