Urban Hawks

October 2, 2006December 20, 2020927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks

5th Avenue Hawks

Pale Male was on one of his favorite perches on Monday evening, a tree on the north lawn of Turtle Pond. Soon after I arrived, he caught a rodent near where he caught one on Sunday, at the edge of the pond.

After eating the rodent he cleaned his beak on a few tree branches and made his way to the north of the great lawn…

…stoppping on a few trees before he gave us the slip.

Just before leaving the park, Lola roosted on the Beresford.

Lola, on her roost for the night, the SE tower of the Beresford.

October 1, 2006December 20, 2020927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks

Intruder Alert

On Sunday, after birding up north, I took the bus south twenty blocks and re-entered the park at 84th Street and Fifth Avenue. As soon as I arrived I saw Pale Male circle over the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and then make a number of hawk cries. He was soon joined by Lola and both of them circled high above 5th Avenue in the 90’s. Although I couldn’t photograph the intruder because of the distance, there was a third hawk which Lola and Pale Male chased away.

After chasing away the intruder, the Pale Male and Lola land on a building in the low 90’s on Fifth Avenue.

…to the “Oreo” Building at 79th and Fifth. Lola is on the meshed chimney cover on the left, and Pale Male is on the TV antenna on the right.

October 1, 2006December 20, 2020Other Birds

Great Crested Flycatcher

While birding in the Wildflower Meadow, I saw a new bird for my Central Park list, a Great Crested Flycatcher. It had just caught a dragonfly.

October 1, 2006December 20, 2020St. John/Columbia Red-tailed Hawks

Red-tail Over The Wildflower Meadow

While bird watching in the Wildflower Meadow, in the north of Central Park, we saw a Red-tailed Hawk fly over. The coloring and wing patterns looked like the St. John’s adult female.

September 30, 2006December 20, 2020927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks

Pale Male and Lola on the Beresford

On Saturday afternoon, Pale Male and Lola spent a few minutes together on the Beresford.

Pale Male is up on the roof. Lola is landing on the oval window of the SE tower.

There is a small collection of twigs on this perch.

In the strong winds Pale Male tucks in his wings to gain control.

The amount of control these birds use to kite is amazing. He then moves off towards the north east.

September 30, 2006December 25, 2020Other Animals, Other Birds

Saturday in the Park

I birded in the North Wood on Saturday and enjoyed the second wave of the fall migration, which as brought new ducks, woodpeckers, fly catchers and thrushes. I also stumbled into the Monarch Butterfly migration, where at least 500 Monarchs were taking a break in the Wildflower Meadow.