Sadie’s acrobatics, babies explore the nest ledge – May 21st, 2019

It was quite blustery today but Sadie did a great job battling the winds as she went to and fro around Washington Square Park.

I first saw her as she approached the One Fifth Avenue apartment building:

She perched for only 7 minutes before tucking into a steep dive:

I thought she was hunting until she righted herself and began screaming at something in the distance:

I did not realize she was screaming at the time so I did not think to look around and see what she was focused on.

She did some acrobatic flying as she fought heavy gusts:

She then rose higher and flew over the nest and traveled far southeast of the park.

The Hawk babies have been exploring the whole nest ledge over the last week. One of them was tucked in the far right corner at one point:

Sadie was still away so I took in some other sights while I waited for her return.

Sparrows were eating flowers by the big dog run:

Dover the pigeon landed in a tree nearby and sat for a few seconds before moving to another tree:

Sadie returned but then flew a couple of blocks north before diving down out of sight.

Movement in the nest caught my eye around 20 minutes later and I thought it might be Sadie landing in the nest but it was one of the babies flapping its wings!

The young Hawks are getting so big and their wings are filling in nicely.

A Red Admiral butterfly in a north lawn:

Bees circulated among the same flowers.

Standing tall:

I was hoping to see Sadie return to the nest but she stayed north of the park for the remainder of my outing.