January 16, 2015

1/16, Riverside Park

The juvenile red-tailed hawk hanging about near the Soldiers and Sailors Monument was not the only young raptor I'd heard was lurking in Riverside Park this winter. Another RT was supposed to be up in the 110s. Friday afternoon I went looking for him, and he flew right up.

Young Riverside Red-Tail

Even sat still for half a minute for a close-up.

Young Riverside Red-Tail

But then he was off and hunting like a maniac. Here, there and everywhere between 112th and 106th streets. Never perching anywhere for longer than 20 seconds. And when it seemed like he was gone, he'd come zooming by from somewhere behind.

Young Riverside Red-Tail

Young Riverside Red-Tail

A ton of fun to watch, though, as he used the gusty wind to his advantage to do "pop ups", zooming along at hip level and then suddenly going straight up to land on a branch 30 feet overhead.

Young Riverside Red-Tail

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