Central Park was full of people today. It seemed that everyone who stayed inside on Saturday was in the park on Sunday. Pale Male had just finished eating a bird in the Ramble when I arrived.
The Great Horned Owl, that no on saw for two weeks but was rediscovered a few days ago, was out in the open in the bright sunlight. She did her best to sleep but helicopters, a drone, a Gray Squirrel, a Tufted Titmouse, Pale Male and a Cooper’s Hawk did there best to keep her awake.
As winter finally arrives and we get a light dusting of snow, Central Park has two Snow Geese on the reservoir. Large flocks of snow geese fly over the park during migration, but it’s unusual for there to be a pair hanging out on the reservoir, especially in January. So, they were a nice treat on a gray day.
As I was leaving the park, I ran into Pale Male in the east Pinetum. He looked handsome with a dusting of snow.
After all of the owl, gull and bunting photos, I thought I should post a hawk entry. This afternoon, Pale Male has a favorite set of perches on a building at 73rd and Fifth. One the second floor from the top are six windows across. Each window has an ornamental railing, perfect for a hawk. Tonight Pale Male was perched on the second window from the left.
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 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.
This evening, Pale Male was on one of his favorite buildings at Fifth Avenue and 79th Street. He was there for about an hour and then flew to one of his favorite roosting trees in the east Pinetum.
