The River Runs Red

For the past few weeks, the lower Hudson has had a light brown to red color. The DEC says its due to clay deposits being washed into the river upstream and I did see several large tree trunks still emptying down the banks.

I wonder how this impacts the fish and other wildlife as they undertake their fall migration. Surprisingly, it didnt seem to deter two osprey that have been hunting up and down the Hudson for the past week.

In addition to the osprey's I've also been seeing tons of kestrels everywhere.



Also the Monk's have been very active searching out fruiting trees around Harlem.



Finally, tons of these guys on the wing.

Navigating like tiny orange argonauts, bound for distant shore.

Back to the Future

The fall migration has started in earnest. While on my roof today, I got this juvenile bald eagle going Southward.

Even more amazing was that it was shadowed by a sharp-shinned hawk I had not seen. I decided to test my luck in the Park. It wasnt long before I sensed many hawks stalking through the brush. For a time I watched this juvenile redtailed hawk hunting grackles.




It didnt seem to be having too much success. Soon after there was this kestrel hunting dragonflys above the Meer. Here an adult male has just caught one!

He also didnt allow any Jays to steal his spotlight.

Finally the juvy peregrines from Riverside still seem to be hanging around.


Harlem has great birds!
Bird total: 1 juvy BE, 1 juvy RTH, 2 Adult RTH, 6 Kestrels, 2 juvy peregrines, 1 sharp shinned hawk

Kestrel Flyby

Uptown Updates

At least 2 babies from Inwood are still around.

Also was able to spy one juvy peregrine still haunting Broadway Bridge.

Over at Riverside Park, the Monks are still going strong in their new nest location.

Interesting note here is that they seem to have integrated a tennis ball into the nest.

Sure would have liked to see them bring that up to the nest. Nearby in Trinity Cemetery, I located one adult redtailed hawk! Not sure if its the surviving adult from the CCNY nest, but it looked healthy. Just across Broadway, I located a new kestrel family. Here's mom,

and at least one juvenile female.


Just goes to show you, nature can be found everywhere and anywhere in the City...not just along 5th Avenue.

Audubon Society Boat Tour

Courtesy of the New York Water Taxi...Whats not to like?
You got bridges,

echos of a decaying waterfront,

faint patriotism,

smallpox,

and of course,

nesting waterbirds.


Also seen were barn swallows, Great Blue Heron, Fish Crows, Black backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Ring billed Gulls and a one juvy peregrine at sundown, stooping from Ed Koch Bridge over to NY Presbyterian.
Great trip and only some mild sea sickness to show for it. Shout out to City Birder for recommending.