Sora
A Sora was found on the north shore of Turtle Pond this morning. I got two brief glimpses of the small rail in the early evening. Below is a slow motion video and a few shots taken in less than favorable light.
Youngster Back To Old Tree
The lighter colored of the two Fifth Avenue fledglings was back in old territory on Saturday afternoon. It’s mother dropped off a rodent for it to eat on the standard picnic table tree (it has a nice level top branch which makes eating easy) the fledglings used when they were much younger.
The fledgling with a darker chest hasn’t been seen by most folks this week. There have been reports of a young bird west of the Reservoir, so it’s possible the fledgling has moved north. Migration has started and there are lots of new hawks appearing all over the city. It’s also possible the second fledgling has moved on too.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Despite spending about six hours in the park this holiday weekend, I only got two brief glimpses of the Fifth Avenue family members. Both on the Beresford Apartments, one of a fledgling and one of the mother.
The fall migration has started and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are enjoying the Jewelweed patch in Strawberry Fields.
Play Ball
One of the youngsters from the Fifth Avenue nest spent the afternoon around the Great Lawn and went to roost for the night in a tree nearby. Both fledglings seem very mature, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they leave home soon. They’ve provided wonderful entertainment this summer and it will be bittersweet to see them go.
High on the West Side
The ligher colored of the two 5th Avenue fledglings was on top of the Beresford Apartments in the late afternoon before flying off towards the American Museum of Natural History in the early evening. Its mother was on the AMNH and the youngster was briefly was on an apartment building on 77th Street, before trading places with Mom.
The mother went south on Central Park South before returning to the park. About 45 minutes later, just before dark the fledgling also returned to the park.
Cultured Hawk
One of the Fifth Avenue fledglings spent part of the evening on the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It started on the south side, when to the west side, played in the plants on the roof (near an electrical code violation of an exposed, outdoor AC box). It briefly tried to catch a squirrel in a tree before flying south.
