Peregrine Kill

Not sure what it was about yesterday, but I saw more intense raptor action in 2 hours than I've captured in the past 2 months. From my roof I see hawks and falcons hunting daily, but that is characterized by long, long waiting periods only to see the bird flyoff down and away, out of sight. For whatever reason, the birds were breaking in all the right directions yesterday so here's a compilation of yesterday's best action.
Riverside Peregrine circling...

then a stoop.

And a miss, but the falcon recomposed and turned out over the Union Theological Seminary.

Hawking over the buildings, he flushed prey while the female waited above for the right moment to single out a bird.

In this case, she snags a Yellow Shafted Flicker above Columbia,

this pic is all of 5 seconds after the kill as she flies off to meet the male.
Later, from the Harlem Viaduct, I spotted the pair aggressively defending their turf from an intruding adult Peregrine.

A bit north at Riverbank State Park, an adult RTH chasing off a juvy.

and a hunting adult Male Kestrel.



PS the Parks Dept has removed all traces of the Monk Parakeet Colony above the football field. Its a cruel, cruel world out there sometimes birdys, but keep your heads up...I know you'll find a way!

6th Annual Harlem Hawk Walk

Scheduled this year for November 14th or 15th, depending on the weather. Lace up those walking shoes and come on out for the only Raptor Tour in NYC.

Shine on you crazy diamonds!

Freedom Rings

Riverside Church, standing irresolute. One day it will crumble, but until then it is the year round home of 2 peregrine falcons. It is also home to Columbia University, who is also a very protective resident. After being harrassed by two New York City Police officers for taking pictures of said falcons, I hung tight also. Here's what I saw/was able to capture.

In the fading light,

someone's hunting for dinner.

Diving after starlings, it didnt seem to even be real how fast it plunged.
Turning behind the Church after an unseen MISS! Here's her recovery...

and flyby/flyin.

The Ovenbird

In situ.


There is a singer everyone has heard,
Loud, a mid-summer and a mid-wood bird,
Who makes the solid tree trunks sound again.
He says that leaves are old and that for flowers
Mid-summer is to spring as one to ten.
He says the early petal-fall is past
When pear and cherry bloom went down in showers
On sunny days a moment overcast;
And comes that other fall we name the fall.
He says the highway dust is over all.
The bird would cease and be as other birds
But that he knows in singing not to sing.
The question that he frames in all but words
Is what to make of a diminished thing.

I think Eddie has an idea what to make of it...

lunch!

CCNY RTH