5/25, Are There Really Three?

Two hours trying for better evidence of three nestlings at the Cathedral hawk nest, like perhaps a picture of three heads all looking around at once.

Friday

Beautiful day, albeit a bit warm.

5:26 p.m. - Arrive at Cathedral hawk nest corner. One of the kids is visible, but has her back to me.

5:28 - Nestling still has back to me, but another one's has popped up at the left side of the nest.

Belatedly realize that there is an adult hawk sitting just 10-12 feet directly above the kids, on one of the crenellations of the turret over St. Andrew. Later will determine that this is Isolde.

5:29 - The nestling who has been on the left has stepped up on the north edge of the nest. Nice dark wing feathers and tawny breast, but white fuzzy pantaloons on her legs.

5:35 - Nestling is still standing there. Apparently nestling eyesight focus is working well, as she's watching me as I try to get a pic from around the corner on Morningside Drive.

5:36 - Standing nestling steps back into nest.

5:43 - First sight this season of a nestling looking out the left/south side of the nest. Seems to be the same one who had been standing up a few minutes ago.

5:51 - Walk back around the corner to find that an adult has perched on the right side of the nest. Isolde's still on the crenellation, so it looks like Tristan is here.

5:52 - A nestling is standing up twoard the right rear of the nest.

5:53 - Nestling sits back down, and it looks like Tristan is feeding her.

5:57 - Tristan is looking around, and on each side of him two nestlings are visible, their attention focused on something between them.

Tristan exits. Looks like he heads west, but I get no further glimpse of him.

5:58 - Still just nestling heads visible, plus Isolde up on the crenellation.

6:00 - Right-side nestling now standing up on the nest edge. She doesn't have the tawny breast coloring, and generally looks a bit fuzzier and younger than the one who was standing up a half hour ago.

6:03 - Two nestlings standing so that they are looking out of the to the north, although one is more on the left side of the nest.

6:08 - Two nestlings still standing. Something in front of the closer nestling, somthing perhaps on the edge of the nest, is bugging me because it looks like it has a yellow bird foot, and maybe it has feathers? But then I can't see it anymore. What's left of a pigeon? But their feet are red.

6:11 - Only one nestling visible now, and she's only half standing.

6:19 - Although standing where I can watch the nest, I belatedly discover Tristan perched on the right side of the transept arch. Was he there when I briefly checked the nave buttresses 7-8 minutes ago?

6:23 - Isolde is standing up. Is she thinking about going for a stroll? Yes. She flies northwest (?) and disappears in the direction of Amsterdam and 113th St. Pigeons on the west end of the roof St. Luke's burst n the air, but all come back to their perches within 15-20 seconds.

6:29 - One of the nestlings is standing up again, but tail end out. And then back into the nest.

6:31 - A nestling standing up again and looking around.

6:32 - Flapping.

6:44 - After I'd check the Morningside Drive side of things again, an adult again appears quietly on the north side of the nest. Looks like Isolde this time.

6:50 - Isolde has spent most of the time just looking around. Perhaps she's letting the kids feed themselves.

7:00 - Isolde still perched in the same spot. One nestling's head is visible peeking over the top of St. Andrew.

7:01 - And a nestling has stepped up on the edge of the nest alongside mama.

7:04 - Mama and nestling still side-by-side, nestling looking out at street scene, mama preening her own back.

7:07 - Nestling steps back into nest.

7:10 - Summer solstice is approaching. There is now light coming down 113th St. and lighting up the west side of statues.

7:12 - Isolde stll at nest, sometimes looking like she's cleaning up, or eating, or feeding a nestling. The younger nestling visible sitting up in right rear of nest.

7:26 - Isolde still at nest, but no nestlings visible in last 8-9 minutes. Exit west. Tristan's been gone from the transept for at least 20 minutes, and there's no sign of him along the nave.

And no luck this particular today getting a better pic of three nestlings at one time. (But don't worry.)