At the top of a tall pine this afternoon by the 79th Street Transverse north of the maintenance building, was an American Kestel eating what looked to be a house sparrow. This small falcon is one of New York City’s most beautiful birds.
The Great Horned Owl in Central Park was difficult to photograph and observe today. It faced away from the easy spots to photograph from this afternoon and evening. Fly out was a little later than the last few nights, but it was a clear rather than cloudy night so this was to be expected. Except for a a brief second flight, we were unable to track the owl tonight.
Update: The owl was not seen Sunday morning, 11-15-15
I arrived at the roost just as some Red-tailed Hawks spooked the Great Horned Owl. It made for some fun owl watching as we got to see some flights in daylight, but it didn’t make for great photography. After dark, two of us were able to keep track of the owl for a good 30 minutes from a vantage point across the lake. It was wonderful to watch the owl stretch and wake up without any birders or hawks to distract it.
The Great Horned Owl in Central Park has hung around. Tonight was a typical fly out. Lots of stretches and a wonderful circular flight around the roost site. It then perched on a nearby tree for about ten minutes before flying a good distance south.
For those lucky enough to see this bird, please be respectful of this wonderful owl. The ABA’s Code of Ethics has some great recommendations about how to promote the welfare of birds and their environment.
I went to Central Park, in New York City today to look for Pale Male and an Immature Red-headed Woodpecker. I saw both but the surprise of the day was a Great Horned Owl roosting in a Sweet Gum Tree. The tree had red and yellow leaves and was a perfect backdrop for the owl. Let’s hope it sticks around for a few weeks.
For about two weeks, there has been an injured Sora in the Loch in the North Woods. If you look closely at the photographs and video you’ll see the left wing is dragging. Today was the first time I had seen it myself.
