Laura Goggin Photography: 2025

Friday, July 18, 2025

Friday hawk highlights

It's been a hot and muggy week here in NYC, but that hasn't kept the Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawk fledglings from having their fun. Late one afternoon, when the temps went down a bit, I caught two of them frolicking together in one of the gardens.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings playing.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings playing together.

At one point, their play-fighting got a little intense.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings playing in the grass.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings in the grass.

No worries, as one of the hawks found some toys nearby, including a discarded can of iced tea.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling with a can of iced tea.

And a plastic bottle. The hawks will investigate and play with almost anything, including our trash.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling with a platic bottle.

While I was watching one hawk, another one suddenly came at me and I barely had time to swing my camera around. It flew in so fast, I didn't quite get a good focus on this shot, but I'm happy to have captured most of the bird, especially those talons.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling coming at me.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling perched in a tree.

I can't get enough of these yoga poses.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling twisting its head.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling leaping off a branch.

Just as I was leaving the park one evening, this fledgling decided to pose near me on a fence, forcing me to stay. Okay then!

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling perched on a fence.

The hawk quickly drew some admirers.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling with a couple of admirers.

This one prepares to lunge at prey on the ground.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling ready to pounce.

All the fledglings have been catching their own food, but the parents are supplementing them, so they are not going hungry. I've noticed that the young hawks will often stash food their parents bring them, then go hunting on their own before returning to the stash later.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling flying past the camera.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling flying out of a tree.

Flying over me and crying:

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling flying overhead.

As the sun went down, I attempted to leave the park again, but the fledgling flew up to a building in the fading light. I decided to stick around to see what it would do.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling perched on a roof.

It ended up laying down and taking a nap, LOL. This was my cue to go home.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling taking a nap on a roof.

More to come.

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Mid-week hawk highlights

Here are a few recent highlights of the Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawk fledglings as they continue to explore and entertain.

What the photos do not convey is the never-ending heat and humidity that has really wiped me out, but doesn't seem to slow down the hawks. They tend to spend the hottest parts of the day resting in the shady treetops, and get active when it rains, or in the late evening.

This one checks out the view from the top of a building along the park.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling perched on a building.

We can almost see all parts of the hawk at once!

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling stretching out its wings and tail..

I love how the hawks often blend in to the activity in the park. Several people walked right past this one without taking any notice.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling perched low on a fence next to a man reading..

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling perched on a fence next to sunflowers.

Preparing for take-off:

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling preparing to take off.

This facial expression reminds me of a cat getting ready to pounce.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling peering around the trunk of a tree.

As it happened, there was a stashed headless pigeon hidden in this tree. After making a few attempts to catch its own pigeon, the hawk opted for the leftovers.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling digging into a headless pigeon.

Running up a branch:

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling spreading its wings.

The hawks are about three months old now, and will soon lose the yellow color on their chests.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling holding out its wings.

Soaring like a pro:

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling soaring.

This was my first time (this season) seeing a fledgling on the cross of St Brigid's Church on Avenue B.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling perched on the cross of St Brigid's church..

The three young siblings can still be found playing on the ground within the park.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling flying low to the ground.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling flying low past a playground.

This one captured a large stick.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling pouncing on a stick.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling flying upwards.

After a bath, this fledgling flew up to a flat part of this elm tree by the chess tables...

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling perched on a flat part of a tree.

...and laid down to have a nap and dry off in the sun. If I hadn't seen it fly up there, I wouldn't have noticed it lurking above our heads.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling laying down on a cut part of a tree.

This is the same spot after dark:

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling silhouette with the moon in the background.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledgling silhouette with its wings out and the crescent moon in the background.

More to come...

Monday, July 14, 2025

Tompkins hawk fledglings play around the park

It's been great seeing all three Red-Tailed Hawk fledglings continue to hang out together and play in Tompkins Square. Despite growing more independent, they do seem to enjoy each other's company.

Got your tail!

Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawk fledglings playing a game.

The fenced-in garden areas provide the perfect playpens for the hawks, and the resident squirrels continue to taunt them.

Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawk fledgling.

This hawk not only missed the squirrel...

...it almost fell over the tree.

The young hawks may still be a bit clumsy, but they are capable of catching their own food. This one nabbed a pigeon, then dragged it to a quiet area to eat.

Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawk fledgling with a pigeon.

I love seeing the hawks prowl around in the vegetation. It's not really something you expect to see in a city park.

Meanwhile, all three fledglings continue to explore the world and practice their hawk skills within the park.

This one was fresh out of a bath in a puddle when it decided to dry off on a fence.

However, this Blue Jay was not having it and relentlessly mobbed the hawk until it took refuge within a bush. So rude!

Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawk fledgling mobbed by a Blue Jay.

Stay tuned for more Tompkins hawk updates...