Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Getting to know M2

The new male red-tailed hawk in Tompkins Square seems to be settling into his new digs and setting up his routine. As Amelia spends most of her time brooding, he brings her food and relieves her so she can take breaks to stretch. This is the best time to catch him in action.

This is M2 giving us a good view of his white "eyebrows" which are a good field mark when trying to distinguish him from Amelia. 

M2 perches in a tree.

Like Christo before him, M2 has what looks to me like a "baby face" with light cheeks and a white throat.

M2 perches in a tree.

And, wow, this guy is a diver. This hawk zips after prey like a falcon. So far, I've missed most of my shots because he's so fast, so he's forcing me to up my game, which is not a bad thing.

M2 dives off a branch.

M2 has also been exploring perches where I never saw Christo or Amelia go. On this day, he flew up to a lower ledge on the Christodora.

M2 flies up to a ledge.

M2 flies up to a ledge.

M2 perches on a ledge.

M2 takes off from a ledge.

M2 takes off from a ledge.

M2 takes off from a ledge.

M2 takes off from a ledge.

M2 flies past the Christodora.

Here he is leaping from the roof of St Brigid's church. I love the symmetry of his wings.

M2 leaps off a roof.

M2 caught a pigeon and took off to deliver it to Amelia for dinner.

M2 takes off with a pigeon.

M2 takes off with a pigeon.

M2 takes off with a pigeon.

M2 flying across the park:

M2 soaring.

Note his bright eyes. Amelia's eyes are dark brown.

M2 soaring.

This is M2 diving off a chimney on Avenue A.

M2 diving off a chimney.

Perching on the familiar cross of St Nicholas of Myra on Avenue A:

M2 perched on a church cross.

This is a perch where I usually see kestrels, so M2 seems to be checking out all the possible vantage points around the neighborhood.

M2 perched on cell phone tower.

He's a fascinating hawk, and I look forward to learning more about him in the coming weeks.
 
 

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