Laura Goggin Photography

Thursday, September 3, 2026

At least one fledgling red-tailed hawk still hanging out in Tompkins Square

Heading into Labor Day Weekend, here are the latest photos I have of one of the Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings. As kids go off to school, the young hawks also embark on their own learning journeys as they leave the area and explore the world. I'm never sure when a fledgling hawk sighting in the park could be the last for the season, so each encounter is special.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk in Tompkins Square Park.

This fledgling seems to really like the southwest quadrant of the park as I've been seeing it there regularly. There are plenty of pigeons and squirrels to chase in that area.

One of three fledgling red-tailed hawks in Tompkins Square Park.

Here, the hawk perches near the remains of a pigeon left behind on a branch.

Young red-tailed hawk perched in a tree next to the remains of a pigeon.

This pile of brambles on the lawn east of the chess tables has been a popular perching spot.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk perched on some brambles in Tompkins Square Park.

Young red-tailed hawk raising its wings as it perches on a pile of branches.

Young red-tailed hawk posing on a brush pile in Tompkins Square Park.

Juvenile red-tailed hawk posing prettily in Tompkins Square Park.

An admirer takes a photo of a red-tailed hawk in Tompkins Square.

Young red-tailed hawk looks straight at the camera as it perches on a pile of branches on the ground.

Later, the same hawk flew up to a fire escape on 7th Street.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk perched on a fire escape on East 7th Street.

Red-tailed hawk takes off from a fire escape.

And then took off to go roost for the night as it started getting dark.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk flies close to us as it heads off to roost for the night.

Catching up with some other fledgling red-tailed hawks around the city, I found one perched on an ornate tower in Queens (below, right).

Young red-tailed hawk perched on an ornate tower in Queens.

Here is one flying along the A subway line.

Young red-tailed hawk flying over a neighborhood in Queens.

This is the same hawk heading for Jamaica Bay with the JFK air traffic control tower in the background.

Juvenile red-tailed hawk flies towards the air traffic control tower at JFK airport in Queens.

Hawk migration will be picking up now for the next several weeks, so we should start to see more red-tails, Cooper's, and other types of hawks moving through the city.

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Tompkins Square hawk fledgling catches a rat

I was fortunate to have a visit with one of the Tompkins Square Park red-tailed hawk fledglings the other day. It appeared on the west side of the park late in the afternoon as it actively hunted for rodents.

Young red-tailed hawk perches on a fence in Tompkins Square Park.

Red-tailed hawk prepares for takeoff from a fence.

Not finding what it wanted on the ground, the hawk flew up into a tree.

Juvenile red-tailed hawk flies up to a tree.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk perches in a tree in Tompkins Square Park.

I love the alert and curious look it has on its face. The young hawks always look like they're fascinated by everything.

Curious-looking young red-tailed hawk perched in a tree.

The hawk took a short break to do some sunbathing on a branch.

Juvenile red-tailed hawk taking a sun bath in Tompkins Square Park.

After a few minutes, it was back to work, and the hawk flew over to the Don Roberts garden where it resumed its quest for rats.

Fledling red-tailed hawk hunting for rats in Tompkins Square Park.

Success!

The hawk caught a rat in the garden and flew it across the plaza in front of the Krishna Tree. I was too slow on the shutter button, so this photo is slightly out of focus. The hawk was flying so unexpectedly low and fast, not even the dog in the background had time to react as it flew by.

Young red-tailed hawk flies low to the ground while carrying a rat.

Up on a branch in the Krishna Tree, the hawk briefly posed with its dinner.

Young red-tailed hawk tucks in to freshly caught rat.

If you ever wanted to know what a rat tail looks like turned inside-out, well, here you go...

Young red-tailed hawk skins the tail of a rat.

A squirrel (out of frame) startled the hawk, causing it to raise its wings and hackles.

Juvenile red-tailed hawk spreads its wings as something startles it.

The squirrel proved to be too much of an annoyance, so the hawk picked up its meal and flew it to another tree.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk in the Krishna Tree in Tompkins Square Park.

Venturing outside the neighborhood over the weekend, I saw this young red-tailed hawk as it flew along with a flock of starlings.

Young red-tailed hawk being followed through the sky by a flock of starlings.

Young red-tailed hawk joins a flock of starlings in flight.

Young red-tailed hawk checking out possible snacks as it flies through a flock of starlings.

More to come...

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Governors Island Hawks - Part 3

As noted previously, I have a ton of photos of red-tailed hawks on Governors Island that I never posted. Below are a few showing the current adult pair and a couple of their fledglings.

I spent a happy afternoon with one of the young hawks as it explored The Yard playground.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk perched on a stool.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk in The Yard at Governors Island.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk exploring a kids' playground.

The playground was closed, so there were no children around while the hawk was in the playground.

Young red-tailed hawk checking out a closed playground on Governors Island.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk tries to climb a small fence.

The hawk found a piece of something - maybe a sprinkler - and toyed with it a while.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk playing with a sprinkler component.

Young red-tailed hawk playing with a piece of machinery.

Young red-tailed hawk attacks a piece of broken machinery.

It's so fun to watch young wildlife enjoy the same things young humans do.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk showing its bright eyes while perched on a stool.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk exploring its world on Governors Island.

One of the Governors Island red-tailed hawk fledglings checking out the junk yard.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk perched on top of a zip line.

This fledgling (left) probably could not believe its eyes when a squirrel scampered past it on a rooftop. Mom hawk (banded 42A on the right) also seemed incredulous to see the squirrel behave so boldly.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk watches a squirrel run across a roof as the hawk's mom is perched on the other side of the chimney.

Bold squirrel saunters past a young red-tailed hawk on top of a roof.

I don't think the squirrel saw the adult hawk until it ran past the chimney. Despite taking such a huge risk, the squirrel lived to see another day.

Squirrel scampers across a roof with two red-tailed hawks watching.

The fledgling hawk decided to chase after the squirrel after all, but its response was way too delayed.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk runs across a rooftop.

Another fledgling rests on a structure on the parade ground.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk takes a break on top of a soccer goal net.

This is dad, otherwise known as M2. I call him this as there was a previous male hawk and I don't have a good name for him. Suggestions are welcome!

Reseident male red-tailed hawk, M2, atop a flag pole.

He's a handsome hawk with caramel-colored eyes.

Male red-tailed hawk perched on top of a flag pole on Governors Island.

Governors Island resident male red-tailed hawk flies from right to left.

Both hawk families on Governors Island and in Tompkins Square Park did well this year, with both sets of parents raising three chicks to fledge.

Previously:

Governors Island Hawks - Part 1

Governors Island Hawks - Part 2