It’s starting to feel like fall and we’re definetly in the later part of the fall migration. I didn’t take many pictures this weekend, but rather enjoyed the new arrivals that were in the park.
I did take a few snapshots. Pale Male and Lola, an immature Great Blue Heron, a pair of Pied-billed Grebes, a 1st Winter female Magnolia Warber (note the unique white-banded tail pattern and pale gray neckband) and a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
My Saturday afternoon with Pale Male and Lola started with Pale Male on the Beresford. I had him in view while I went around the Great Lawn for about an hour. When I finally got close enough to photograph him, he flew off within minutes.
Very quickly I heard Blue Jays making a racket in the Locust Grove, and quickly found Pale Male, who already had prey. He flew off to a tree on the Great Lawn, and eat the prey, a Northern Flicker, a bird in the woodpecker family. (Graphic pictures and video of the bird being eaten follow,viewers beware.)
Pale Male then flew back to the Beresford Apartments where Lola was already on. They then took turns taking short flights off of the southeast tower. They played with some sticks on the ledge of the window oval.
(Pale Male and Lola have always kept some sticks on the Beresford. It doesn’t mean much. Red-tailed Hawks have a habit of keeping an alternate nest site, just in case something happens to their main nest. I won’t read too much into today’s behavior.)
After exploring more of the damage in the North Woods this afternoon, I ventured over to Riverside Park followed by the middle of Central Park.
I found two hawks. One was on top of the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Monument at 89th and Riverside Drive. This is likely the Adult Hawk (young, light eyed) Lincoln Karim had seen earlier in the week. (The hawk flew off before I got around the monument, so I didn’t get a chance to see its tail and confirm it was an adult.)
After visiting Riverside Park, I went back to Central Park and saw either Pale Male or Lola in their favorite late afternoon tree on the Great Lawn. The lawn was closed due to the wet weather we’ve been having, so I didn’t get to see the hawk up close and get a positive I.D.
This will be my last report from Fifth Avenue for awhile. It’s pretty clear that the nest has failed and I’m going to spend my time birding in other locations.
Lola was preening while I was at the nest early this evening.
With each day, it becomes more certain that the nest has failed yet again. I look for signs of an eyass, and can’t find one, except that Pale Male is bringing food directly to the nest. There have been no signs of a feeding, and Lola is still sitting down deeply on the eggs.
It would be wonderful to be wrong about this, but I have to be realistic.
Wednesday Evening was very quiet at Fifth Avenue, with Lola only getting up once to reposition herself.
