The smallest owl that visits Central Park is the Northern Saw-whet Owl. It’s about eight inches tall. A Saw-whet has been in the park for about a week. Today, it was in a perfect spot to watch until dusk. A small group of us were hoping for a fly out, but the owl jumped to the center of the bush it has been perching in rather than flying out. I was disappointed but also glad to see that the owl could out smart us.
Three Barred Owls were spotted in the park today, most likely the trio that arrived after Huricane Sandy. It’s so great that they’ve stayed in the park.
Despite all of time I’ve spent looking at owls, I have been keeping an eye out for Pale Male. Today, I started my birding near Pale Male’s nest. My first views were of a Cooper’s Hawk chasing some European Starlings.
Then Pale Male arrived. He broke off a tree branch and took it to the nest. He then perched a little south of the nest on a fence, then a water tank and then a railing. He kept looking south. I think his new mate may be spending her time below 72nd Street.
On a gray late Fall day, a visit to Central Park yielded a few Cooper’s Hawks, two Barred Owls and a few Red-tailed Hawks. Let’s hope the Barred Owls stay for the Christmas Bird count, Sunday, December 16th.
This fall, Central Park has had at least four owl species – Great Horned Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Long-eared Owl, and Barred Owl. That’s a great variety for so early in the fall/winter season.
Let’s hope the visits continue!
Although it looks like two of the Barred Owls may have relocated, one owl was still around on Saturday. What a wonderful species!
