3/1, Central Park Tennis Courts

You'd think heavy snow would put paid to hawkwatching, but it's not like the hawks can hide indoors when the weather's bad. (Well, maybe in the shelter of a nice fire escape.) Sunday afternoon I discovered a red-tailed hawk perched between Central Park's Tennis Courts and loop road, near West 95th St.

But juvenile or adult?

Tail feathers say adult.

Snow was obscuring photos, but snow was also accumulating on the hawk's head.

And on the beak. That's got to be irritating.

But an adult hawk, hmmm. Doesn't look the same bird I saw last weekend about five blocks north. Perhaps this was the other cathedral adult venturing a little farther south than I'm used to seeing them. Or perhaps the rumors of a possible new hawk nest along Central Park West are true.

3/23, The El Dorado

Following word that maybe, just maybe, red-tailed hawks might be trying to nest along Central Park West again, I tried to check out the area Sunday afternoon. A hawk did appear way way up atop the El Dorado, where it stayed for about 15 minutes.

But stare as I might at the photos, darn if can decide whether it was an adult or a juvenile.

3/31, Building a Nest on Central Park West

Sunday was yet another gray day, with sporadic rain to boot. But the new red-tailed hawks building a nest at Central Park West and 92nd St. were at work.

First sighting was a hawk in a tree by the park loop road at 98th St.

Who soon took off, perhaps coaxed by the area blue jays, soared and circled about several times and then disappeared over the rooftops around 96th St.

But then plenty of action around the nest on the apartment half ledge. A hawk flew in, checked out the scene.

Took off.

In and out of the nest a couple times. Both times carrying sticks.

And then after 20 minutes or so, with a couple dog-walkers rushing about trying to figure out what the hawks were up to, all quiet.

But wait. One cannot leave Central Park without the obligatory sighting of a juvenile red-tail in the North Woods.

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Thanks to the small bird with a call like a police whistle for that final sighting.

3/24, CPW Perchers

Another gray Sunday afternoon with dead air. Just the kind of day where if you spot a red-tailed hawk, it's just perching.

So first there's the juvenile RT hawk on top of the project houses at the corner of 100th St. and Manhattan Ave.

And checking on the new nest at Central Park West and 92nd St. ... Dang it's quiet. Nothing happening.

Belatedly, I find that an adult hawk is perching across the street on the roof of the Ardsley.

And that was it for the day.

3/10, The New Neighbors, and an Unexpected Encounter

It seems another pair of red-tailed hawks have taken a liking to Central Park. Bruce reported a couple weeks ago that two adult birds were scouting nesting sites along Central Park West in the 90s. They're definitely still in the area, although where they're actually building a nest remains in question.

On a scrumptious Sunday afternoon, I headed over to Central Park and began looking about for the new birds. First caught a glimpse of one flying through the trees at 96th St. near CPW, then five minutes later another carrying a stick toward somewhere around 93rd St. Another look at a hawk heading toward the Eldorado at 90th St. Finally some good overhead soaring.

And yes, both birds, high up and enjoying the afternoon air.

And then it seemed they disappeared behind the Eldorado and gone from sight.

Aside from one brief sighting around 94th St., there was no sign of the duo for the next 20 minutes. But as I was thinking of heading north toward the cathedral, they re-appeared, soared about some more, and headed toward the Eldorado. The female alit first, on the north tower, while the male soared about a bit longer.

It seemed he had mating in mind, but as he made his move, the female took off. They ended up perched separately on the two towers of the Eldorado, the female on the south and the male on the north.

At 5:30, both took off to the south and out of view. Uh-oh. I hope they weren't going south to pick a fight with Palemale or his mate.

It was 5:30 and I still wanted to visit Morningside Park and the cathedral to see if Isolde and her new male were about. They were seen mating along 114th St. on Saturday, so I knew they're around.

But I never made it there.

Heading up the Great Hill, I saw a red-tail soaring around. A juvenile. Then at the top of the hill, a large shape perched in a tree just 50-60 feet off the road. The juvie? Hmmm, the bird seemed a bit small for a hawk and it seemed to be wearing... a hoodie?

Oh, my. A barred owl!

Out in plain view in front of God and everybody, a full hour before sunset.

No blue jays or other harassment except for one tufted titmouse who briefly chirped at him.

Well, this being an owl and it not yet being sunset, he wasn't in an active mode. Some 50 minutes later, he was in the same spot, still alternating between light snoozing and slowly looking around.

And dang, I'd love to stay for fly out, but Sunday dinner does not wait when someone else is doing the cooking.