Good Friday

One of the mysteries surrounding this nesting season is what happened to the 55 Water St. peregrines? Having successfully nested for a dozen or so years, they have been absent from that scrape this year. Based a tip from ebirdsnyc, I traveled to the Brooklyn Bridge to see if the pair had relocated just a few blocks North to a scrape location on the Brooklyn Bridge. After waiting for a a very somber Good Friday procession to pass, I hung out at the West Tower for a good 30 minutes before a Peregrine streaked in just above the crowd! She landed in the cavity and called loudly. I scanned the skies overhead and spotted the male. Just as I turned to check back to the female, she tore out between the cables of the Bridge. I lost sight of both Peregrines over Brooklyn Bridge Park. I then traveled to the East Tower where I discovered a much more white-washed scrape. It could be that they are nesting here and use the West nook as a prey transfer location. I then walked to BB Park where I saw the female with prey land just near the West Tower. Not sure if the male gave it to her or if she caught it, but she sat there for a good 30 minutes eating it. On the West tower there was lots of evidence they are using the Bridge as at least a hunting spot. But the way they used the Bridge reminded me alot of the Broadway Bridge pair. If it is, its great news for birders as I was getting some awesomely close looks. Pix on the other hand are difficult due to the no tripod rule on the Bridge. Also watching out for crazy bikers, French tourists and everyone else makes tracking these birds through the spans very challenging. Keep your head on a swivel if you do make it out to this very scenic spot!

Heavy Hitters

On the steady North Wind, Spring migrants swing through the area. Using the natural bluffs of Northern Manhattan as a wind break, passing raptors employ dynamic soaring to move rapidly over the Island. Recently I've seen Osprey, Broad-tailed Hawks, redtails and this beautiful red-shouldered hawk. Raptors arent the only ones taking advantage of the winds...many waterbirds and waders like these GBH, are moving through. Last but not least are the vultures, who'se return is also a sure sign of warm weather to come. Here one zooms past!

Pesky Peregrine

Its quite shocking to see a first Spring peregrine still visiting the active scrape of Riverside Church. This unbanded juvy female made various perches around the Church, but was generally tolerated. Finally the female came out and gently warded it off. Wonder how much longer this will last? Here the juvy chases down a migrating Osprey.

Kestrel Flyout

The Circle Widens

The reconstituted Riverside pair have also reconstituted their nest, somewhere along Riverside Drive.

I found both hawks atop the Normandy. The female soon dove off and killed a pigeon right on 86th St.

She flew to the male to consume the prey out of sight. Two residents of the building see them up there regularly and they may in fact have a nest at the top. I found them 1 block east over looking WEA, just after copulation.

Walking toward CP, I found the pair of RTHs at 92nd St. and Amersterdam hunting pigeons. Surprisingly, two MORE RTH's circled high over head.

The two RTH's rose up to meet them and all 4 engaged in aerial displays. Eventually the two higher birds flew North, while the two residents flew and perched atop El Dorado.

While watching them scan for prey, an unseen juvy crested right above me.

Much to my surprise, the adults tolerated it and it went on North over 96th St.