Meadow Soprano

Bald Eagles successfully nest in NYC in over 100 years. This is the female, who Im calling Meadow Soprano, and also the largest eagle I've ever seen. Easy 7 feet wingspan...if you dont believe me, head over to Mt. Loretto! Apparently there is a second smaller eaglet too.

Harlem Hawk Walk/Harlem Bird Count

For the past few years I've merged my annual hawk walk with the Xmas Bird Count. It's hard to believe that I've spent a good part of the last 10 years documenting the birds Uptown and meeting all the people who have an interest in such things. Here's this years tally and pix to go along. Red-tailed Hawks: 5 Peregrine Falcons: 2 American Kestrel: 2 We also had, 5 American crows, 5 Downy WP, 1 Red-bellied WP, 1 WB Nuthatch, 6 Mallards, 35 Robins, 2 House Finch, 15 Blue Jay, 2 Mockingbirds, 2 Song Sparrow, 25 WT Sparrows, 25 Junco, 11 Northern Cardinals, 6 Ring-billed Gulls, 15 Mourning Doves, 145 Pigeons, 140 HOSP, 70 Starling

Raptors

As you all know this is my favorite subject. Being so rich in birdlife, the raptor department is no exception. This go around I had quite a few new lifers, starting with the pearlescent kite, #266. Followed by the white-tailed kite, #267. I already counted the hook-billed kite, but this pix deserves inclusion. Another notable was the snail kite, #268. On the hawk side I had the ever present road-side hawk #269, the savannah hawk #270 and the short-tailed hawk #271. Owl wise the only one I can count is the black and white hawk #272. Also had the quite common laughing falcon #273 the collared forest falcon #274, and the bat falcon #275.

Harlem Golden Eagle

For two consecutive years Ive seen a juvenile Golden Eagle fly past my roof in Harlem. In addition to that, the birds flew by on exactly the same date, one year apart. From my pictures that day last year, it is entirely possible this is the same bird. I guess if I am correct, then next year I should see the bird on the same day, but this time without the white patches on its wings.