Urban Hawks

January 20, 2006December 16, 2020Owls

Great Horned Owl Yoga

Some pre-fly out stretches. What should we call the last one? The DeLorean?

January 16, 2006December 16, 2020Other Red-tailed Hawks

Monday Holiday – Red-tailed Hawk in the Loch

While in the Loch looking for owls, I saw this immature Red-tailed Hawk make its way north along the western path of the Loch (the stream/valley that runs from the Pool to the Harlem Meer between 103rd and 106th Streets in the center of the park). When it got to the northern end, it stayed for twenty minutes overlooking the skaters at the Lasker Rink.

January 16, 2006December 28, 2020Other Animals, Other Birds

Monday Holiday – Birds and Racoons

I spent the afternoon in the park, starting at 105th and Fifth, first exploring the Conservatory Garden (which I discovered has two stray cats living in the snow), the Meer and the Loch. I then went down to 79th and explored the Ramble.

I had planned my day to look for owls of any kind. So, it was a hunt for tree cavities (Eastern Screech Owls) (where did the 5 Eastern Screech Owls we saw in the Spring go?), in bushes (Northern Saw-whet Owls), and Evergreens (Long-eared Owls). I didn’t have any luck. My only owl of the day was the Great Horned Owl, who had returned to the tree it had used earlier in the week.

As often happens with birding, I saw interesting things I wasn’t looking for…

Like this raccoon den in the Loch, which for the first time revealed to me that it is home to not one, but at least two, raccoons.

This Hermit Thrush eating berries on a tree branch rather than being on the ground.

This Fox Sparrow, a new bird for my Central Park list.

This Rusty Blackbird, another new bird for my Central Park list.

January 13, 2006December 15, 2020Owls

Great Horned Owl Fly Out

On a spring like evening Thursday, I was able to catch the Great Horned Owl fly out. A group of hawk watchers was able to track the owl for over an hour after the fly out.

Then to the NE Shore of the Lake, where the owl stayed for over half an hour in the moonlight.

January 12, 2006December 15, 2020Southern Central Park Red-tailed Hawks

Charlotte on Nest

Veronica G., who has the good fortune to have a view of the Trump Parc Nest from her kitchen, reports that Charlotte was sitting on the nest this morning at 7:15 a.m. She also reports that the volume of twigs on the nest has increased. Let the fun begin, again!

2005 Trump Parc Nest with two 46 day old fledglings, July 18, 2005.

January 10, 2006December 15, 2020Owls

Great Horned Owl

One of the treats of the winter has been a Great-horned Owl in the Ramble. A bird that is usually spotted for only a day a year, has now spent over three weeks in the park.