I saw Bobby sitting on one of his regular spots on NYU’s Silver Center when I arrived in Washington Square Park today:
He often tucks himself further back into this corner when it rains hard.
He was only there for a minute before he leapt off and started flying over the park:
He screamed a few times at whatever he was pursuing (I assume he was chasing one of the Cooper’s Hawks that have been visiting the park lately):
He circled very high east of the park for five minutes then darted northeast. I thought he might be headed right for the Con Edison tower so I moved to where I could get a view.
I saw two Hawks on the tower but I couldn’t tell which Hawk was on the top and which was on the base:
Several pigeons flew nervously to and from the park arch (a sign that a Cooper’s Hawk was around):
Pigeons flying above the park, the Con Edison tower with the seated Red-tailed Hawks in the background:
At last, a Cooper’s Hawk circled above and chased the pigeons (nearly 15 minutes after Bobby flew to the tower):
The Cooper’s Hawk looked like it was only half-hunting. I lost sight of it as it flew east away from the park.
One then the other Red-tailed Hawk flew off the Con Ed tower over the next ten minutes.
I was happy to see Bobby approach the back of One Fifth Avenue (an apartment building just outside the north border of the park):
He settled down on his perch and didn’t move for another 40 minutes.
A Cooper’s Hawk (re)appeared and was very active in the park under Bobby’s nose.
It flew to the pigeons then landed in a tree near the arch:
I got to spend the next 10 minutes near the Cooper’s Hawk as it rested, stretched, and preened.
Diving down to a lawn nearby:
It landed on the ground but didn’t catch anything. It flew past the arch, over the square, then perched in a couple of trees before leaving the park:
The pigeons panicked every time the Cooper’s Hawk moved.
The Cooper’s Hawk high in a new tree:
Back to watching Bobby:
He flew eastward away from the park:
The pigeons back on the arch (they did not budge when Bobby flew past them):
I thought I might check the Con Edison tower one more time before leaving and was delighted to see both Hawks sitting on the crown:
Your picture of the Cooper’s hawk , is gorgeous and text book quality, Roger_Paw.
Is the Cooper’s hawk larger than Bobbie or just an illusion , to me?
Beautiful day in the park today and thanks for taking us along w/ you.
It was such a beautiful autumn day in the park.
A Cooper’s Hawk is smaller than a Red-tail but I see what you mean by it looking so big. I was able to stand near its tree and find a good angle to really zoom in on it. Thank you!