Views of the Highbridge nest are disappearing as the trees leaf out. I almost slid down the steep hill near the nest taking these obscured shots.
Both parents were off the nest as I took these pictures. These may have to be my last pictures of the Highbridge nest this year.
Jean and I were the two regulars on Sunday, plus we had a few locals. The temperature was cool, so the park was relatively quiet.
I arrived around 7:30 pm. to find the Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk in the Willow with the three owls! The Red-tail was too busy chasing Robins to see them, but it did have me worried. It went all around The Pool, and ended up landing on the Willow three times.
The three owls were much harder to find in the tree than usual tonight. I couldn’t locate the third one until it flew out for the evening. They landed on a nearby tree and were off before I could get some solid pictures. They quickly moved 150 feet north, and we lost track of them. I bet they wanted to move away from the area, just in case the Red-tail was still around.
Other trees are starting to be fully leafed out near the Willow. I wonder how many days, we’ll still have with them roosting out in the open in Willow.
Chris joined me this evening, as well as some locals from the neighborhood this evening.
One couple told us about an Eastern Screech-Owl that was on their windowsill at 1 a.m. about three weeks ago. They live on Central Park West. This is consistent with research done after the initial reintroduction of the owls into the park and our experiences last year. However, it always surprises me when I hear these stories.
Tonight after the fly out, we watched one of the owls hunt a rodent. I think the owl missed, but it was a wonderful sight to see. (It happened too quickly for photographs however.)
The Inwood Red-tailed Hawk eyasses continue to grow up. Both looked healthy. The adult male left the nest as we arrived and he flew by a few times.
It was a relaxed afternoon, until a feeding when both chicks perked up and became active. The pictures below are of the female and her two offspring.
I’ve been photographing three Eastern Screech-Owls for about five weeks. As I did last year, I’ve waited to release these photographs until after the owls had left their nest cavity and are now sleeping in high tree branches.
Despite my fears this winter that there were no Eastern Screech-Owls left in the Central Park, on Monday, not only did I see the three owls I’ve been studying but also a new adult bringing my count for the day to four.
A wonderful 60 degree evening with a crystal clear sky. Chris, her dog Fig, Maureen and I were the regulars for the evening.
