A fairly interesting morning was had at Magic Pt by myself and 9 others at
Maroubra today. As we walked along the northern end of the headland towards
Magic Pt, we saw a Fairy Penguin close to rocks and calling loudly as if
in agony to get away from the shore.
As we walked towards Magic Pt, we disturbed a Peregrine Falcon which
took of in an instant upon our coming. This was most likely a female, since it
appeared to be quite a large bird.
Soon after we settled near the edge of the rocks with our eyes fixed out at
sea, we noticed a trawler within 2 km off the coast. Through our scopes we saw
that it had loads of birds behind, mainly Silver Gulls but upto 80
Black-browed Albatross and a smaller number of Shy (2) and
(atleast 5) Yellow-nosed Albatross. Also were Southern Giant
Petrels and between 2-5 Antarctic Skuas. After the trawler went past,
many Albatrosses, including one Wandering Albatross and other Giant
Petrels were seen feeding on dead cuttlefish. Fluttering Shearwaters
in their thousands and a couple of Prions were also seen within 2km out
from shore. Winds that morning were fairly light and tending from the south-west
and not what we had hoped for. Despite this, a few interesting seabirds as I
have noted, were seen. However, an unexpected highlight that morning, just
before we left the point, was seeing only within 30 metres off the rocks, a
Humpback Whale "breaching twice" in succession. This also being a
big surprise to the fishermen fishing from the same rocks and in a nearby small
boat. The whale went past our headland and briefly into Maroubra Bay, then out
of the bay.
On our way back, to the cars, we walked along the trail on the northern end
of the Rifle range and saw 2 (and possibly heard another) Lewins
Rails quickly running along the track and one (possibly of the same two
fly up into dense bittou bush growing on the northern side of the Rifle range. A
Brown Quail was also seen walking slowing across this same track. In the
heath opposite, great views of a pair of Southern Emu-wrens were
had with several others calling further down the trail.
Edwin Vella
