Grant's Tomb Hawks
Riverside Church Peregrines
St. John Hawks
Good Luck to all the Nesters!
Showing posts with label peregrine falcon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label peregrine falcon. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
NYC Nesting Raptors
Water St. Peregrines
Grant's Tomb Hawks
Riverside Church Peregrines
St. John Hawks
Good Luck to all the Nesters!
Grant's Tomb Hawks
Riverside Church Peregrines
St. John Hawks
Good Luck to all the Nesters!
Friday, January 15, 2016
Barnegat Light
Just a beautiful morning there today. Birding began on the drive out with 2 adult peregrines on the Surf City water tower.
While there the police chief shared that they have been nesting there for the past 7 years. Closeup photos revealed both birds are banded with DEP tags. Also saw a cool territory defense and "eechuk" calls when a Cooper's flew past.
Further down I had an additional 2 peregrines on the Barnegat Light water tower. These two were definitely not the same birds as they both had empty crops and were untagged as far as I could see.
Due to high winds I birded the trails first as the day warmed up. I had 2 yellow-rumped warblers and this Cooper's hawk lurking in the scrub.
While there I met two women who were there to see the Harlequin ducks. One of them was a bit older and it would be a lifer for her. So I shepherded them to the jetty and lo and behold a lone harlequin male had made his way toward them, saving her the treacherous journey! Here's a pic of them out on the jetty after.
Along the way I had many common loons, gulls of intermediate plumage, 3 harriers across the bay in Island beach and 2 what I think are red-breasted merganser females.
Also ran into a guy who said he had a harbor seal feeding along the jetty. At the tip were large rafts of ducks shifting about.
Black scoter,
surf scoter,
long-tailed ducks,
2 red-throated loon and 2 common eider!
Driving back along route 9 I stopped in Tom's River and found the usual raft of about 25 canvasbacks along with about 50 ring-necked ducks.
There were also about 100 mallards and 12 bufflehead.
While there the police chief shared that they have been nesting there for the past 7 years. Closeup photos revealed both birds are banded with DEP tags. Also saw a cool territory defense and "eechuk" calls when a Cooper's flew past.
Further down I had an additional 2 peregrines on the Barnegat Light water tower. These two were definitely not the same birds as they both had empty crops and were untagged as far as I could see.
Due to high winds I birded the trails first as the day warmed up. I had 2 yellow-rumped warblers and this Cooper's hawk lurking in the scrub.
While there I met two women who were there to see the Harlequin ducks. One of them was a bit older and it would be a lifer for her. So I shepherded them to the jetty and lo and behold a lone harlequin male had made his way toward them, saving her the treacherous journey! Here's a pic of them out on the jetty after.
Along the way I had many common loons, gulls of intermediate plumage, 3 harriers across the bay in Island beach and 2 what I think are red-breasted merganser females.
Also ran into a guy who said he had a harbor seal feeding along the jetty. At the tip were large rafts of ducks shifting about.
Black scoter,
surf scoter,
long-tailed ducks,
2 red-throated loon and 2 common eider!
Driving back along route 9 I stopped in Tom's River and found the usual raft of about 25 canvasbacks along with about 50 ring-necked ducks.
There were also about 100 mallards and 12 bufflehead.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Harlem Raptors: Fall 2011
This Fall has seen the largest and most varied amount of hawks, falcons, eagles and vultures in 10 years of hardcore Harlem birding.
My count so far is:
Golden Eagle 1 possibly 2
Bald Eagle 3
Osprey 5
Turkey Vulture 50+
Black Vulture 5
Red-shouldered hawk 3
Coopers hawk 12
Sharpie 3
Merlin 2
Kestrel 12
Peregrine Falcon 6
redtailed hawks 12
broadwinged hawks 24 migrating overhead in kettles.
aAso 1 possible juvenile Goshawk. No Owls, but I am looking!
Here are some recent captures.
Kestrel vs junco.
Overwintering Merlin.
Large groups of Turkey Vutures moving through.
Many redtailed hawks, both resident and haggard.
Adult.
Juvenile.
Adult vs Juvenile.
Peregrine vs Everybody.
7th Annual Harlem Hawk Walk is coming up. Let me know if you are interested...I will have to limit group to 10.
My count so far is:
Golden Eagle 1 possibly 2
Bald Eagle 3
Osprey 5
Turkey Vulture 50+
Black Vulture 5
Red-shouldered hawk 3
Coopers hawk 12
Sharpie 3
Merlin 2
Kestrel 12
Peregrine Falcon 6
redtailed hawks 12
broadwinged hawks 24 migrating overhead in kettles.
aAso 1 possible juvenile Goshawk. No Owls, but I am looking!
Here are some recent captures.
Kestrel vs junco.
Overwintering Merlin.
Large groups of Turkey Vutures moving through.
Many redtailed hawks, both resident and haggard.
Adult.
Juvenile.
Adult vs Juvenile.
Peregrine vs Everybody.
7th Annual Harlem Hawk Walk is coming up. Let me know if you are interested...I will have to limit group to 10.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Bird Banding @ 55 Water St.
I had an awesome opportunity to tag along with Chris Nadareski from the DEP as he banded the 4 young from the 55 Water St. nest (2 male, 2 female). Like all great bird handlers, Chris was calm, relaxed and professional as he took on the not so easy task of wrangling a very PO'ed mama peregrine. In fact she refused to leave the nest,
so Chris hand captured her in order to safely remove the babies!
Here's her release and subsequent joining up with the male to defend the nest.
With the babies safely in baskets, we began the work of health checks and tagging.
Checking for lice and mites...
checking for frounce.
The outstretched finger prompts a feeding response in the chick so you can look in the mouth and throat.
The good people of 55 Water St., the NYC DEP and our future bird taker-carer-of-ers!
We then returned the chicks...mom was not stoked to see us!
Back in da Nest!
All in all it they were away for about 30 minutes and once back in the scrape quickly returned to their mother's incredible care and protection. Thanks again to 55 Water St., The New York Post, the NYC DEP and all the people out there who care! Good luck little guys...we'll be watching.
so Chris hand captured her in order to safely remove the babies!
Here's her release and subsequent joining up with the male to defend the nest.
With the babies safely in baskets, we began the work of health checks and tagging.
Checking for lice and mites...
checking for frounce.
The outstretched finger prompts a feeding response in the chick so you can look in the mouth and throat.
The good people of 55 Water St., the NYC DEP and our future bird taker-carer-of-ers!
We then returned the chicks...mom was not stoked to see us!
Back in da Nest!
All in all it they were away for about 30 minutes and once back in the scrape quickly returned to their mother's incredible care and protection. Thanks again to 55 Water St., The New York Post, the NYC DEP and all the people out there who care! Good luck little guys...we'll be watching.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Momentary Lapse of Judgement
I've been treated to late evening displays by the 3 Riverside Church juveniles. Here's a compilation of my tweets from yesterday and a final pic.
1. 2 juvy peregrines high above the dwyer!
2. Peregrine over morningside3:13 PM Jul 28th from txt
3. All 3 chasing 3:15 PM Jul 28th from txt
4. 1 just crashed oh no going 2 save3:16 PM Jul 28th from txt
From my vantage, I saw the young falcon tumble 16 stories and crash somewhere behind the trees. Amazingly, with the help of some maintenance workers, we quickly located the stunned bird!
Clearly seen is the injury to the juveniles beak. Just after I took this shot, he vaulted above me and then flew into Morningside Park somewhere. Subsequent efforts to locate the bird by myself and RBS have been unsuccessful.
1. 2 juvy peregrines high above the dwyer!
2. Peregrine over morningside3:13 PM Jul 28th from txt
3. All 3 chasing 3:15 PM Jul 28th from txt
4. 1 just crashed oh no going 2 save3:16 PM Jul 28th from txt
From my vantage, I saw the young falcon tumble 16 stories and crash somewhere behind the trees. Amazingly, with the help of some maintenance workers, we quickly located the stunned bird!
Clearly seen is the injury to the juveniles beak. Just after I took this shot, he vaulted above me and then flew into Morningside Park somewhere. Subsequent efforts to locate the bird by myself and RBS have been unsuccessful.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
More Almost Fledges!
The Edgecomb kestrels continue their diligent work...
While the Highbridge Hawks are gaining size daily.
Up at Broadway Bridge, I witnessed an amazing sight...
a peregrine prey transfer!
The female then flew into the scrape,
where she was greeted by at least one nearly fledged young!
While the Highbridge Hawks are gaining size daily.
Up at Broadway Bridge, I witnessed an amazing sight...
a peregrine prey transfer!
The female then flew into the scrape,
where she was greeted by at least one nearly fledged young!
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Harlem Hawk Walk
After many weather delays, and some sloth, I finally managed to get the lead out for my annual Hawk Walk tour of Harlem raptors. The morning was crisp, and Robert and I were rewarded with the Cathedral pair, making a pass on the Dwyer, then landing across the street!
The male,
who then flew out,
he and the female then and joined up over Morningside.
After they both flew off south, I noticed a peregrine on top of Riverside Church. I watched through my spotting scope as it dove off the antenna and quickly returned with a pigeon. It then de-feathered the bird, high above Columbia! So far we were off to a great start. We then wended over to the Hudson and walked North to Riverbank State Park. In the past few weeks I had seen both peregrines perched over the Manhattan Waste Transfer Station,
but they werent there today.
As we came to 145th, I noticed a huge flock of about 200 starlings rise from the trees. Pigeons were also darting about. Amongst the flock was a large juvenile Cooper's Hawk, trying to snag breakfast! It dove down towards us and broke at a pigeon under the walkway. We ran to the Park and saw it perched above, but were unable to immediately locate it. While scanning the rooftops for it, I noticed an adult male kestrel diving on something. Soon a large juvenile redtailed hawk emerged!
After loosing the redtaill, the Cooper's broke over the trees and just missed a pigeon about 20 feet from me. I was able to finally get a pic as it was perched.
The underside,
Video of it hunting!
After it flew hither and yon for a few minutes it dove into the Park. We were not able to relocate it, but we did come across another adult Redtailed Hawk at about 152nd St., perched on another watertower.
Continuing North, there was this strange construction...which I originally thought was a hawk nest!
Looking under it, I found droppings, a few sticks, and a pierced pigeon egg, with the yolk sucked out. Very curious. Leaving the Park at 155th soon brought the answer. Listen for the distinctive squawk as Robert goes up the stair!
It was a pair of Monk Parakeets!
So cute as they huddled above the Henry Hudson!
The next bird encountered was yet another adult Redtailed Hawk at 157th St., across from Boricua College!
Finally, we scoured Highbridge Park for birds, and saw 1 adult at 181st St. and as we were packing up to leave, Robert spotted this juvenile with a freshly caught rat!
It allowed us to get quite close.
Upon further examination, it appears to be a very young redtail, with the orangey breast and tolerance of human presence, characteristic of Urban Hawks. Without being able to prove it, it still appears very likely that this is a fledgling from a second Highbridge nesting attempt this year. We found a nest structure in the original tree from years past.
Curious...it will be fascinating in Spring to test this hypothesis! Strangely (and believe me, Highbridge attracts strange), we also encountered these religous slogans tacked to various trees throughout the Park!
Final tally:
116th and Madison Ave--1 juvy RTH
123rd and St. Nicholas--2 adult RTH
123rd and Riverside--1 adult peregrine
145th and Riverside--1 juvy RTH, 1 juvy Cooper's Hawk, 1 adult male kestrel
152nd and Riverside--1 adult RTH
158th and Broadway--1 adult RTH
181st and Harlem River--1 adult RTH
Dykman St.--1 juvy RTH
The male,
who then flew out,
he and the female then and joined up over Morningside.
After they both flew off south, I noticed a peregrine on top of Riverside Church. I watched through my spotting scope as it dove off the antenna and quickly returned with a pigeon. It then de-feathered the bird, high above Columbia! So far we were off to a great start. We then wended over to the Hudson and walked North to Riverbank State Park. In the past few weeks I had seen both peregrines perched over the Manhattan Waste Transfer Station,
but they werent there today.
As we came to 145th, I noticed a huge flock of about 200 starlings rise from the trees. Pigeons were also darting about. Amongst the flock was a large juvenile Cooper's Hawk, trying to snag breakfast! It dove down towards us and broke at a pigeon under the walkway. We ran to the Park and saw it perched above, but were unable to immediately locate it. While scanning the rooftops for it, I noticed an adult male kestrel diving on something. Soon a large juvenile redtailed hawk emerged!
After loosing the redtaill, the Cooper's broke over the trees and just missed a pigeon about 20 feet from me. I was able to finally get a pic as it was perched.
The underside,
Video of it hunting!
After it flew hither and yon for a few minutes it dove into the Park. We were not able to relocate it, but we did come across another adult Redtailed Hawk at about 152nd St., perched on another watertower.
Continuing North, there was this strange construction...which I originally thought was a hawk nest!
Looking under it, I found droppings, a few sticks, and a pierced pigeon egg, with the yolk sucked out. Very curious. Leaving the Park at 155th soon brought the answer. Listen for the distinctive squawk as Robert goes up the stair!
It was a pair of Monk Parakeets!
So cute as they huddled above the Henry Hudson!
The next bird encountered was yet another adult Redtailed Hawk at 157th St., across from Boricua College!
Finally, we scoured Highbridge Park for birds, and saw 1 adult at 181st St. and as we were packing up to leave, Robert spotted this juvenile with a freshly caught rat!
It allowed us to get quite close.
Upon further examination, it appears to be a very young redtail, with the orangey breast and tolerance of human presence, characteristic of Urban Hawks. Without being able to prove it, it still appears very likely that this is a fledgling from a second Highbridge nesting attempt this year. We found a nest structure in the original tree from years past.
Curious...it will be fascinating in Spring to test this hypothesis! Strangely (and believe me, Highbridge attracts strange), we also encountered these religous slogans tacked to various trees throughout the Park!
Final tally:
116th and Madison Ave--1 juvy RTH
123rd and St. Nicholas--2 adult RTH
123rd and Riverside--1 adult peregrine
145th and Riverside--1 juvy RTH, 1 juvy Cooper's Hawk, 1 adult male kestrel
152nd and Riverside--1 adult RTH
158th and Broadway--1 adult RTH
181st and Harlem River--1 adult RTH
Dykman St.--1 juvy RTH
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