Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
St. Nicholas Kestrel
It was lots of fun watching the resident male kestrel hunting up and down St. Nicholas Ave.
This stoop on some starlings missed, as did these of him attacking sparrows from above.
Guess that's why they go for the migrants when they are here. Resident sparrows, starlings and house finches are hip to the game and make for tough quarry. They also have to contend with other raptors like this Cooper's. These hawks will prey on kestrels as well as pigeons, so he gets run out by the vigilant adult.
This stoop on some starlings missed, as did these of him attacking sparrows from above.
Guess that's why they go for the migrants when they are here. Resident sparrows, starlings and house finches are hip to the game and make for tough quarry. They also have to contend with other raptors like this Cooper's. These hawks will prey on kestrels as well as pigeons, so he gets run out by the vigilant adult.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Battle Royale
There's been quite a heady mix of hungry hawks and falcons this "Winter."
Drawn by the abundance of pigeons and starlings that collect in big flocks along Morningside Ave., many hungry raptors pass through this area daily.
It started off with this adult male Cooper's being bombed by crows.
After being surveyed for a bit, the skittish group quickly scattered for cover...as did the Cooper's!
The Riverside poppa was clearing out his turf.
I was more than surprised to see this juvy peregrine shadowing him.
The peregrines moved east and began to harass a juvy Redtailed on the Adam Clayton Powell State Office building.
The falcons eventually stooped on some pigeons along Madison Ave., and the Cooper's promptly re-appeared. As it setup on the flock across the street, the juvy RTH snuck in and rousted the pigeons.
The Cooper's was none-too-pleased about it and chased the RTH out of the area.
It then circled around for another pass,
coming so close I could hear its wing beats,
and the vacuum of silence that followed in its wake.
Drawn by the abundance of pigeons and starlings that collect in big flocks along Morningside Ave., many hungry raptors pass through this area daily.
It started off with this adult male Cooper's being bombed by crows.
After being surveyed for a bit, the skittish group quickly scattered for cover...as did the Cooper's!
The Riverside poppa was clearing out his turf.
I was more than surprised to see this juvy peregrine shadowing him.
The peregrines moved east and began to harass a juvy Redtailed on the Adam Clayton Powell State Office building.
The falcons eventually stooped on some pigeons along Madison Ave., and the Cooper's promptly re-appeared. As it setup on the flock across the street, the juvy RTH snuck in and rousted the pigeons.
The Cooper's was none-too-pleased about it and chased the RTH out of the area.
It then circled around for another pass,
coming so close I could hear its wing beats,
and the vacuum of silence that followed in its wake.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Monday, January 02, 2012
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