Cooper's Hawk
The fall and winter months bring Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks to the park. On Halloween day, it was a Cooper's Hawk that I saw in Central Park. An immature bird that was born this year.
« September 2015 | Main | November 2015 »
The fall and winter months bring Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks to the park. On Halloween day, it was a Cooper's Hawk that I saw in Central Park. An immature bird that was born this year.
The male adult of Washington Square Park likes to roost by a kitchen vent pipe when the weather gets colder. Tonight was the first time I've seen him use it since last spring. And yes, another picture of a hawk on a cross.
I got to see both Tompkins Square Hawks tonight, but was only able to photograph one on a church cross. I'll be away next week and then we'll soon be back on standard time, so hawk watching will become a weekend activity soon.
The Red-tails of Tompkins Square Park have been building a nest this past week in a tree. For a pair that's had two air conditioner nests, it's been a surprise. I didn't get to see any nest building tonight, but did see the female work her way around the park and go to roost. She took 50 minutes from when she went to roost to shutting her eyes. This was much longer than I expected.
The young hawk that's been hanging out in Washington Square Park couldn't be found today. But I did get to see one of the adults catch a small rodent and eat the snack.
The youngster in Washington Square Park seems to have settled in and the adults on the territory are getting used to it being around. At least for now!
This afternoon the youngster caught a squirrel near the bathrooms. The adults both hunted nearby. Bobby had a pigeon on top of Dr. Sexton's apartment roof, and we saw the female go after something but couldn't find her afterwards.
The young hawk in Washington Square Park seems to be settling in around the large-dog dog run. It was there this evening. I found it thanks to a young child in a playground who yelled to his mother, "Look an owl". Reports are that the adult pair seem to be tolerating it more.
It went to roost in a tree just inside the park at Sullivan and Washington Square South.
The juvenile that's been spending time in Washington Square Park spent a large part of the morning on a lawn, prompting some concerns. All was good however, as the bird was seen eating a rat in the afternoon.
I saw it for about a minute this evening by the larger-sized dog, dog run (the park has two, one for large dogs and one for small dogs), but I lost track of it as I was setting up my equipment.
Then after sunset, both adults were soaring around One University Place and suddenly a hawk speeds down to a tree. We see another hawk move slightly in the same tree. We ran to the tree and find the youngster, who gets attacked again by Bobby, who was only a few feet above. I don't think any contact got made between the two. It was more of a warning shot, then anything else.
We then found the adult female perched on the Silver Building. Fun evening.
My birding centered around Turtle Pond in Central Park today. The Pond had a pair of Belted Kingfishers, one of whom seemed to be exhausted after getting wet while fishing. After the Kingfisher's it was Pale Male who was very photogenic, leading photographers and bird watchers on a journey from tree to tree until he caught a rat. It was a fun Sunday afternoon.
The battle between the young hawk and Bobby, the male adult of Washington Square continues. After the young hawk eat a rodent, Bobby chased the youngster all around the park, before giving up at nightfall. The youngster then roosted near the Washington Square Arch.
(General conscience is that the youngster is most likely a migrant on its way south.)
I went to Washington Square Park this evening not expecting to see much, but ended up with a wonderful show. A juvenile Red-tailed hawk was being chased by an adult hawk in the park. Eventually, the adult left leaving the youngster to catch two small rodents and chase squirrels.
I have no idea who the youngster was. Was it this year's fledgling returning to the park or a migrant on its way through New York City? Who knows?
The sun finally came out and with it two hawk sightings. A migrant youngster at 79th and the East Drive and then Pale Male a block north.