I spotted a red-tailed hawk perched atop an antenna at the corner of 1st Avenue and 1st Street (or what Kramer refers to as the Nexus of the Universe) this morning. Unfortunately, I missed photographing it by about four seconds since it took so long to get my camera and lens ready. The hawk flew off the perch and scared some nearby pigeons into a scramble. I stood and waited a few minutes for it to reappear but no such luck. It was such a rush to see a hawk so unexpectedly! It was a few blocks from Tompkins Square Park so it may have been Tommy or Evie hawk.
Month: December 2011
Red-tailed hawk & Cooper’s Hawk, Tompkins Square Park – December 17, 2011
I visited Tompkins Square Park in the East Village early Saturday afternoon in the hopes of seeing its resident hawks Tommy or Evie. The male was nicknamed Tommy as a take on the name Tompkins. I nicknamed the female hawk Evie in honor of her being a resident of the East Village.
I stayed at TSP for about an hour before venturing to Washington Square Park to look for its resident red-tailed hawks. I spotted Evie easily since the sky was bright and there were hardly any leaves left on the trees. I believe it was her anyway because of her large size and lighter feather coloration. I overheard one park visitor tell another that he saw her eat a rat a few minutes beforehand.
Sightings over the last few days
Monday, December 19th: Bobby was zipping around the park and ate two mice.Tuesday, December 20th: Bobby was seen in the park as well as a Cooper’s Hawk. Bobby paid it no mind; obviously not regarding it as a threat.Wednesday, December 21st: Two hawks were seen either in the park or the sky; Bobby on the cross and a second flying hawk assumed to be Violet.