Urban Hawks

April 9, 2006December 15, 2020Owls

Sunday, 4-2-06 through Saturday, 4-8-06

I was only able to watch the fly out on two nights this week, Monday and Tuesday.

On Monday, it rained and there was no sign of the owl.

On Tuesday, there was a standard fly out and two brief stops before flying off to hunt for the evening.

Soon the owl will be leaving its cavity for the summer to spend the warmer months in tree branches. Last year they left around April 20th.

We also learned this week the fate of the Red morph Eastern Screech-Owl found dead last week. It has been attacked by another animal, possibly our West Drive owl. (The fate of the Red morph’s mate, who disappeared this winter while the Great Horned Owl was around is still a mystery. Many suspect that he was attacked by the Great Horned Owl, but I suspect we’ll never know what really happened to him.)

April 6, 2006December 20, 2020Southern Central Park Red-tailed Hawks

All Quiet On The Southern Front

With Junior giving Charlotte a break midday, it’s very quiet looking at the nest in the late afternoon/early evening.

Looking up at the nest from the “Little Hill” (the small hill between 6th and 7th Avenues just north of the Essex House just inside the park), one can’t see any activity in the late afternoon. You might even think the nest was empty.

But Charlotte is safely tucked in at the back of the nest keeping her eggs warm.

The sun is still low in April, so for the most part the nest is in shadows much of the late afternoon.

The nest has fresh twigs, some of which are budding.

Although the trees still have a ways to go, green is replacing brown as the dominant color in the park.

Note that the Beresford, Pale Male and Lola’s west side perch has a view of Junior and Charlotte’s nest.

When the sun peaks through the office towers, the gray of the nest’s building turns a wonderful golden color.

It was cold up there, about 40 degrees with high wind gusts.

Day turns to dusk and the lights go on in the park and the George Washington Bridge.

Charlotte is all tucked in for the evening. The bright lights on the lower left are from the gardens of Tavern on the Green, a popular restaurant and hunting area for Junior.

April 3, 2006December 19, 2020Other Birds

White-throated Sparrows Go Fluorescent

A sure sign of Spring are the almost fluorescent white and yellow colors that have replaced the dull white and yellow colors of a few weeks earlier on the park’s White-throated Sparrows.

April 2, 2006December 16, 2020Owls

North Woods Eastern Screech-Owl

The North Woods Eastern Screech-Owl, which I discovered this winter when the Great Horned Owl was around, seems to be doing just fine.

These pictures are from Friday, March 31st. They are all taken with natural light.

March 29, 2006December 16, 2020Bats

Bat over Turtle Pond

The warm weather had brought out the bats. This bat was over Turtle Pond at dusk.

March 28, 2006December 16, 2020Owls

Sunday, 3-26-06 through Saturday, 4-1-06

Sunday was a fairly standard fly out.

Monday, an Eastern-Screech Owl and a Saw-Whet Owl were found dead in the park. The Eastern-Screech Owl was banded. Our owl takes a long time to appear which starts me worrying. She finally appears around 6 p.m.

On Tuesday we learn that the Eastern Screech-Owl found dead was a Red Morph. Sadly, this means the Eastern Screech-Owl we’re watching may now be the only one in the Southern section of the park. This evening we are led by constant calling on a long trip up into the Humming Tombstone area of the Ramble. It looks like the owl is insect catching (moths?), high in the upper branches of budding trees.

Wednesday, she quickly gives us the slip.

Thursday, her standard perch, then her next favorite perch and then she give us the slip.

Friday and Saturday, I spend in other areas of the park.