On Saturday, I explored the park looking for raptors. My first was a Merlin falcon on a water tank on top of the Lincoln Correctional Facility on 110th Street. It was chased away by a mob of Crows. Later, I saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk hunting, although it was too fast to photograph. As I ended my walk, I saw the female Red-tailed Hawk, Lima on a 5th Avenue building around 77th Street.
I was in Washington Square Park for a few hours in the middle of the afternoon. They fledgling had just been fed before I arrived and was out of sight.
However, the parents were doing a good job of keeping a close eye on her. The father, also kept Kestrel watch and did a good job of being a decoy. He had managed to keep the Kestrels far away from where the fledgling is located.
Everyone was expecting the Riverside Church Peregrine Falcons to have fledged by now, but they were still all there when I visited on Thursday. I was very surprised to see five youngsters still at the scrape!
(It received an email late tonight that one of the falcons fledged after I left. So, two species of Raptors had fledges on the same day just block apart.)
With the Riverside Church Peregrine Falcon parents have fledglings, expect a few territorial disputes between the St. John the Divine Red-tailed Hawk parents.
It was nice to see the Merlin on the water tower at 101st and Central Park west again. I think it has stayed all winter.
Today, I discovered that it’s not just a single Peregrine Falcon that has been hanging out on the Eldorado towers, but a pair. One was on the north towe and the other on the south tower, before one moved to a ledge lower down on the building.
(Pale Male has been spending time just below the Reservoir. I wonder if he’s keeping an eye on these new neighbors?)
On Saturday, my late afternoon visit to Central Park started with a Peregrine Falcon on top of the southern tower of The Eldorado on Central Park West.
It ended with my standard visit to the North Wood’s Eastern Screech-Owl. I got a glimpse at what might be a band on her, although it was hardly certain.
