Red-tailed Hawk landing on nest, Bobst Library, NYU, New York City

Bobby Hawk at sunset – October 1st, 2018

I made a quick visit to Washington Square Park at sunset this evening in the hopes of seeing some night Hawk action.

I spotted Bobby sitting on the Hawks’ favorite southwestern building when I arrived:

Washington Square Park Hawk sitting on distant building at sunset

Washington Square Park Hawk Bobby sitting on building

He flew to a decorative urn atop a neighboring building 3 minutes later:

Washington Square Park Hawk Bobby on building finial

He then perched for another 12 minutes before flying due north to a mystery roost:

Washington Square Park Hawk Bobby on finial in red sunset

Washington Square Park Hawk Bobby on building during red sunset

It got dark in a short amount of time. I felt lucky to see him during such a beautiful sunset.

Washington Square Park Hawk Bobby jumping off finial

Washington Square Park Hawk Bobby flying at night

Washington Square Park Hawk Bobby flying at night

Washington Square Park Hawk Bobby flying above buildings at night


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13 thoughts on “Bobby Hawk at sunset – October 1st, 2018

  1. You capture such beautiful photographs of our magnificent hawks of Washington Square Park! I particularly like the third from last where Bobby is in flight just above the urn…lovely!

      1. Wonderful picture… Bobby does, indeed, look majestic against the gorgeous colors of sunset. You have a rare ability to find absolutely beautiful pictures! BTW, I loved the pictures of the affectionate pigeons yesterday. Such pretty colors! Makes me cranky that after these decades seeing flocks of pigeons around, I have never seen any looking like moo cows, or any that have anything but your basic gray and white feathers. I loved the blue in the blue in your loving pigeons! As always, thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures with us!

        1. Thank you! A fellow Hawk fan commented in an older post that the moo cow coloration is like those of domesticated coop pigeons. There’s no way to know if the black and white pigeon was in a coop because it’s not banded but it could have been (or a descendant of a coop pigeon that found its way to and mingled with the WSP flock).

  2. Observed this afternoon in the park which attracted a crowd and a police car.
    IMG-1974.JPGIMG-1972.JPGIMG-1970.JPG.
    Hope you can see these; my son took pictures off West 90s in Central Park this past weekend; a juvenile RTH; I think its one of this year’s fledglings looking for new territory. SO gorgeous!! Some folks were so funny – thought it was an eagle!

  3. What a gorgeous sunset …as well as Bobby …Halloween appearing in the coloring.
    Did you use any filters, Roger_Paw?
    Since moving from East to west coast , I can easily relate there are no sunsets here that are this thrilling.
    Don’t know if it is the position of the setting sun in the horizon or the moisture in the air, this vibrant color belongs in the East…certainly in the WSP home of our magnificent hawks

    Susan is right, Bobby Night Hawk is claiming the sky as his own.
    Thanks for the wonderful autumnal October 1/st pictures

  4. Your picture of Bobby in the sunset was simply magnificent. I finally saw another RT Hawk in my Philadelphia neighborhood! He/she came and perched on the very top of a flagpole in a schoolyard on Spruce Street and 48th. Of course, the IPhone pictures I took were useless, but it was a big one–perhaps female and just before it landed there was a full spread of all the tail feathers, which was how I was able to ID the bird. I’ve been told there are lots of them around Penn where I live, but sightings have been very spare for me, so this was a joy.

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