My afternoon in Washington Square Park started out mildly enough. There were no Hawks at first so I enjoyed the sun as I walked around.
A young Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was on a tree near me:
I caught up with a couple of other Hawk-watchers and as soon as we were together and chatting, Bobby flew to and landed in the tree above us:
You can imagine how exciting that was!
He only stayed for a minute before he was off to hunt:
It was great to see and be able to photograph them in the sunlight again. We had been having such overcast and gloomy days the last few weeks.
He landed on a park lamp which was surprising because Rosie is the one who usually perches on them:
Rosie was in a tree just west of him, watching:
Bobby flew to a tree further west:
Rosie:
Rosie flew to a tree just west of his:
She dropped down to the patch of growth underneath her for prey:
She didn’t catch anything.
Bobby:
Rosie, a bit east again:
She flew back to the hunting trees:
Bobby:
He flew to a tree in the fenced-off area of the park still under renovation:
Rosie:
She flew all the way to the eastern side of the park:
Since Bobby was now in a closer tree, I spent a couple of minutes with him instead of searching for Rosie:
He might have gone looking for her because he flew toward the east and soared in the sky for a few seconds:
He obviously found her and joined her at the Bobst Library nest:
He then flew out and toward the west (scaring up a flock of pigeons by Judson Memorial Church):
Rosie then joined Bobby in the sky, soaring in circles with him:
Bobby landed on one of his favorite buildings outside the southwest corner of the park:
Rosie soared a little more then joined him at his building but at a lower perch:
Both Hawks:
Rosie:
Bobby:
Rosie flew to the trees:
She was hunting:
Bobby flying overhead:
Rosie:
They were in trees near each other again.
Bobby:
Rosie in the tree above the patch of grass she had hunted in earlier:
Bobby:
Bobby:
Rosie:
She was unsuccessful in her hunting attempt so landed on a lamp still in viewing distance of that particular lawn:
Bobby:
Rosie:
Bobby still scanning for prey:
Rosie:
Bobby:
He flew southward again:
Rosie:
Bobby in his new tree, taking off again:
Rosie:
It was getting much later and darker and it was obvious they were hungry since they were still hunting after sunset. It was nearly time to roost for the evening.
Rosie made another hunting attempt:
No luck.
Another attempt and still no luck:
She then spied a rodent by the northwest corner entrance to the park. You can’t see her well at all but she is just on the lawn next to the black iron gate:
She successfully caught a rat this time:
She ate it while on a park tree:
Bobby flew overhead and directly to the evening roost (small horizontal figure against the sky):
Rosie finished eating and followed him:
Both Hawks safe and sound for another day, tucked in at the ‘Red Roost Inn’:
Bobby:
Rosie:
