More birds of fall

Here are some more fall birds seen around the city recently. I've taken loads of photos so far this season, so I hope to have more posted soon.

Blackpoll Warbler: 

Eastern Wood-Pewee:

Pine Warbler:

Palm Warbler eating a fly:

Palm Warbler scouting for prey:

Eastern Phoebe:

Yellow-Rumped Warbler:

Young Cedar Waxwing:

Northern Flicker:

Baltimore Oriole:

Black-Throated Green Warbler:

Late season Ruby-Throated Hummingbird:

These guys are here year-round, but I always enjoy the charismatic Northern Mockingbirds.

Savannah Sparrow:

Spotted Sandpiper taking a break:

Birds of Fall

I enjoy fall bird migration as it goes on for longer than it does in spring and I tend to see more birds overall. Many of the birds are youngsters embarking on their first journey after being born over the spring/summer.

 

Below are some recent highlights from around the city.

 

Black-Throated Blue Warbler (female):

Baltimore Oriole:

Young Brown-Headed Cowbird (male):

Semipalmated Sandpiper:

Lark Sparrow taking a bath:

Savannah Sparrow:

Northern Waterthrush:

Scarlet Tanager:

Dickcissel:

Chipping Sparrow:

Cape May Warbler:

Yellow-Billed Cuckoo:

Common Nighthawk:

Fall Hawks

The Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawk fledglings appear to all be off on their fall migration journeys, so parents, Amelia and Charlie, have some time to themselves. I haven't been tracking them too closely recently, but I found Amelia perched on the dome of Most Holy Redeemer church earlier this week.

Most Holy Redeemer is one of the favorite sites where our local hawks spend their time. Beginning with Christo and Dora, and continuing with Charlie and Amelia, the church dome and cross serve as a resting place and lookout for the birds. They take their meals up there and spend a lot of time surveying their territory from the north and east sides.

 

Back in 2015, Christo and Dora nested on the Ageloff building on Avenue A, a half block from the church. They had three chicks that year and one of the fledglings spent and afternoon frolicking on the slope of the dome. One of its siblings later managed to change the time on the church clock, which is one of my favorite fledgling hawk memories. Posts and photos from that year can be found here.

 

The church is now in danger. EV Grieve has extensive details on the situation, but the short version is the church needs to be landmarked or it may be destroyed. I can't imagine the East Village without this magnificent church, and I really love how the hawks chose to settle in this neighborhood, making the church tower the centerpiece of their territory.

 

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Below are images of some of the other Red-Tailed Hawks I've spent some time with across the city.

 

This is a male in Queens being assaulted by a Northern Mockingbird. 

They almost look like they could be buddies...

But the Mockingbird has a lot to say and the hawk just ignores it.

This is the same hawk on a hunting trip.

This is his mate (female).

At some point, the male caught a pigeon and they used this tree top as a kitchen table.

This is a male in Brooklyn who I've been observing for several years. He is distinct as he doesn't have much of a belly band. 

This is the Queens female (I don't have names for these guys).

This is one of the resident hawks from Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. She's a beauty, displaying her perfect tail feathers.

Hoping to see more hawks this fall as they migrate through the area.