Local falcon

One of the pleasant things this winter has been a Peregrine Falcon that roosts most days in a tree overlooking the north end of the Central Park Reservoir.

She (large bird; presumed female) favors a tree just south of the iron bridge near the north pumphouse, and often sits there for long stretches. The view is much closer than I usually get with a Peregrine.

The particular tree the falcon favors has a squirrel nest in it. You might imagine the squirrels aren't too pleased.

However the squirrels have figured out that she isn't actually too dangerous at this range. In fact tying to take a mammal out of a tree is not her hunting style at all. Peregrines are more "swoop down and grab a bird out of the air" hunters.

In fact, she's not too happy about the squirrels approaching her, and she'll display at them. Unfortunately I don't have a good photo of that yet.

But she hasn't let that change her roosting spot. I guess it's otherwise the perfect tree.

Unsuccessful Peregrines

On Monday's holiday, I went to Randall's Island.  There were more Brant there than I've ever seen--well over 500--and a similar number of Canada Geese.  Three Mute Swans basked on the rocks in the salt marsh at the north end of the island, and a small variety of ducks were around.

I was preparing to leave when I saw four Shoveler ducks flying into the Bronx Kill very fast from the east. Two males and two females, in a kind of vertical square formation that I think of as pretty typical for them.

Then I realized that a fifth bird was behind them--a Peregrine Falcon!  A second Peregrine came in from above--I can't even imagine where it was before--but the Shovelers hit the water and the thirty-odd Mallards rose up into the air (I think the Buffleheads and Ruddys all dove), and the Peregrines made a pass over the Kill and then broke off the attack and flew to one of the baseball field backstops--one went a few feet over my head!--and perched.

take me out with the crowd

So I didn't get any pictures of that. I just watched with my jaw hanging open.  Oh well.

The Canadas and Brants didn't have any reaction to the Peregrines. That struck me as odd--I thought geese always flew up when falcons were around, and the Brants are small enough to be prey-size.  I was also surprised that the Falcons didn't make more of an effort to take the Shovelers when they went down on the water..  I suppose they didn't want to deal with angry Mallards who were already alter to them.

Peregrine in flight

The two Falcons flew from one backstop to another a couple of times.  As you can see, I'm not great at getting birds in flight.

convenient to midtown, all mod cons

Eventually they flew off towards the mental health center on the island, where they often roost.

Peregrine Falcon, Manhattan College (Bronx NY)

I went up to Riverdale in the Bronx today to visit my aunt, who is in a nursing home recovering from a hip replacement. The walk down Manhattan College Parkway was very pleasant despite the intermittent rain, woods on the other side of the road. A mockingbird flew across the street.

I detoured through a small park, Brust Park. A Red-Bellied Woodpecker called and I scanned the trees until I spotted it. When I emerged back on the street, Blue Jays screamed in the distance. I looked across at the buildings of the Manhattan College campus. The cupola of one building seemed...a little lopsided.



I pulled out my binoculars, and saw there was a Peregrine Falcon perched.



I watched for a while and photographed. The jays continued screaming, at a great distance.