86th and WEA Peregrine Falcons, Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Osprey, Owls

Sunday Snow Storm

On a snowy day, made my first stop Riverside Drive and 86th Street to see the Peregrine Falcons who have been perching on the Normandy. They were both there, but also a wonderful American Kestrel who was camped out in from of two bushed with about 40 White-throated Sparrows and House Sparrows. The Peregrines came and left, and in the late afternoon both moved to West End Avenue.

I then went to Central Park, making a brief visit to the Reservoir and then to see the Great Horned Owl that has been in the park. It’s important to see and owl on SuperB Owl Sunday.

Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Osprey

Bald Eagle

I went to the reservoir to see what gulls I could see. I did see an all white gull, which most likely was an Iceland Gull, but there were very few gulls on the ice. The Bald Eagle appeared mid-afternoon and after making two loops around the reservoir dropped to the ice, where what looked like a half-eaten gull was located. It ate some of the gull and stayed for about 10 minutes.

Other Birds

Slaty-backed Gull

Today was one of those magical birding day, where a rarity brings out the best NYC birders who then find everything around them that would normally be missed.

Two days ago, a Slaty-backed Gull was seen one the reservoir but misidentified as a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Once the error was realized, many birders came to Central Park to see a bird usually only found in Asia but occasionally in Alaska.

But as happens when a rare bird appears, having over a hundred birders including many experts looking for a rarity, less rare birds are also found.

Today, many of us had eight species of gull:

  • Black-headed Gull
  • Ring-billed Gull
  • Herring Gull
  • Iceland Gull
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull
  • Slaty-backed Gull
  • Glaucous Gull
  • Great Black-backed Gull

Thank you to all of the experts today who helped those of us who are “gull challenged” to have a great experience. 2-2-22 will have a special meaning for many of us.

Here are pictures of the Slaty-backed Gull:


And photographs of the Iceland Gulls

Owls

Great Horned Owl

There has been a Great Horned Owl in Central Park for at least a week now. Tonight, I was able to follow it from its roost tree to the Compost Heap. It perched in a tree that the Snowy Owl often used last year. It then went down to the Conservatory Garden and returned to a tree a bit further northeast. I couldn’t be sure, but I think it had prey.

Central Park Coyotes, Central Park Snowy Owl 2021

Last Year’s Snowy Owl and Eastern Coyote

On February 26th last year, I had one of most incredible experiences of my life, seeing both a Snowy Owl and an Eastern Coyote on the North Meadow of Central Park. With the anniversary of the Snowy Owl’s arrival, I started to review old footage. Last year, I had presented the video as two different post. But we saw them at the same time.

As the Snowy Owl moved from a backstop on the eastern side of the North Meadow to one on the western side, she basically flew over the Eastern Coyote drawing our attention to the animal. It was an evening I will never forget, and something I never expect to see again. So, don’t let anyone tell you Central Park isn’t wild!