More Harlem Raptors

Teaming up with fellow hawk-lover/blogger, Courtney, we set about to observe some of the Harlem raptors that have been visiting Columbia Campus. From my roof, the resident female kestrel appeared on scene.

She then flew to a ledge on my building!

Looks like she could use a little bath!

But I find her entralling none-the-less.

She then flew out to the south this time...

and landed on a roof top deck on 120th.

From there we noticed the Cathedral female on a familiar perch on Morningside Ave.

A crow came through to protest.

At that another adult Redtailed Hawk soared past and continued North. We then went to Riverside to check out the peregrines.
We found both on a familiar perch, and watched in amazement as a pigeon blindly stumbled past. Both falcons dove down on her, almost to street level, but the pigeon escaped. Suddenly, Courtney noticed 3 large redtailed hawks, kettling below the treeline in Riverside Park. I was only able to photograph one of them, a juvy, although one of the other's seemed to be and adult. Robert has also been tracking these birds with the hope of finding another RTH nest. If you have any additional sightings, let me know!

Northern Manhattan Raptors

Starting at 125th St. and ending at Broadway Bridge, raptor pix from today's variable light.
Female kestrel on my roof.

She flies off to the cell phone tower just outside NYSC!

I made my way onto 125th Street,


where I tracked her North to 126th.

She then flew out where I lost her over 125th and 7th Ave.
Trying my luck North I found a number of hawks along the way, such as the Hood Hawk on the trash chute for one of the St. Nicholas Houses.

I also caught up with the Inwood female.


She flew out when I got too close. As I cut across east, I soon encountered a strange cachophony, as if I was under the spell of a weird ventroloquism. That is to say I could not tell where the sound was coming from, nor what could be making it. It sounded vaguely crow-like, but gutteral, like a distant croaking. Curling along the Harlem River, I made my way into a parking lot where I witnessed a remarkable sight. About 40 crows were in a tree, doing whatever it is crows do, but mostly just crowing.

There's 29 alone in the pic above. This one seemed to be the leader.

They would land in that tree crowing like mad, then circle around and make their way across the River to the Bronx side.

Where there were about 30 more! At one point a RTH did circle through above them, but they ignored it. Finally I paid a visit to the peregrines at BwayBrdge. I found the male and the female together, with she making the territorial eee-chuck calls.

Eventually the male flew out.

and landed on the edge of the south tower.

Later the female flew out waaaay over Kingsbridge,

The male also took off an returned with a huge pigeon!

Blue Hawk

I found this gal on 125th, perched next to a perriwinkle best buy sign.

125th St. Raptors!

As winter progresses, the resident raptors are now displaying more territorial behavior. Courtship displays can be seen high over Morningside, with hawks, peregrines and redtails all sharing the same airspace. On Sunday I witnessed the Cathedral Pair courting on the stiff wind, and then an aborted copulation attempt!



After this attempt, the female flew north, slicing right past me!

Much to my surprise, she continued waay, waay north, where I lost her over Drew Hamilton.

In her wake, a juvy RTH made a move on some pigeons roosting on the Apollo.

Later on the Riverside Peregrine Pair paid me a visit...wheeling high overhead!



Last but not least, this Turkey Vulture, slicing in from the North!

Eagles on the Hudson

Today I joined Urbanhawks and Novahunter for a jaunt to Westchester County for the 5th Annual EagleFest. Oh and what a festival of Eagles it was! Our count--which spanned Croton Point Park, George Island, The Paddle Courts and parts of Bear Mountain--was between 60 and 80 eagles. We also spotted 5 redtailed hawks, 1 northern harrier and 3 black vultures. Here's some pix of the highlights!











Possible raven!