Monday, March 28, 2011

Morningside Kestrels

More pix of their comings and goings around the neighborhood.

The female during nest break.

The male visiting my building.

Straining for a grip in the gale.

Gotta go!

But not before I give this hawk a haircut!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

More Cathedral Nest Pix

Very stealthy these hawks are. Even when waiting and watching, they almost gave me the slip for their mid-day nest exchange.


Isolde sunning and preening (with brood patch visible).



Later joined by a juvenile hawk over Morningside.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Morningside Kestrels

The Harlem kestrels are back in full swing. I count 5 separate pairs nesting on the Westside between 135th and 110th.
114th and Manhattan Ave.
114th and Broadway
116th and Lenox Ave.
118th and Manhattan Ave.
135th and Amsterdam
Here are the pix of the 118th St. pair doing it is what nesting birds do.




It maybe that some of these pairs are duplicates or overlaps, so if you get a good kestrel pic, send it my way and I'll put it into the file.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Meet the Neighbors

The last week has been some of the most awesome bird watching to date.
On Monday the resident peregrines launched a sustained attack on the over-wintering juvenile Cooper's hawk. They wheeled over and over as the falcons took turns driving the Coopers down amongst the brownstones, nearly killing it. This is a sure sign they are nesting.
On Tuesday the Cooper's re-appeared over St. Nicholas Park, only to be attacked by the over wintering Merlin and then resident redtailed hawks.
On Wednesday, the resident kestrels appeared after a long absence. Mating over Manhattan Ave., they have re-chosen their former nesting spot.

On Thursday I witness both the CCNY hawks and the Cathedral Hawks mating (separately). In one incredible encounter, all 4 adult hawks were mixing it up over St. Nicholas Park!

The males jousted on the strong winds, displaying an agility rarely seen.
Now that that's been settled, lets get on with the business of nesting.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Peregrine Pairs

Doing what it is mated raptors do this time of year.
Broadway Bridge



Riverside Church



Good luck guys...we'll be watching!