Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Together again

They were never actually apart, but yesterday was the first time since June/July that I've seen Christo and Dora sitting together in Tompkins Square Park.  I've seen them sitting together on church crosses in the neighborhood throughout the summer, but not low in a tree like this (Christo on top, Dora down below):

Christo and Dora 

This was late in the day, around 6pm, but other people told me they saw the hawks sitting together in the same tree all afternoon.

This time last year, I saw the first of many migratory hawks come into the park, so I'm wondering if this pair might be guarding their territory against any uninvited travelers.

Here's a close-up of Dora.  I think she has a pretty face - round eyes and feathers that make her look like she has eyelashes.  Note her tail is looking full.  She started molting in May/June and spent the summer looking really scraggly.  She's looking great now in her new feathers,

Dora

And here's Christo.  He started molting in August and seems to have replaced his feathers pretty quickly.  It's not visible here, but he has three new tail feathers coming in.

Christo

Then, there's this mystery hawk...it could very well be Christo or Dora, but I can't tell.  This was taken on September 9 and, at the time, I really didn't think it looked like either one of them.  I saw it for three or four days in a row in the same place behind the bathrooms, and each time I could recognize it (or thought I could), and it really didn't look like our birds.  But, who knows, both hawks looked scruffy while molting.  It just seems unlikely that Christo and/or Dora would allow another adult hawk hanging out in their territory.

The squirrel, on the other hand, seems pretty welcoming!

Adult red tail with squirrel

This bird ignored all the squirrels and focused exclusively on catching rats (squirrel fans rejoice!).  Here is some video I took of it catching some dinner.  Even after being so close for so long, I was still unable ot identify this individual bird.



See more hawk photos here.

Previous hawk posts.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Golden hour

Seeing Anton van Dalen's flock of white pigeons flying over Avenue A and 10th Street in the late afternoon sun is the perfect end to any day...

Flock o' rollers

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Monday, September 15, 2014

Pool seasons

Spring awakening, the algae blooms...

Boys

Summer begins, fresh and clean...

Untitled

A little mid-season rain...

Swimming pool in the rain

Back to school.

Untitled

Meanwhile...

Untitled

Winter dips its toes...

Untitled 

Three feet deep.

Untitled

Rinse, repeat.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Monday, September 1, 2014

End of summer hawk update

Christo, Dora and one of their kids (I believe it's the youngest, Number Three), are still hanging around Tompkins Square, although it's been hard to keep track of them the last couple of weeks.  It's a 'lazy' time of year for them as the summer winds down and the young hawks take off on their own.

As far as I know, I've not seen either of the older two siblings (Shaft!) since August 1.  This is the last photo I have of them together in the park.

Red tail siblings in Tompkins Square

The youngest hawk has been seen this last week catching and eating pigeons in the park, all under the watchful eye of dad Christo.  I last saw the young one atop the cross of St Brigid's church on Ave B last Friday.

Meanwhile, parents Christo and Dora are sticking close together. I spotted them this last week on the cross of St Nicholas of Myra on Avenue A and 10th Street.

Here, Dora calls down the Avenue.

Christooooooooooooooo!

Dora calling

Christo zipped past a few times...

Dora watches as Christo sails by below

...before joining Dora on top of the cross.

Chrisdto comes in for a landing

Taking in the sunset...

Dora and Christo atop St Nicholas of Myra

Dora and Christo atop St Nicholas of Myra


See more hawk photos here:

City hawks 3
City hawks 2
City hawks 1 

Previously.