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

Migrating birds and content park denizens – October 7th, 2018

Being that today is Sunday, there was no new activity with the scaffolding supports around the Hawk nest window. Tomorrow is a national holiday (Columbus Day) so I don’t expect work to go on tomorrow either.

Washington Square NYU nest with scaffolding

We’re at the early stages of bird migration in the park now. I saw a Catbird today and Yellow-rumped Warblers a couple of days ago.

Catbird:

Washington Square Park Catbird

Yellow-rumped Warblers from my October 5th visit:

Yellow-rumped Warblers in Washington Square Park

Washington Square Park Yellow-rumped Warbler

There is a small pigeon flock that hangs out a couple of blocks east of the park. They caught my attention today because they were resting on the ground just like the park pigeons rest on the lawns:

NYC resting pigeons

These birds are a bit darker in color than the park pigeons and other city pigeons I’ve seen. I’ll have to study them more and see if that’s the norm for this flock.

resting NYC pigeon

A couple of squirrels were noshing on walnuts:

Washington Square Park squirrels eating

The smaller squirrel was being a bit rascally and started to beg the other for its nut:

Washington Square Park squirrel with walnut

Washington Square Park squirrels

“I can has walnut?”

Washington Square Park squirrel begging for food

I saw one of the Hawks circling just east of the park but it moved too quickly to photograph. I searched for it for about 20 minutes but it was nowhere to be seen so I returned to the park.

Bathing beauties on one of the lawns:

Washington Square Park pigeons preening on lawn

Washington Square Park pigeons preening on lawn


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4 thoughts on “Migrating birds and content park denizens – October 7th, 2018

  1. Quite sure you read the column in today’s NYTimes about the Central Park squirrel census!? Most folks reading it would instantly say: “too many!” Same for pigeons, I suspect.
    Any response from any of the people you contacted re: construction v. RTH nest? As for no work on Columbus Day – not so; our bldg. has scaffolding up, and workers are there, despite the icky weather. Time frame is important; want to get it done prior to winter-shut down.
    As always – thank you!

  2. The sidewalk must be warm for the pigeons, just like the grass is warm for the ones on the lawn. Beautiful photographs of the squirrels. When I was a little girl growing up in New Jersey I always fed the squirrels crackers, and loved the way they turned round crackers in an endless circle until the last bite. Are your photographs getting better and better all the time or have they been this great all along? Gorgeous shots of the birds and squirrels. Thanks so much for sharing your world with us!! Carlene

    1. Thanks, Carlene! It is adorable the way squirrels rotate food. I have been doing my best to take better pictures so thank you for your kind words! That pigeon flock east of the park has intrigued me so I will keep tabs on those birds too. I have seen Bobby make dives at them in the past but I don’t recall if I’ve ever seen him snatch one.

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