Owls Archives - Page 130 of 131

January 30, 2006December 16, 2020Other Birds, Other Red-tailed Hawks, Owls

Part II of A Train to Raptors: Northern Central Park

James, Ben and I took the bus down to Central Park from Harlem. I wanted to try and capture photographs of the Eastern Screech-Owl, I had seen earlier in the week. As soon as we get off the bus at 110th Street, a Peregrine Falcon appears overhead. This was a new bird for my Central Park list.

We then walked to the location of the Eastern Screech-Owl and I set up my camera. On Wednesday night, it was so dark at the fly out I couldn’t focus my camera. So, I set up well in advance this time.

While I was waiting both Ben and James went birding. While I sat looking at a tree hole, an immature Red-Tailed Hawk flew into a nearby tree. An adult was also spotted flying by, so we had a 7+ Red-tailed Hawk day.

After the distraction of the Red-tailed Hawk, I reset my camera equipment. I was rewarded just after nightfall by the appearance of a beautiful Eastern Screech-Owl.

Our list for an hour’s worth of birding in Central Park was:

DATE: Saturday, 28 January 2006
LOCATION: Central Park

Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Gadwall
Mallard
Bufflehead
Ruddy Duck
Peregrine Falcon – 1 hunting low over N. end of Central Park
American Coot – 1 on the Meer
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Eastern Towhee – 1 female Wildflower Meadow
White-throated Sparrow

(Since the Eastern Screech-Owl was reintroduced to the park, it doesn’t go on the official list.)

January 27, 2006December 16, 2020Owls

Great Horned Owl Returns to the Ramble

The Great Horned Owl returned to the Ramble on Thursday. Here are photos of the fly out on Friday. Tonight, I let the exposures reflect how the light looked to the naked eye as it got darker.

January 25, 2006December 16, 2020Owls

Wednesday Fly Out, Two For The Price Of One

Wednesday was a wonderful evening. Our little group of five birders got to see two owl fly outs, a Great Horned Owl and an Eastern Screech-Owl.

I was running late, having rushed out of my office to make it up to the North Woods. It was already dark when I arrived, and the Great Horned Owl soon flew out. It stayed in the North Woods for a few minutes and then moved south to the North Meadow.

While tracking the Great Horned Owl, we walked past a tree occupied by at least one Eastern Screech-Owl. In the dark, our eyes slowly adjusted. We then found the Eastern Screech-Owl, who soon flew out. (It was so dark, I couldn’t focus my camera, no matter how hard I tried.)

Our little group of five birders then resumed our quest for the Great Horned Owl. We walked south through the center of the North Meadow and in a tree overlooking the ball fields we found the Great Horned Owl. It stayed for about six minutes perched on a low branch.

Update: On Thursday the Great Horned Owl returned to the Ramble. The picture below may the last one ever taken of the Owl in the North Woods!

North Woods (1 second exposure at ISO 3200, f5.6)

North Meadow (2.5 second exposure at ISO 3200, f5.6)

January 24, 2006December 16, 2020Owls

Three or Four Eastern Screech-Owls

Marie Winn had wondered on her site if the four owls we had been seeing were actually just three. (Update: On of Marie’s reader’s wrote in to report having seen all four in the same day. I think we all ended up agreeing that there were four owl.)

So, I dug up some old photos from the Riviera and the West Drive cavities. The first two owls are from the East Side and the second two owls are from the West Side I’d say we have (had?) four owls, but you could argue three.

January 22, 2006December 16, 2020Owls

Great Horned Owl Stays Up North

On Sunday, the Great Horned Owl was in the North Woods for the second day. It had chosen a much safer location than its Saturday tree. It was in a much quieter and more secluded area. It had also chosen a higher perch.

Unlike on Saturday, when the owl was wide awake and alert most of the afternoon, on Sunday the owl for the most part looked to be sleeping, opening its eyes and turning its head only on a few occasions when I saw it around 2 p.m.

If you go birding in the North Woods, please keep the noise levels down around the Great Horned, keep your distance and avoid flash photography. We have a day sleeper who needs some shuteye as our guest! Let’s be good hosts.

The American Birding Association has an excellent Code of Birding Ethics. It’s great reading, and reminds advanced birders to coach newer birders about birding etiquette.

January 21, 2006December 16, 2020Owls

Great Horned Owl Moves Thirty Blocks

After hearing reports of the possibility of Buteo hawks other than Red-Tails in the park, I went birding on a wonderfully warm Saturday starting at 105th and 5th Avenue hoping to find a new hawk species for my Central Park list.

I walked past the Meer which had an interesting selection of birds: 2 Mute Swans, 3 female Wood Ducks, an American Coot, a male Gadwall, 2 Buffleheads, a few Ruddy Ducks, Mallards, Canadian Geese, and Ring-billed Gulls.

As I walked through the North Woods, I heard an incredible number of jays harassing something on a path. Oh, great I thought, a new hawk! I went around and saw not only Blue Jays but Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, and a Downey Woodpecker all around one tree branch. Tucked behind a number of branches wasn’t a hawk, but a Great Horned Owl. Most likely, the one who has spent the last month roosting in the Ramble.