Two days earlier, I had been very fortunate to witness an amazing flying display from three juvenile Peregrine Falcons on the sea cliffs of the Northern Beaches. On that trip, I had also visited two other spots. I decided to make another visit and spend all my time at the one spot – on the cliffs where the three juveniles were rapidly growing up.
When I arrived, The first Peregrine falcon I observed was the adult female. She flew past with some prey.This was about 11:30am.
A short time after this, the adult male flew past.
And about ten minutes later, two of the three juveniles appeared.
Here is the adult male cruising past –
And then I spotted one juvenile perched on the cliffs.
I waited for it to take off.
The adult male appeared again.
I moved to a different spot. I could just make out a juvenile –
The adult female then appeared. She flew around a bit and landed on a root.
And I then noticed the adult male perched on a tree nearby.
Which one would take off first? It was the male.
And this is one of the juveniles –
The adult female took off and dropped down to a lower ledge.
And she later took off –
A juvenile appeared again –
The adult female landed back on her root perch.
And another take off.
A juvenile again –
I think the other two juveniles may have been nearby, perhaps on lower ledge eating the food that had been delivered earlier.
The female returned to her perch –
And another take off.
This juvenile was calling out. Perhaps it wanted some food?
A bit later it returned with something it had caught.
It looked like a grasshopper.
It was soon eaten.
I finished my lunch, and then I could see two of the juveniles flying further along the cliffs. I walked closer.
Some nice flying –
Then one of the juvenile Peregrine Falcons was flying by itself when it suddenly swerved mid air.
Another raptor, a Nankeen Kestrel was attacking it.
The Kestrel had scared off the juvenile Falcon.
But then the Falcon returned.
Meanwhile, an adult had arrived.
Back to the juvenile –
The birds then moved back to their original spot. So I made my way there again.
I was surprised to see a drone –
And a few last flight shots –
It had been another very good day on the cliffs.