Northern Beaches Bird Photography – 10 November 2023

I again visited the Northern Beaches area. This time I visited a number of sites. I was on the lookout for raptors.

The first place I went to was a headland, that earlier in the year I had seen a pair of Peregrine Falcons performing courtship flights.  I thought it could be worth a visit to see if they were nesting in the area and had had chicks.

It was worthwhile. At the first clifftop I reached, a juvenile Peregrine Falcon flew past. I was ready with my camera when it came back.

Then an adult flew past.

While waiting, I had great views.

I spotted an adult female perched in a tree –

And another adult arrived (a male) –

And the female did some flying.

I only ever saw one chick while I was at this spot. It was not that good for photography as the suitable vantage points were a bit restricted by vegetation. The birds also tended to perch a long way off.

Nearby, I spotted an Olive-backed Oriole –

And an Australasian Darter flew past.

I also saw an Osprey sitting on its neat –

I then moved to a different clifftop. One I had visited a few times recently, and where I knew there were three juvenile Peregrine Falcons. I thought there was a strong chance that the young birds may be a fair way from their nest area. But as I walked along the cliffs, I soon spotted two of the juveniles –

And then there were three –

During the next hour or two, I witnessed a great display of very fast flying. It was windy, and the birds were flying close to each other, and close to the cliffs. It was amazing flying, and a real privilege to experience. I was lucky to get some reasonable photos of their action, but I also missed a lot – they were flying far too fast for my reflexes to swivel the camera to follow the action. the strong wind was also a quite buffeting.

This one has a bit of pine tree –

This one was performing what looked like an Immelmann turn –

I did not see either of the adult birds during my visit to this spot. When the juveniles settled down to rest, I decided to leave and I headed to Long Reef to look for Ospreys.

I first saw this Chestnut Teal –

I went down to the lower area. The tide was coming in, so I did not talk out too far. There were two other birds photographers there, including Simon, who I have met several times before.

After talking for a while, I decided to leave as I thought it was too windy. I climbed back up to the lookout and starting walking back towards the roads. But I then spotted two Ospey far out to sea. I watched them gradually come closer.

They seemed to have a bit of a tiff –

One flew far out to sea, and the other flew out to the island. I watched it for a while ands it returning. I got a last photo as it flew past –