Croton Point Park

With the Northern wind I've been expecting an Eagle or two to make their way over the City. So far no luck, so instead I ventured up to their stronghold at Croton Point Park. Here's what I found.
From the 125th St. MetroNorth, I spied this kestrel pair.

Upon arrival, it was clear this was Redtail country!

This adult has light eyes like Norman.

And was no less vigorous in defending it!

Bey found the pair perched together.

We saw this adult Bald Eagle making its rounds.


Also seen were this adult Cooper's,

this juvy Sharpie,

this group of Waxwings,

and this raft of Ruddies.

Fall Birds Part 2

As the fall migrants begin to ebb, their colder winter brethren are beginning to settle in. In addition to birds such as sparrows, titmice and chickadees, numerous species of raptors will begin to take up their winter residences here in the City's Parks. Here's a sample of these visitors...
A large juvy RTH in the North Woods,

moving rapidly throughout the trees.

The last of the warblers fattening up include Palms,

Yellow rumped,

Tennessee,


and Kinglets.

Some of the cold weather birds include this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker,

titmice,

and jays caching acorns!

Feasting on this crop of birds are numerous raptors including Cooper's Hawks. This one was over CPN,

while this one was over 150th, hunting starlings.

Also on 150th, was the resident male kestrel...






Last but not least, are the Monarch Butterflies.

The Once and Future King

For the past few days, the new male on the Cathedral territory has been forging a more intimate bond with Isolde. Yesterday I saw them again on the AC on St. Luke's. On today's stiff breeze, each bird hawked amongst the buildlings across Central Park North. At one point, I saw them wheeling together!

Later I saw Isolde kiting on the breeze.

She flew in on some starlings that had been driven up to the top of Wadleigh.



A female kestrel then flew in on another group of starlings. But soon departed.

shortly thereafter I spied another hawk!







He took a victory lap!

I barely had time to process the amazing sequence that I had just witnessed. No closer that 6 feet away, a large juvenile Cooper's swung past after some starlings! It was so fast I had only time to take a horrible blurry shot! However no faster than I had turned back to Wadleigh, when a second juvenile hawk crested over the building!



I wheeled directly over head!



I watched it glide effortlessly above the park, master of the wind. The nearby redtails watched intently, but did not intervene. I then headed out to Wadleigh to get some pix of them together.
When I got there, only the female remained.


But shortly the male flew down the street with prey in tow, and landed overhead.

He then flew out towards the Park.

After a time, the female also flew out. I walked through Morningside Park, and ran into the venerable Hedda Gobbler!


At St. Luke's I found the new male, and then ran into Bruce.

While we caught up, the male then flew off and headed directly for the stone urn where some starlings had gathered. As they bolted, he pivoted upward and snagged one of the birds! The others squeaked in terror while the hawk flipped over and then flew into the Park. We watched it wolf the bird down!

The hawk then spun around and flew directly into the nest.

It was soon joined by the second adult. They stayed on the nest for a few minutes and neither could be seen. They then flew out, one after the other and flew over to the railings on St. Luke's where they again copulated!

The male then flew off and surveyed his new domain!



Later while strolling through the Loch at dusk, a juvy redtailed hawk flew in with a fresh catch!