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

Hawk hunts in the trees, squirrely day – September 10th, 2019

A fellow Hawk-watcher shared news of some recent sightings. Two Red-tailed Hawks were perched together on a building heat vent just north of Washington Square Park on Saturday the 7th. This building perch is a regular one for our Hawks and I’m going by the assumption right now it was Sadie and Juno seated up there considering their proximity to the park.

The other sighting was of a Hawk hunting in the park trees yesterday. The identity of this Hawk was not confirmed but this activity was very welcome news. It was either one of the resident Hawks or a Hawk passing through.

I got my telephoto lens back from the repair shop today and immediately went Hawking! However I saw no Hawks despite my extended search in both Washington Square and Union Square Parks. There was some nice “B roll” action to photograph though.

A squirrel drinking mystery fluid on one of the park paths:

Squirrel drinking from path

Sparrows eating grass seed:

Sparrows eating grass seed

Sparrow eating Washington Square Park grass seed

Bounding squirrel with a peanut in its mouth:

Squirrel running across park lawn with peanut in his mouth

Master balancer:

Squirrel on fence with peanut in his mouth

This is a view from Union Square Park looking straight south toward Washington Square Park. You can see part of the red stone of the NYU Bobst Library (location of the Hawk nest) in the center:

NYU buildings seen from Union Square Park

Back in Washington Square Park where I noticed some of the leaves are starting to yellow already:

Yellow gingko leaves Washington Square Park

Another nutty squirrel:

running park squirrel with nut in his mouth


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12 thoughts on “Hawk hunts in the trees, squirrely day – September 10th, 2019

  1. You just have to laugh at the antics of the squirrels.
    They become so bold and when I am out walking the pup, the squirrels dare you to get close and allow you to get about 3 feet of them, this is “up close and personal” before they dash off. “Mac”, my 30 pound terrier just about goes up the tree in an attempt to catch the energetic residents of the trees.
    Thank goodness for the leash!
    Thanks for showing the “neighbors” living in WSP.

    1. Hi, they were on top of the building that houses CVS (on the corner of University Place and 8th Street). That heat vent is very popular with the Hawks during winter. They will sit up there for long stretches staying warm.

  2. Hi. I have been following the WSP hawks since Pip’s year. Always admiring your stunning pictures and the dedication with which you follow them. I’ve usually checked in almost daily, year round. This time, with dear Bobby’s disappearance and then Sadie’s dedicated mothering almost going for naught with Juno’s attempted infanticides, has been hard to watch. So, I’ve not frequented the website as much. What has become of the fledglings recently? Are any of them well and out and about? I know no one is on top of this topic as you are. Also, the photo you’ve had this year, of the rat being delivered to the nest, is one of the most amazing photos I’ve ever seen.

    1. Thanks, Janet! The fledglings haven’t been seen in months. No one knows what became of them. They were not observed hunting in the park but one was seen hunting just east of the park but disappeared not long after.

  3. Hello Roger,

    I haven’t written you for years but I’ve always followed you since the days of Pip. Felt very sad over the lost of Bobby and extremely frustrated at Juno but it is what it is. If Juno and Sadie have babies next year I hope Juno will be as good a father as Bobby was. Thank you so much for keeping up this blog for so many years and be well. Teri (formerly TR or Amazed TR).

    1. Hello again! Losing Bobby and then having this year’s brood go so terribly wrong at the end has been devastating. But I too wish the best for Sadie and her new mate Juno now despite all. Thank you for your kind words, I appreciate them!

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