On Saturday, I explored the park looking for raptors. My first was a Merlin falcon on a water tank on top of the Lincoln Correctional Facility on 110th Street. It was chased away by a mob of Crows. Later, I saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk hunting, although it was too fast to photograph. As I ended my walk, I saw the female Red-tailed Hawk, Lima on a 5th Avenue building around 77th Street.
This afternoon, Lima, the female of the Fifth Avenue nest was on the Beresford Apartments and the American Museum of Natural History. On the AMNH, she perched on an ornamental eagle.
While the abundance of birds in the park seemed small, there were surprises. The best for me was a new species of duck for my Central Park list, an American Wigeon.
(The mark on the bird’s right rear neck, seemed to either be feathers out of place or an injury rather than a field mark.)
A Barred Owl was found in the Ramble today, most likely the same owl seen the Friday before last. It was fairly active before fly out, flying from branch to branch in a small area. After dark, it moved to trees closer to a large lawn. I was able to track it for about 45 minutes after fly out.
I was hoping to hear a few calls, but the owl was absolutely quiet.
Today I got some great looks at Pale Male and Lima. With the kids gone, they seem to be having fun having time together.
Somtimes Pale Male is in plain sight. Tonight, he hunted and ate, both a bird and a rodent, in under an hour around 79th Street and Fifth Avenue. He made it easy to take his portrait.
