January 11, 2017

1/11, Riverside Park in the 110s

Taking a break from work with a late afternoon stroll along Riverside Drive, I found the "neighborhood hawk" perched little more than a block from the office. This would be the male adult red-tailed hawk who's been so easy to spot in the 110s of Riverside the past few weeks.

Riverside Red-Tail - 1022

Hunting was in progress.

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Perhaps five minutes later the bird was in the air. Stopping at 110th St., he looked around for a moment or two.

Riverside Red-Tail - 1030

Then away and further south, apparently making a U-turn as he was next found deeper down in the park at about 109th St. Much later, not long after sunset, he was perched very close to the park wall at 114th St. before flying off to, apparently, go to roost.

January 8, 2017

1/8, Riverside Park in the 110s

Sunday was cold and there were a couple inches of snow on the ground, so for hawks the hunting was tougher than usual. Just before sunset in the stretch of Riverside Park in the low 110s, I again encountered the male adult red-tail who haunts the area (and is presumably the papa from last year's 116th St. nest), along with another neighborhood hawkwatcher.

As late as it was, it looked like the hawk was still trying to scrounge up a meal to finish his day.

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Unfortunately, it was looking like he was going to have to go to bed unsatisfied.

January 6, 2017

1/6, Riverside Park in the 110s

A pass along the Riverside Park wall near the office at lunch time on Friday found an adult red-tailed hawk also out looking for a meal. When first spotted, it was landing in the top of a tree at 112th St.

Riverside Red-Tail - 0987

This could be the adult male whom I encountered last week a few blocks up the road. If not, it may be his mate. With temperatures having dropped the last couple days and birds fluffing up to stay warm, it's more difficult to use size as a guesstimate of gender.

Riverside Red-Tail - 0986

Within a couple minutes, the hawk swooped south, perhaps going for a squirrel along the park wall. But when re-found, it was perched sans prey at 110th St.

Riverside Red-Tail - 0988

But busy looking around for food.

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