The Kestrel Report 2009

I've been working recently to follow up on the nesting American Kestrels in the Manhattan. Here are some of the results from 86th to 155th.
Starting with what I believe is the oldest kestrel pair on Manhattan, the 86th Street pair (at least 6 seasons). They nest in a modillion along CPW,

and I caught them copulating in a favorite ginko, just inside the Park.




Next up was the pair that frequent East Harlem. The male and female spun up together, circling high over Wildflower Meadow. I watched amazed as the male rocketed straight down into the wood at the top of the road,

making a hairpin turn and then land in the large tree overlooking the Meadow.




Soon a robin chased it off.
RDC says the kestrels I see in my nabe nest in this cornice on 116th.

Come June we will need to have some local help to make sure they dont get squished!
Further uptown, I caught up with this male on 145th St.



I tracked them further north to Jackie Robinson Park, where the old Yankee Stadium still stands (for now).

She tore off and soon, spun towards me. I only managed this shot once she had already entered the cavity.

Later while chatting with a friend in St. Nicholas Park...

this beauty showed up. All the robins when crazy chirping till she flew off to the North.

Great news so far on the kestrel front, lets hope the other raptor pairs fare just as well!

Better Late than Never

Finally got out to see the yellow throated warbler that persists at the Model Sailboat Pond (MSB). It is cooperative in the sense that it comes quite close to you, but never stays put for more than a nanosecond. All I can say is thank God for digital cameras!





I like this one the best...

this one was the closet...probably 3 meters away!


PS Does anyone know why the Model Sailboat Pond's water is dyed blue? It looks weird, but these geese seemed to like it.

Soon, they began their courtship ritual!

Bobbing alternatively, then together. In short order it was bidness time...

Spring Sightings

Its clear that the Cathedral hawks will not nest at the Cathedral this year. Also in doubt is the nest atop Shepard's Hall, CCNY.

In a days worth of searching, I saw the Cathedral pair briefly, and not together. This is the only pic I got.

Note she is missing the middle tail feather.
The real action was with the kestrels!
I caught the dirty female and this bright, fresh male on 118th and FDB.


These cheeky house finches gathered just out of her sight.

Speaking of cheeky, a crow landed on my buildings hexagonal spire!

A Double Crested Cormorant sped past.

Soon a young female kestrel showed up!

She circled,

and hover repeatedly, trying to line up on a sparrow.

She eventually wended off east, but I picked up a Merlin

high atop ATLAH. With Flushing Meadow Fair Grounds in the Background!

Nesting Season '09

So far '09 is looking positive as all the familiar resident raptors claim their territory from over-wintering juveniles. A few early pairs are already sitting on the nest...here's some updates.
One of the Cathedral hawks over the Dwyer. They have both been making forays northward recently.

At 150th I saw an adult rth ward off this juvy.

As it passes the Polo Grounds.

I have seen the kestrels around here too, but none of them mating yet. I did catch this pair at 177th St. and Amsterdam Ave.



Nearby at Highbridge,

This pair understand that the key to a relationship is good communication!

A closeup of the female.


She sprang down from the branch, weaving through the woods, redtail bobbing!
I tracked her to the nest where she settled down. (Same location as 2 yrs ago).

Further north, the Broadway Peregrines are still doing their thing. I got shots of them mating again, but they were bad. Yes, it has come to this, Im censoring falcon porn.




Last but not least, I made out this curious sight in Highbridge, near the hawk nest.

Nice raccoon loft!

If anyone has any info on raptors sightings in Harlem, let me know. Good luck!