Accidental Raptors

It seems I cant go anywhere without finding some specie or other of raptors. On Friday I was over on 100th and Broadway, when I heard a familar kik-kik-kik and looked up to see a male kestrel flying along side his mate!

I lost sight of her but found him a block away,

perched atop a building.

On Saturday, I decided to show my girlfriend around the east village. Overhead I spotted a red tailed hawk, shadowing the pigeons over 1st Ave.

As we strolled the shops and community gardens, I again heard the kik-kik-kik and look up just in time to see a male kestrel swoop into its nest!

The gruesome decor!


And his flyout!

A block away I spotted the female on a tv antenna!

I've never seen one so dark!

She could easily be mistaken for a merlin!

All Raptors, All the Time

The day began with a red tail on the Towers

and the female kestrel out in the open.

As I looked right, I caught the large female red tail on a fire escape!

Just then she alit,

and gracefully

sailed past the barbed wire!

And then swung around


and flew right past!



Beating her wings in fast downward strokes

she powers over the buildings cornice,

out across 145th Street

and into the Park,


where she scattered a flock of pigeons.

After leaving the Park, she was shadowed by a gull!

From there, I found the juvy RTH stalking pigeons by the Meer!


A quick bus ride on, I saw one of the 74th St. hawks plucking nesting material off a neighbor's balcony!




And finally, high above the affairs of men, the two GM peregrines perched on top of Citicorp!

A closer look...

They took turns diving off with the utmost of confidence, one flew south

and one flew back to the GM!



One is molting in the primaries!

Amongst Gargoyles

Here's Two Feathers on her favorite perch!

Does this seem right?

North by Northwest

The northwest wind over the past two days has been relentless. Dropping some 40F in 24 hrs, this cold front produced a variably cloudy day that at one point saw snow. Needless to say, hawks are made for this type of weather, especially a large and powerful bird like a red-tailed hawk, which thrives in the gale force winds. I endured the bitter conditions and was well rewarded for the effort. It began when I spotted the first year male with one tail feather missing begining a stoop!


I see his intended quarry!


For a moment, they touch!



They are low now, diving into the park!

A crow seizes this opportunity to make a move on the couple. It is also snowing quite hard now.

But the large female with two missing primaries will have none of it!