Upper East Side: Kestrels Mating 12-Apr-2008

American Kestrels
MANHATTAN — UPPER EAST SIDE
Images by BEN CACACE

The image above is an animation of 22 stills taken on Saturday 12-April-2008 from 6:03:20 — 6:03:32 EDST.

The pair has appeared in the area for the current breeding season. The nest location has not been found yet. As far as I know this area has not hosted a kestrel pair for at least the past 11 years since I've been living here.

Here's a map of various perches used by the kestrels. The location of the antenna in the above image is #1 on the map.

The animation is set to run twice since reloading (Ctrl+R) the web page doesn't always work.

Park Ave. Peregrines Are Back: 14-Mar-2008

Today I spent a half hour during lunch hour plus a little less than a hour after work watching raptors over Park Ave. from a convenient seat near 52nd St.

From 12:20p to 1:10p I had 4 sightings of raptors. The 1st was a local Peregrine Falcon circling west of the Met Life Building. The 2nd was a high flying Peregrine heading due northwest. I wasn't sure if it was a migrant or a local. Shortly after this I briefly viewed a vulture heading due north but didn't have a long enough look to confirm it as a Turkey Vulture.

After this unexpected flurry of raptors I went to pick up lunch and spotted a low flying Peregrine Falcon over 48th St. and 2nd Ave. heading due west. Not bad for a half hour's effort!

In the evening, at 5:30p, I headed for the same spot and after a few minutes spotted a fast flying Peregrine Falcon high up heading due north at 5:38p.

Then I saw what I had been hoping to see all year.

The following activity took place between 5:45p & 6:20p. First, a Peregrine was seen flying in from the west. It landed on the NW corner of the UBS Building at 299 Park Ave. It was joined seconds later by another falcon! The first to land was the first to leave heading W and landing on the western tower of 280 Park Ave.

This falcon, which turned out to be the male of the pair, was carrying prey back to 280 Park Ave. Minutes later the female flew at the perched male. The tiercel then flew towards the west eventually returning to the same rooftop.

The male was feeding on the prey all along with the female taking her turn for a brief period before she eventually left the food on the roof with the male falcon. I didn't see her after losing her just north of 280 Park Ave. as she was making lazy clock-wise circles on stiff wings.

After close to a half hour feeding on the roof the male Peregrine finally headed east for the near tower on the Waldorf-Astoria landing on its south face out of view.

This was very unexpected. I've been looking for Peregrines in the area for many months. This is the 1st time seeing the pair together this year.

It would be interesting to find out whether this pair is using the Met Life Building's nest box or if they are establishing their own territory as I suspected last year.

These falcons may be the pair displaced from the General Motors Building when the construction was happening around their nest site while the Apple Building was under construction.

Only coordinated efforts will determine whether there are 1 or 2 pairs of Peregrines in the neighborhood.

Central Park Report: 18-Aug-2007

DATE: Saturday, 18 August 2007 (3:45p-7:20p)
LOCATION: Central Park - reservoir & north end
REPORTED BY: Ben Cacace

It's easy to see Central Park is not a nature sanctuary. While counting the Mallards on the Meer I spotted one with a huge fishing lure lodged in its lower bill. Last week the same was seen with a Canada Goose.

While birding the Wildflower Sanctuary I was cursed out by a dog 'walker' who didn't want to hear what the rules had to say about his off leash dog - a beautiful Border Collie.

Sooner or later one of the Red-tailed Hawks will be killed by rodenticide use in the park. Many traps can be spotted in key locations. If anyone knows anything about using rodenticides in a raptor's territory please take a look at and let me know OFF LIST whether these baiting stations are legal.

Sorry for the rank but it's tough seeing these things going down without anything being done about it. I never see any rangers around when I'm out birding Central Park though they do seem to appear out of nowhere when a tripod is setup on one of the lawns. The police officers don't appear to enforce park rules. Rules are great but unfortunately it takes enforcement to make them stick.

I know fishing is 'legal' in Central Park but much harm is done from discarded fishing lures and fishing line. I think photographs of these incidents, seen by many park birders, should make a difference if shown to park officials. In my opinion there's no need to have catch and release fishing in Central Park.

** Total species - 31 **

[Categories based on the Central Park checklist.]

'Rare' (seen fewer than 10 times betw. 1970 & publ. of list) [1 spp]:
+ Blue-winged Teal - 1 female-type continues on the Meer

'Less Common' migrants [2 spp]:
+ Gadwall - At least 18 on 3 bodies of water: reservoir (6), Pool (3) & Meer (9+)
+ Spotted Sandpiper - 1 juvenile feeding on the grass on E edge of Meer - approached close to where I was standing

'Common' migrants [12 spp]:
- Double-crested Cormorant - At least 26 on the reservoir
- Chimney Swift - At least 15 sightings incl. a group of 8 over C.P.W. & 108th St.
- Northern Flicker - 1 heard
- Eastern Kingbird - Several seen and heard on North Meadow (3+)
- Barn Swallow - At least 8 sightings incl. 4 over North Meadow & 4 over the Meer (none seen around the reservoir)
- American Robin - Many (60+)
- Gray Catbird - 1 heard
- Yellow Warbler - 1 just W of the bridge leading to the Tennis Courts at N end of reservoir
- Black-and-white Warbler - 1 at the NE corner of the reservoir
- Common Yellowthroat - 1 female in the Wildflower Meadow
- Common Grackle - Several (3+)
- Baltimore Oriole - 2 heard

Year round residents [16 spp]:
- Canada Goose - At least 40 on the Meer
- Mallard - At least 120 on 2 bodies of water: Pool (30+) & Meer (90+)
- Red-tailed Hawk - 1 on the NE tower of the Beresford above C.P.W. between 81st/82nd St.
- Ring-billed Gull - At least 2 on the reservoir
- Herring Gull - At least 50 on the reservoir
- Great Black-backed Gull - At least 20 on the reservoir
- Rock Pigeon - Several (12+)
- Mourning Dove - At least 7 throughout the park
- Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 heard
- Downy Woodpecker - Several heard and seen (4+)
- Blue Jay - Several heard and seen (3+)
- Tufted Titmouse - 1 over the Loch near the Wildflower Meadow
+ Northern Mockingbird - 1 display flying over the Meer
- European Starling - 1 around the reservoir
- Northern Cardinal - 1 male seen on the north side of the drive
- House Sparrow - Several (24+)

Central Park Reservoir: 5 Common Loons 18-Apr

Three of Five Common Loons CENTRAL PARK — RESERVOIR Image by B. Cacace (click either image for a wider view) 420mm | ISO: 200 | Shutter: 1/160s | Aperture: f/5.6

The number of Common Loons in breeding plumage on Central Park's reservoir has increased to five. All were seen on the surface simultaneously.

Two were feeding in close proximity to each other.

To read the full report of the birds seen in the park after work click here.

Park Ave. Peregrine Falcons: 7 April 2007

♀ 280 Park Ave. 7-Apr 5:25pm photo by B. Cacace 420mm | ISO: 80 | Shutter: 1/400s | Aperture: f/6.3	PF Over Park Ave. 7-Apr 5:28pm photo by B. Cacace 420mm | ISO: 80 | Shutter: 1/640s | Aperture: f/5.6

I decided to record the 3rd round of the Master's in order to check up on the Peregrine pair. The highly processed image above is an uncompressed view of my 1st flight shot of any kind.

Bruce Yolton of ‘Urban Hawks’ was already at the site with his camera. Soon we were watching an already perched falcon at the base of the ‘flag’ on the ‘Mutual of America Building’ (299 Park Ave.) This perch can be seen in the post from March 30th.

Bruce took a number of photos from 50th St. on the east side of Park Ave. The falcon was facing south the whole time and remained in the same position from 3:20pm - 4:05pm.

Bruce then headed off to Central Park. I went off to take care of some chores. When I turned to look at the perch at 46th St. the falcon wasn't there.

On my way back I passed by 46th St. & Park Ave. and spotted a falcon circling over Park Ave. The falcon then entered an opening at the top of a building's east face. This may be the site of their nest.

The falcon exited the site followed by its mate. One falcon landed on the roof of 280 Park Ave. Soon after the male circled then landed on the female for the 1st mating I've seen by this pair for the season. This is also the 1st time seeing a Peregrine perched on the roof of 280 Park Ave.

Shortly after mating the male falcon headed out and entered the east face of the probable nest site.

The female was on the perch from 5:18pm leaving at 5:27pm. It returned to the area at 5:29pm and circled over Park Ave. then entered the ‘nest site’. One exited (not sure which) and circled over the avenue and then headed towards the east.

I left the site at 5:30pm.

Park Ave. Peregrine Falcons: 30 March 2007

320 Park Ave. (7:05pm EDT) 345mm | ISO: 200 | Shutter: 1/25s | Aperture: f/3.6

After spending a few evenings watching this pair of Peregrines some patterns are emerging:

• They prefer certain perches over others. Four buildings have been used for this purpose and 2 are used more often than the others. The preferred buildings are 299 Park Ave. (‘UBS Building’) & 320 Park Ave. (‘Mutual of America Building’)
• The pair have engaged in some tandem flights. One will head out and the other will leave its perch and lead or follow the 1st. It's not possible from my vantage point to see the results of this behavior.

During lunch I spotted a Peregrine Falcon going to perch on 320 Park Ave. at 12:50pm . At 12:57pm it left towards the SE over 51st St. I departed at 1:00pm.

Also seen were 3 Turkey Vultures heading NW over Lexington Ave. at 12:50pm.

After work I stopped by the site again. I arrived at 5:28pm & left at 7:20pm.

After scanning the tops of the buildings I picked up the 1st Peregrine which was already on 320 Park Ave. on a favorite perch pictured in the March 28th entry. This perch is on the south side of the roof. The building is on the west side of the avenue.

Shortly after at 5:32pm I spotted an already perched falcon on the southeast corner of 350 Park Ave. (‘Park Ave. Bank Building’). By 5:30pm it set off to the east then headed back towards 320 Park Ave. and then it was gone. Later on at 5:47pm this Peregrine was seen heading north over Madison Ave. I didn't seen where it was originally perched.

At 6:36pm the 320 Park Ave. bird went through every conceivable type of stretching possible — wing & leg, tail spread plus a lifting of both wings which has been referred to as the ‘De Lorean’. This phrase was coined by D. Bruce Yolton while watching owls preparing to fly out. The camera wasn't out to capture any of these poses.

At 6:48pm, more than 80 minutes on the same perch, the 320 Park Ave. falcon lifted off and traced a few counterclockwise circles. It then headed towards a building's east face into one of the openings near the roof — 4 openings from the north edge.

Within a minute the other Peregrine arrived from the south to enter the same face on the same building — 3 openings from the south edge.

At 6:50pm a falcon exited the building and headed to a new perch on 320 Park Ave pictured in the photo above.

At 7:11pm the female Peregrine (the size difference is obvious when they're seen together) left the building heading north along Park Ave. The 320 Park Ave. falcon then left its perch leading the female. They both headed north. When they passed the Four Seasons Hotel (around 58th St.) they veered west over Central Park.

I left shortly after at 7:20pm.

Question: Does anyone know of a place where the public can visit in a building surrounding the territory where these Peregrines have set up their territory? Thanks in advance.

Park Ave. Peregrine Falcons: 29 March 2007

299 Park Ave. (5:32pm EDT) 35mm film equiv.: 420mm | ISO: 80 | Shutter: 1/200s | Aperture: f/5.6

The evening session was cut short due to headache. It was enough to make it a worthwhile.

I stayed for an hour arriving at 5:13pm.

At 5:31pm, 18 minutes after arriving, a Peregrine was spotted moving south along Park Ave. to perch on the northwest corner of 299 Park Ave. (‘UBS Building’).

While the 299 Park Ave. falcon was scanning the territory another Peregrine was seen flying north from a building's opening at 6:09pm. It headed for a favorite perch on 320 Park Ave. (‘Mutual of America Building’) on its south facing side.

While photographing the 320 Park Ave. falcon I spotted the 299 Park Ave. Peregrine heading north behind the 320 Park Ave. building. Even though I was looking west along 52nd St. I didn't see it flying north of 52nd St.

Shortly after the previously seen north bound falcon was heading south towards the opening of a building's east face. This opening is 5 from the south side.

I left the site with a falcon still perched on 320 Park Ave. at 6:15pm.

Park Ave. Peregrine Falcons : 28 March 2007

320 Park Ave. (7:07pm EDT) 35mm film equiv.: 405mm | ISO: 80 | Shutter: 1/30 | Aperture: f/3.7

Activity was seen from 7:02pm-7:21pm.

I arrived at 7:00pm and spotted a Peregrine Falcon exiting an opening from a building's south face. It then headed west, then north, then perched on the south side of 320 Park Ave. (‘Mutual of America Building’). The photo on the right was taken at this time.

At 7:19pm a 2nd falcon was seen heading north just west of Park Ave. It continued north & disappeared from view between the ‘Sony Building’ (the ex-ITT Building) and the Four Seasons Hotel off Central Park South.

At 7:21p the 320 Park Ave. Peregrine left its perch & circled a few times over Park Ave. It then headed west disappearing south behind the ‘Mutual of America Building’.

I left the site at 7:30pm. So far I've been able to view activity over Park Ave. on each day I've visited the site. This is a better hit rate versus viewing Peregrines from the south end of Central Park.

Park Ave. Peregrines & CZA: 25 March

Peregrine Falcon
WALDORF-ASTORIA HOTEL (PARK AVENUE)
Image by BEN CACACE
(Click image for a larger view)

Peregrine Falcon
MUTUAL OF AMERICA BUILDING (320 PARK AVE.)
Image by BEN CACACE
(Click image for a larger view)

Recently I spotted some activity over Park Ave. that suggests there may be some nesting in the area north of the Met Life Building.

On March 21st I watched a Peregrine Falcon circling over Park Ave. while I was heading back to work. I followed it to a perch just below the roof of a building. A few openings away from this Peregrine was a second falcon perched on the same level just below the fencing.

Over the next few minutes the Peregrines were seen perched side-by-side with one of them entering the opening and then leaving the site with something in its talons. The whole time spent observing was no more than 20 minutes.

Tonight I stopped by the site to see if there was any activity that could lead to a definitive nest location. Five minutes after settling in I spotted both falcons heading north. The male was in the lead followed by the female. This occurred around 5:10p.

Watching Peregrine Falcons is mainly a waiting game. When I was at the site the day after first spotting the pair it took 4 outings before I saw any activity.

Tonight, after the 5:10p sighting, I waited for 40 minutes before a Peregrine returned to the area. It circled and perched on 320 Park Ave. (the ‘Mutual of America’ building) between 51st and 52nd St. After 5 minutes it flew east to the west tower of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel which is a huge building.

It remained on this perch for 35 minutes. When it left at 6:33p it took the same path as the pair did when I saw them heading north at 5:10p.

I left the area at 6:45p.

The photos were taken with a 420mm (35mm equivalent) lens, hand held with image stabilization. A larger lens mounted on tripod should pull in some nice photos.

Circumzenithal Arc — 5:15p EDT
MANHATTAN OVER PARK AVE.
Image by BEN CACACE
(Click image for a larger view)

The image above is a circumzenithal arc (CZA) I took this evening. The image was shot at 5:15p. The internal clock on the camera was not adjusted for Daylight Saving Time in case you can see the EXIF information.

The altitude of the Sun at the time of the photo was a bit over 21°. The greatest brilliancy for a CZA is when the altitude of the Sun is 22° which was 5 minutes earlier. CZAs cannot form when the altitude of the Sun is 32° or higher. I wish I took down the time when the CZA disappeared but my focus was on the falcons. An hour before the photo was taken was when the Sun was 32° above the horizon.

Some references for circumzenithal arcs:

• Wikipedia
• Atmospheric Optics
• Meteoros

Bald Eagle on Reservoir 24-Feb-2007

Bald Eagle - juvenile
CENTRAL PARK — RESERVOIR
Image by BEN CACACE
(Click image for a wider view)

DATE: Saturday, 24 February 2007 (7:50a-2:20p)
LOCATION: Central Park - reservoir to south end of park
OBSERVERS: Omar Morales, Ben Cacace
REPORTED BY: Ben Cacace

Even though the reservoir was almost completely frozen over we decided to take a trip around the running track. The only open water on the reservoir continues around the 'fountain' in the SW quadrant. In this opening were ~50 Canada Geese, 6 American Coots & several Ring-billed Gulls. It's unfortunate I didn't make a count of the gulls.

As we made our way along the east side of the reservoir heading north I noticed all the gulls just lifted off the reservoir. I always look for raptors in the sky when this happens and this time we were rewarded with a juvenile Bald Eagle carrying one of the Ring-billed Gulls. The eagle started climbing a bit but then started settling into descending loops and finally landed out in the middle of the reservoir on the ice.

It was almost immediately joined by 3 crows waiting on scraps.

The eagle was not spotted arriving but was seen shortly after the gulls lifted and it already had the Ring-billed in its talons.

Also seen were 6 Red-tailed Hawks. Both sets of adults from the 5th Ave. nest and the Trump Parc nest. A hawk was seen north of the reservoir and on my way to the south end there was a juvenile RT feasting on a pigeon just east of the Falconer's statue.

The male Northern Pintail continues on The Pond at the south end of the park.

Photos of the Bald Eagle can be found on my blog at:

** Total species - 33 **

'Infrequent' migrants [1 spp]:
+ Northern Pintail - 1 male on The Pond at S end of park

'Less Common' migrants [3 spp]:
+ Bald Eagle - 1 juvenile (probable 1st year) on the reservoir's ice feeding on a Ring-billed Gull
+ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1 heard near Chess & Checkers House
+ Fox Sparrow - 1 just N of Swedish Cottage W of Shakespeare Garden

'Common' migrants [13 spp]:
- American Black Duck - At least 6 incl. 4 on the lake plus 2 on The Pond
- Northern Shoveler - At least 12 on the lake
- Ruddy Duck - At least 3 on the lake (2f/1m)
- American Coot - 6 continue on the reservoir
- Northern Flicker - 2 incl. 1 female near Locust plus 1 male on Sheep Meadow
- White-breasted Nuthatch - At least 6 throughout the park
- American Robin - 2 in The Oven (Ramble)
- Eastern Towhee - 1 male around Strawberry Fields
- Song Sparrow - 1 on N edge of Turtle Pond
- White-throated Sparrow - Several dozen throughout the park (~100)
- Red-winged Blackbird - 2 adult males around Evodia Field feeders
- Common Grackle - At least 2 dozen (~24)
- American Goldfinch - At least 4 around Evodia Field feeders

Year round residents [16 spp]:
- Canada Goose - Approximately 50 in open water near the reservoir's fountain
- Mute Swan - 4: 2 on the lake plus 2 on The Pond
- Mallard - Approximately 100 on the lake plus 100 on The Pond
- Red-tailed Hawk - 6: 1 N of reservoir, 2 adults: 5th Ave nest, juv feeding near Falconer's statue, adults: S end nest
- Ring-billed Gull - Several dozen on the lake including several on the reservoir before the Bald Eagle arrived (~48)
- Rock Pigeon - Several dozen (~80)
- Mourning Dove - Several throughout the park (~6)
- Red-bellied Woodpecker - Several seen and heard (~4)
- Downy Woodpecker - Several seen and heard (~5)
- Blue Jay - Several throughout the park (~12)
- American Crow - 3 on the reservoir interacting with Bald Eagle while waiting for scraps
- Tufted Titmouse - At least a dozen throughout the park (~12)
- European Starling - At least 12 throughout the park
- Northern Cardinal - At least 4 in The Ramble
- House Finch - At least 2 dozen around Evodia Field feeders (~24)
- House Sparrow - At least 3 dozen (~36)

Central Park Reservoir: 16-Feb-2007

AMERICAN COOT
CENTRAL PARK — RESERVOIR
Images by BEN CACACE
(Click image for a larger view)

Last night I made my first trip to the reservoir after work seeing that sunset is starting to fit in with quitting time.

I arrived at 5:26pm, roughly 5 minutes before sunset. I left the reservoir a few minutes before 6pm. I didn't know what shape the reservoir would be in but I wasn't too surprised that the ice coverage is close to 100%.

The only sizeable open water exists just south and east of the ‘fountain’ near the reservoir's south edge. The waterfowl in this small open area has been filtered down to American Coots. These were the only ducks on the reservoir.

‘Birds of North America’ on-line says this about their flight:

“An extended period of Splattering along water’s surface required to become airborne …”

I wonder if this is the reason only coots remain on the reservoir.

Before leaving the reservoir a single White-throated Sparrow landed in a leafless bush. It called for a time while it was looking for a place to rest. It finally perched on the downwind side of a branch and appeared to be settled in for the night.

Before exiting the park at 81st St. & Central Park West a Red-tailed Hawk was seen roosting on the window frame of the Beresford Building's south-east tower. With westerly winds this appeared to be a very comfortable east facing perch.