I made another trip to Malabar Headland National Park with the main goal to see if I could spot the raptors I had seen on previous trips again. I was successful in this.
I walked out from Maroubra Beach to the National Park entrance and then out along the Track first to Magic Point. I walked slowly passing to photograph birds, but one of the first subjects was a legless lizard found by two walkers just in front of me. It was at a sandy part of the track and seemed to be having trouble getting up off the sand back into the bush. After a few photos, I found a small stick and used that to carry the lizard a few metres and deposit it into the scrub.
I looked out to sea at Magic Point – but could not see any seabirds except for the usual gulls, terns and gannets, nor any whales.
So I carried on to Boora Point. Not much further U saw a peregrine Falcon fly past. I was able to get a few photos. Then it went out of sight so I continued on.
At the spot I had seen two Peregrine Falcons on a previous trip I stopped and waited. I was appalled and very concerned to see two young girls on the cliffs, not far away, trying to reach some very dangerous and exposed spots. They seemed oblivious to hows crumbly the rock is.
My patience was rewarded, as I saw one of the Peregrine Falcons fly in. It was too fast approaching for me to get a good photo, so I sat and waited again for it to leave. I moved to a closer spot.
It was interesting watching this bird. It was calling out – perhaps to its mate? And perhaps it mate was sitting on eggs in a nearby nest. I scanned all the cliffs I could – but if there is a nest, then it is not visible from the tops.
After a while, the bird did take off and I was able to get a nice sequence of photos.
It flew to another ledge – closer to the top of the cliffs, and I moved to another spot to see it again.
I managed to get right above it and looking carefully, I could see it below. It was sitting on a dead bush and toileting. Then it flew back to its first spot.
I moved back to the other spot too. This time the Falcon was preening itself. And it seem to be taking quite a while. But again, my patience was rewarded. By waiting, I saw it eventually stretch its wings and then take off. My camera was ready for it. I got a few shots, and then it was flying too fast to track with the camera.
I then had lunch, and spent some time photographing some of the many New Holland Honeyeaters. It was interesting watching, and listening to tow of them having a tweeting dialog on top of a bush.
I then started to head back towards Maroubra. Again walking slowly looking for birds and whales and other wildlife.
Close to the beach, I happened to spot a Nankeen Kestrel sitting on a rock ledge, bot too far from the track. I grabbed a few shots and then moved a little closer and got a few more photos. I pointed the bird out to some other walkers.
It then flew off, and perched not far away, but a much harder set to see. Just after doing this it was joined by a second Nankeen Kestrel. Then they both took off and seemed to have a mid-air squabble. Too fast and jerky to get good photos of them, but looking at what photos I did get showed they seemed to be fitting over a snake.
They then flew off into the west. Nice to see.