Back to nature.
Nov 27th, 2008 by Duncan
After many hours at the computer reorganising the IT department I was ready for a break, and I was pleased to get an email from Gouldiae suggesting an outing. We’d had to cut our bird surveying short a fortnight ago when his wife broke her wrist, so that was on the agenda plus a visit to the Mitchell River to see the Peregrines. At one of our survey sites there are a number of Sticky Everlasting plants, Xerochrysum viscosum, which were in flower. Due to the dry season the flowers were smaller than usual, and many were starting to shed their seeds, but enough were still fresh enough to attract insects like this wasp, and several of these Dart butterflies.
The Mitchell was roaring when we got there, with a good flow after the recent rain. There were plenty of birds about as we walked upstream, Dollarbirds were hawking across river, and a Lewin’s Honeyeater was rattling away with its machine gun call but we only got glimpses. Then, when we arrived at the cliffs a Peregrine flew and Gouldiae spotted a lone youngster feeding on the nest ledge. There were three youngsters, this may have been the last to fledge. A bit of a climb is necessary to get to within photographing range, and while we were climbing one of the parents made passes calling loudly to warn us off.
It wasn’t easy to try for flying shots, as the bird came out of the trees and there was only a small window of sky before it disappeared behind more trees. The youngster was much easier, it just sat on the ledge letting me take as many shots as I wanted. This was probably my favourite pose out of many.
A beaut day out Gouldiae, and the walk did me a lot of good, where are you taking me next? 
Click to enlarge all photos.
You got yourself some great pics there too. I like the way the Peregrine is looking back at you in photo 3.
That’s what I liked about that shot too, Alan.
Great to get up close to Peregrines. Haven’t been so lucky for some time. As an aside, I just checked guides for juvenile colours, since the youngster shows much darker grey than typical brown. (Were the other two similarly grey?) Would you believe ‘old outdated’ Slater the most informative? And the art for mine, remains the benchmark.
Hi Duncan,
Lovely image of the nestling.
It has a great “hood”, which accentuates the big stare it is giving you.
I was talking with a photographer friend, recently, about photographing eagles. He had noted, as I had also, that they are nearly always looking straight down your camera lens, when you eventually develop the image. His comment was that their eyes are so good, they are probably checking out the little brand stamp on the front of your lens!
Its good that Gouldiae dragged you out away from the Computer. Much better for you.
Cheers
Denis
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Happy Thanksgiving from Texas….
Troy and Martha
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G’day Tony, the youngster is very grey, you really couldn’t say there are any brownish tonings on it at all. When last seen the three chicks were downy, so I can’t answer your question. There was no sign of the other two, I’d say they had already flown, they could of course have come to grief, but hopefully not, they were all robust chicks when seen last.
Hi Denis, my other images were good too, but I liked the one of it giving me the eye. Yes, I reckon it could have read the brand of the camera without any trouble!
Great Peregrine photos Duncan! My son and I once found one in the middle of the highway – cars swerving around it I really don’t know how it didn’t get hit! We of course stopped as did a fellow in front of us – he directed traffic around and we picked it up. It was trying to feed on some road kill. The local wildlife vet said it was dehydrated and hungry but other than that was fine. It was amazingly calm – we had expected it to be quite frightened and were careful to cover that beak and claws! It was just totally exhausted and depleted. It went to a wildlife raptor carer and was released when it was recovered. Quite amazing birds – unfortunately no photos but a great experience!
Cheers, Troy and Martha, Happy Thanksgiving to you too.
Great story Lyn, you did well! I’ve belatedly added a link to your site, in its very own category. D.
Love the Everlastings – and great to have an update on the peregrines.
Thanks Mick, the everlastings are showy, and good to see the peregrines doing well.
Wonderful photos of the peregrines, they’re such handsome birds
Certainly are CGP, amd back from the brink in some places.
Hi – I really like your site – great pictures!
Thanks Steven.