Uptown Birds

With my home situation in transition still, I decided to spend Sunday checking up on the bird situation Uptown. There is significant activity up at the St. John's nest, but still no confirmed chick sightings. I then swung up to CCNY to investigate the nest there. I found the female perched near the nest.





After looking down at the nest a few times, she swung off and then dive bombed an unseen crown on the west side of Shepard Hall. After circling around, she made a few vocalizations towards the nest...I assumed she was calling to her chicks.







None-the-less, I did not see a feeding or witness any movement in the nest despite being there for an hour. On another note, I did observer 1 towhee, 1 male and 1 female common yellow throat, 1 parula, 1 btblue warbler and these two beauties!



All but the house finches were firsts for St. Nicholas Park as far as I know.

I then headed further uptown, where I spotted the female kestrel atop her favorite perch at 152nd. She was hunting hard and I lost site of her as she dove after some sparrows.

I did see this pigeon guarding its nest from the raiding kestrel.

Working still further north, I meandered through Highbridge Park where there were over a dozen orioles calling melodiously in the trees. There were also numerous tree swallows, chimney swifts, btblue warblers, yr warblers and numerous parulas. This one flew in for a bath amongst a crop of HOSPs.





From there I went to the red-tailed nest, but not before spotting the male chasing off some crows above.

On the nest, I was just in time for a feeding!

Yay!

After feeding, this one flapped about for a few minutes, took a squirt, then it was nap time. I then moved on to Broadway Bridge. After a few minutes of waiting, the female flew into the scrape with food.


I did not witness a feeding due to the sun's position directly overhead, but the female flew in and out a few times, giving me great looks!






Last but not least I headed to Inwood Hill where I witnessed both parent around the nest and a feeding, but it was too leafed out to get a shot. I also witnessed many tanagers, orioles, yr warblers, btblue, btgreen and thrushes. All in all it was an exhaustive but exhilarating day. As I walked to the train, I witnessed this huge flock of geese migrating north at the edge of the advancing weather front!

Upon returning home I learned the bitter news of the 79th St. nest failure, thus dampening my mood. Hopefully there will be enough time for this pair and the 5th ave nest to try again. Last but not least, I got an email from a reader who says the Triboro Hawks are back, but on the opposite side of the bridge. He thinks there are three babies there. I will try to get over there to investigate.

In a final note, I witnessed this red-winged blackbird being hand fed over by turtle pond. The bird greedily ate the seeds offered, but in a ironic twist, quite painfully bit the hand that fed him! In the future, I recommend a bird feeder.

The Lily Ponds

After yesterday's brief outing in City Hall Park, it was clear I had the warbler fever. From my roof I could see small groups of birds chirping north. There was also Norman

and an egret.

In the Park, I set up in a shaded spot over-looking the local watering hole. As the more common birds built in, like this grackle,

and goldfinch

and flicker,

warblers then began to move through for a cool drink!
First this common yellow throat came in for a peek.


then this parula came in for a bath!




There were many black throated blue warblers,




black throated greens,


and black and white warblers.


A few chestnut-sided warblers came by



and a redstart.

Also I caught glimpses of scarlet tanagers...the male

the female.

Last but not least, a thirsty white throated sparrow also flitted in.

In the Loch, these wonderful owls have been learning the ropes!


A parent keeps a watchful eye!


On a final note, I may still do the bird walk on Sunday. I will be in touch with all who have emailed me on Friday. Also, thanks for all the positive feedback on the bloggy!

City Hall Park

I was definitely surprised by the volume and variety in this beautiful park. On a quick break from work, I saw black and white warblers, red breasted grossbeaks,

yellow bellied sapsucker,

ovenbird,

common yellowthroats,


a few orioles, a hermit thrush, veery,yellow rumped warblers and a flicker!

Keep on Keepin' On

The nesting picture for NYC raptors has begun to solidify. After a recent update from Brett, who'se office overlooks 888 7th Ave., it seems that in addition to the 5th ave. nest, this nest will also not produce young this season. But there are definite stirrings up at the Cathedral, while CCNY remainins unknown. And the Fordham red tailed nest also is exhibiting feeding behavior! There also seems to be very promising news on the kestrel and peregrine fronts. I managed to catch up with the peregrines of 55 Water St., who have three chicks, on a lunch break (literally for us both).


Here's some video of the male flying in with prey to a calling female. She then runs to accept the gift, while he flies back out to Water St!

Down on the waterfront, I saw 1 DC cormorant, 1 Black backed gull and these guys...

a raft of brandt!

In the North Woods, I spotted many species up close.
Female Rosebreasted Grosbeak

And the male.

YR Warbler

Black and white Warbler

From my roof, I also saw and heard many birds passing through including Goldfinches, House Finches, warblers and orioles.

Suddenly, Norman crested over the buildings

Displaying a rat! Isolde sat up high on the nest awaiting a gift that never came.

But he did not fly in to the nest...instead he flew off east. Later I saw him over CPW and 104th, rat-less. Also of note, Norman is molting in his first secondary feathers. I also ran across this piece of disturbing work in the North Woods.

OK, someone needs to start a bloggy.
Winding west to the nest itself,



I saw the female sitting high up in the nest. Here's what is surely a feeding.

This guy insisted on me taking his picture. (He literally landed on the fence between where the camera was pointed and the nest).

Finally, in a bit of news about how technology and conservation can go hand in hand...the bionic eagle!

Transitions

As a combination of poor weather, and a recent home relocation, I have not had any chance to get any significant birding in...let alone decent pix. It might be a few more days before I can deliver, but till then, here's a running tally of the unbeliveable totals of hatchings from around the city so far.
Redtailed Hawks:
Houston St.: 2?
Riverside Park 3
Inwood Hill: 2
Highbridge: 2
CCNY: 1?
Prospect Park
1?
Jamaica
3?
5th ave., 7th Ave. and the Cathedral are all still unknown. As are Queensboro Bridge, Flushing Meadow Park, Van Cortlant Park, Pellham Bay, Forest Park, and many others throughout the boroughs. If you have nest in your area, give me a shout!
Peregrine Falcons:
55 Water St.:3 young
Jersey City, NJ: 2 young
Metlife, Riverside Church, Presbyterian Hospital, Broadway Bridge and Verrazano Bridge are all unknown.
Kestrels:
86th St.
1 young?
112th St.
1 young?
Also out there in the night time are 2 Great Horned Owls babies and 3 ESO's. As a result of the Eco Logic Show, I learned there are also a great number of Barn Owls that nest out in Jamaica Bay.