Laura Goggin Photography

Bald Eagle mobbed by Kingbirds

2026-07-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

Last week, I posted some photos of Red-Tailed Hawk, Amelia, being mobbed by a Northern Mockingbird. I've always thought Mockingbirds to be the gutsiest of all the small birds when it comes to assaulting raptors. A recent experience, however, has changed my mind.

I now declare Eastern Kingbirds masters of mobbing.

I was hiking on a rainy day when I heard a Kingbird calling, followed by the cries of a young Bald Eagle. It turns out the Eagle had committed the crime of perching in the Kingbird's tree.

A pair of Kingbirds harassed the Eagle until it flew out of the tree, at which point they followed and aggressively bit the Eagle on the back and head.

This was the first time I'd ever seen the golden crowns of the Kingbirds (visible in the photo below), a sign they were really riled up.

This was one of the most exciting bird observations I've had, so I was annoyed that it happened on a dark rainy day with bad light, but I'm happy to have been able to get these photos even if they aren't the best quality.

In the end, the Kingbirds chased the Eagle far from their tree, which they returned to, victorious.

On the same day, I found an adult Bald Eagle being bullied by a Mockingbird.

It was interesting to note that the Mockingbird approached the adult Eagle from behind and bit its tail rather than going for the head. Maybe the Mockingbird recognized that this was a more experienced and threatening enemy than the young inexperienced Eagle.

Eventually, the persistent Mockingbird won this battle as well, driving the Eagle off its perch and out of the area.

Mid-summer Tompkins Square hawk round-up

2026-07-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

July is almost over, and the Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawk fledglings are spending more time outside the park, which makes them more difficult to find.

At least one of them, however, is still making regular appearances in the park.

This particular individual was actively chasing after squirrels near Avenue A on a recent afternoon.

I like how the young hawks can so easily blend into the streetscape.

I was watching the hawk from across the lawn when it flew and landed right in front of me. I couldn't believe it and had to back up as it was so close.

On its way to torment some squirrels...

The three squirrels on this tree scattered when they saw the raptor approaching.

Failing to catch a squirrel, the hawk grabbed a piece of wood and took off with that instead.

Looking for its next target...

One of the other three siblings:

This fledgling caught a pigeon and found a private space in a garden to eat it.

Meanwhile, this fledgling tried its luck with rodents along 10th Street.

And this fledgling gets a face full of feathers as it plucks a pigeon on the ground.

Each year, our time with the hawks seems so short. They hatched in late April and only came out of the nest the second week of June. In general, they embark on their migrations in August, but we've had some in the past stay through September. You can see information about previous hawk seasons on my Tompkins Square Hawk Archives page.

Bird mobbing

2026-07-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

Part of being a raptor is dealing with mobbing by other birds. Resident Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawk, Amelia, is a master of patience when it comes to ignoring annoying little bullies.

Below, Amelia perches on one of the towers of St Brigid's Church while a Northern Mockingbird watches her.

The Mockingbird yells at her, but Amelia barely glances its way.

The Mockingbird is not having it, though, and goes on the offense.

It jabs Amelia in the back with its feet.

The Mockingbird went at her several times, but Amelia just gave it a dirty look and went on about her day.

This is Amelia earlier in the summer perched on the cross of St Nicholas of Myra Church on a rainy day. The weather didn't keep a Blue Jay from pestering her.

A male Kestrel joined the Blue Jay in assaulting the hawk.

The Kestrel succeeded in getting Amelia riled up.

Sometimes the mobber becomes the target, like this female Kestrel getting side-swiped by a Blue Jay.

This young Red-Tailed Hawk in Brooklyn gets mobbed by an American Crow.

And this adult Red-Tailed Hawk is chased by a Red-Winged Blackbird at Governors Island.

Here's another hawk being pursued by a crow.

This is a terrible photo, but I like the way this young hawk is looking back at the Kestrel chasing it.

Back in 2018, Amelia and her fledglings were all mobbed by an interesting Mockingbird that was missing its tail.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings are still hunting around the park

2026-07-22T16:03:52.709-04:00

It's getting trickier to find all three Tompkins Square Red-Tailed hawk fledglings, but they're still spending time in the park. Lately, they've often been hidden in the dense leaves of trees as they get better at being hunters.

This one suddenly appeared in the open during a recent visit when it dove after...something.

Not to worry, though, as the young hawks are still making appearances for photo-ops.

Two of the three were spotted chasing after things in one of the garden areas recently, but it's getting harder to catch them together like this.

Look at those legs!

All three fledglings are able to catch their own prey now, but they still call on mom and dad to help feed them. The big American Elm tree west of the Temperance Fountain is a popular spot for them to hang out and eat.

When it's hot, the birds will hold their wings out to cool off. They also open their mouths, which is normal.

Diving like dad, Charlie.

They're looking more grown up every day.

Tompkins Square hawks dealing with the weather

2026-07-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

We've had some crazy weather over the last week including record high temperatures, dangerous air from Canadian wildfire smoke, and several severe rain storms. While I can take shelter when ever I want, our wildlife is outside 24/7 enduring these conditions.

Saturday afternoon, I found one of the Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawk fledglings drying out after a rain storm. It was perched on a structure south of the park on 7th Street, where it was able to take advantage of a breeze.

A few minutes prior, I found mom Amelia in the park during a downpour. She looked miserable and would probably hate this photo of her, LOL.

Before the cleansing rain, we had a couple of days of orangish-brown smoky skies caused by wildfires in Ontario. I had to wear a mask because the air irritated my lungs, but the birds were out and about as usual. I saw two of the three fledglings soaring over the park - this is a photo of one of them. The sky and bird look muddy.

And here's a view of Amelia perched on Most Holy Redeemer in the murk. She's barely visible at the bottom left of the dome.

Although the air was bad for a few days, it wasn't as bad as June 7, 2023, when the sky over NYC turned a surreal orange. I always worry about the wildlife during these times, having to breathe such bad quality air. When the rain finally comes, it must feel like a relief.

An appreciation of Ospreys

2026-07-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

Summer in NYC is Osprey season.

They need access to water where they can fish, and we have a lot of that around here. This pair has built a nest along the East River, seen here with the Manhattan Bridge in the background.

To learn about what goes on in an Osprey nest, I always recommend tuning in to the Hellgate (Montana) Osprey Cam which features Iris, the oldest known Osprey (around 30 years old). She is an incredible bird and is raising one chick this year with her new mate, Clark.

The Osprey below kept teasing me by flying close to the moon, but never past it. Ah, well.

Here is a sequence of an Osprey going for a fish.

Failing to nab a fish, the Osprey opted for a bath instead.

It takes an enormous amount of strength to lift and flap itself out of the water.

I could watch Ospreys diving all day. A good place to see them fishing is the salt marsh at Marine Park in Brooklyn, or Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens.

Tompkins Square hawks gone wild

2026-07-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

I really love how the fledgling red-tailed hawks thrill people in Tompkins Square Park. A lot of the time, the birds go unnoticed as they hang out in conspicuous places.

Then again, they deliver some shock and awe to unsuspecting observers. The fledgling below was playing on the grass, then suddenly took off.

We have to remember these young hawks are still learning to fly and haven't quite mastered all aspects of flight control. I think we all assumed this fledgling would make a turn earlier in its flight path...then that moment of realization the the hawk is still heading straight ahead.

LOL. It's hard to tell if the hawk knew what it was doing here when it pulled up at the last second.

This particular individual put on quite a show on this afternoon. It pulled many crazy flight maneuvers, played with sticks in the grass, chased after squirrels, and perched in places where people could easily admire it.

This is one of the other siblings minutes after it caught a pigeon. Having accomplished that, it quickly looked around for another opportunity.

This fledgling conquers a big stick.

It's getting harder to find the hawks in the park now that they're exploring the area more. A good way to find them is to listen to other birds (particularly robins and blue jays) screaming about their presence. The sound of angry birds usually means there's a hawk nearby.

Although the fledglings are well on their way to self-sufficiency, dad Charlie is still there to help out with providing food. I caught him hunting from a light pole in the park on a recent morning.

And mom Amelia is ever present, watching over the whole family.

Keep an eye out on the streets surrounding the park for fledglings who may be perched on buildings. They have been taking an interest in the pigeon flocks that reside around the park and have been spending more time on the perimeter.

Tompkins Square hawk fledgling plays with a feather, catches a pigeon

2026-07-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

One of the cutest things I've observed this hawk season in Tompkins Square is seeing one of the fledglings play with a hawk feather molted by one if its parents.

This might be my favorite image from this season.

The young hawks will play with almost anything and feathers make good toys.

The fledgling chases after the feather as it blows away.

A little video:

After wearing itself out hunting the feather, the hawk takes a rest in the grass.

Passers-by were worried about the hawk as it laid in the grass, but this is perfectly normal.

One of the hawk's siblings, however, wanted to play.

Hey, get up!

The first hawk finally did get up, and took off to explore the flower beds.

Meanwhile, the second hawk laid down to sunbathe in the early morning sun.

After rest time, the two hawks enjoyed some time stalking squirrels in the garden.

On the prowl...

On a recent morning, I saw one of the fledgling hawks catch its own pigeon. I'm not sure if this was its first, but judging from the way it caught it (a bit clumsy), I think it could be.

The young hawks have been seen catching rats, so they are on their way to becoming less reliant on their parents for food. Once they are self-sufficient, they will be ready to embark on their migration out of the territory. This usually happens in August or September, so we still have time to enjoy their presence around the park.

Hawks cooling off in the sprinkler in Tompkins Square

2026-07-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

As we all know, staying cool and hydrated in the summer heat is essential. This is also true for our local Red-Tailed Hawks. As the three fledglings increase their activity in Tompkins Square Park, they have taken advantage of the sprinkler on the main lawn.

This young hawk cools its feet in a puddle.

Diving in...

Seeing one of its siblings enjoying the pool, a second fledgling joins the fun.

Here is some video of the hawks drinking water from the puddle and getting their feathers wet.

The hawks are tolerant of the presence of people (they were born in the park and have grown up with all the noise and activity), but they are not tame and people should keep their distance. Overall, I've seen people being very respectful this season.

Here is another video of the same pair in the puddle.

I've noticed the hawks are getting more use out of the puddle rather than standing in the spray of the sprinkler.

The music in the background of these videos is from the Luddite Festival, which has hosted daily events and activities in the park. What could be more natural and unplugged than watching baby hawks grow up and play in the park?

This situation with the lawn being partially closed has just been a coincidence this year. The sprinkler and caution tape was set up because new sod was laid earlier in the summer. It wasn't provided specifically for the hawks, but it's worked out really well for them.

When the lawn puddle isn't available, the hawks will use other water sources like this puddle in the middle of a pathway.

In this video, it's revealed that this hawk was not alone, but watched over by one of its siblings who was nearby.

Hawks generally get all the water they need from their food, but when it's hot, they will drink and bathe where ever they can. Christo used to regularly use a birdbath behind the park offices. It has since been removed, so I'd really love to have another one installed. I've seen the current adult pair (Amelia and Charlie) bathing and drinking from the rain gutters on St Brigid's church on Avenue B.

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings are becoming the stars of the park

2026-07-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

The Tompkins Square Park men's room is one of the busiest rest areas in the city. So I was surprised to see one of the resident red-tailed hawk fledglings perch just outside the door while there were people inside.

The young hawks are very curious and like to investigate areas of activity.

I'm not sure if anyone inside the restroom saw the hawk outside the door, but it must have been an odd sight.

After a few minutes, the hawk took off to look for the next adventure.

Here, all three siblings gather on the grass.

I was thrilled to see all three together like this.

Here is some video of the encounter.

Two of them decided to explore the flower beds.

They spent a lot of time pouncing on things in the plantings. I'm not sure if there were critters running around in there, or of they were just playing.

After a good exercise session in the garden, the pair rest in the shade of a small tree.

Later in the day, I found one of the hawks playing on its own.

Keep an eye out in all the fenced-in areas for the hawks who may be playing and practicing their hunting skills. Tompkins Square is unique for its fences and gardens, which have proven to provide a wonderful habitat for bringing up Red-Tailed Hawks in the city.

Hawks play on the ground in Tompkins Square

2026-07-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

Despite the heat, the Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings have remained active throughout the daytime hours. I don't know how they do it as I've had a hard time coping with this oppressive and sultry weather. Their resilience shows they are in good health and I'm happy to see them full of energy.

The fledgling shave been thrilling people by flying around and perching on fences.

The fenced-in areas of the park provide the perfect habitat for them to safely play on the ground.

There are many playthings to be found in the gardens such as this long stick.

And chunks of wood.

The hawks use the sticks and wood to practice poncing on prey (to date, I've seen one of the hawks catch its own pigeon).

One of the hawks "catches" another piece of wood:

Blink and you may miss them. The hawk fledglings often blend in right in plain sight.

I wasn't in the park for the 4th of July fireworks, so I don't know how the young hawks reacted. We go through this every year, and they've all come through it.

Tompkins Square red-tail fledglings play in the park

2026-07-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

The heat doesn't seem to be keeping the Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings from having fun. They've been very active this week, flying all over the park and investigating the flower gardens.

Two of the three fledglings meet up in a planted area:

They discover a tree branch with proves to be a fascinating toy.

I love how one watches the other try something out first.

Here are a couple of videos of these two in action:

The winner takes the stick.

Having had their fill of the Big Stick, the pair go looking for more entertainment.

One finds another stick.

A squirrel sprints by, briefly drawing the hawks' attention.

After engaging with each other, the two eventually separate and each finds their own object of interest.

These guys look so cute as they waddle through the grass.

Not everyone finds the hawks so amusing. This Blue Jay followed one of the fledglings to the top of a tree where they had a staring match.

They Jay then buzzed the hawk, letting it know it is not welcome.

The hawks are often harassed by smaller birds like Blue Jays, Robins, and Mockingbirds, but they seem to take it all in stride and ignore the little bullies.

More to come after the holiday weekend.

Mid-week Tompkins hawk update

2026-07-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

You may have noticed the Tompkins Square red-tailed hawks flying around the park a lot more recently. The three fledglings have been very active practicing their flying and playing, and at least one has caught its own rat.

In all the previous years, the fledglings have kind of kept a schedule throughout the day when they were active in the early morning and late afternoon, but this year, the hawks seem to be energized throughout the day. That may change as we enter another heat wave this week.

This is one of the fledglings hanging out in a tree in the park. All three have colorful plumage at this stage.

They really are gorgeous.

This one flies past the warm brick of the Christodora along Avenue B.

It landed at the tippy-top of a tree.

After looking around a few seconds, the hawk continued on its exploratory journey of the park.

Eventually, the hawk came down and perched very low in a tree where I was happy to get a good look at it.

The parents will supplement the meals as long as needed. Below, Dad brings in a baby starling.

He's quickly ambushed by one of the fledglings who flies in from behind and grabs the food.

Mom Amelia also actively feeds the fledglings. This is her with the remains of a pigeon.

After giving away the food, she remained in the immediate area and kept an eye on everyone.

I caught her visiting a rooftop which I think may be serving as a food drop. She looked around for a few minutes before taking off empty-taloned.

As the weather heats up, you may see the hawks panting, which is normal. They also come to the ground to play, practice catching prey, and take baths. This is also normal behavior. Give them plenty of space and keep those dogs on a leash!

More to come.

Tompkins Square hawk fledglings curious about their world

2026-06-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

Good morning!

All three Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawk fledglings continue to do well and have been demonstrating their flying skills by dramatically zipping around the park.

This one stretches its wings in preparation for take-off.

I caught up with two of the three siblings the other morning as they waited for Dad to deliver breakfast.

The one on the right couldn't stay still and took off to join its other sibling on the other side of the park.

The hawks are also learning to chase prey, like squirrels. So far, the squirrels have out-witted them.

This squirrel had no tolerance for a hawk at the foot of its tree.

After taunting the hawk a while, the squirrel retreated up the tree and the hawk moved on to other things.

This is the same fledgling taking a walk though a meadow, looking for things of interest.

Maybe there's something interesting in these bushes...

The hawks are just past two months old and are basically toddlers, curious about everything around them. They also need their rest, so this one took a break in the shade and let its wings flop out. They also do this to cool off in hot temps.

Just before sunset, one of the fledglings took an interest in people sitting along a fence. It perched behind them and none of them seemed to notice the giant bird.

One way to find the hawks in the park is to listen to other birds screaming at them. Robins and Blue Jays are the loudest and persistent. I found this fledgling in a tree thanks to the Blue Jay on the right who announced its presence to the world.

Seeing the hawks as they are now, it's hard to believe they were still fuzzy little things just a month ago. The photos below are all from May.

Two chicks peer from the nest:

Showing off those impressive wings:

The threesome having a discussion at the nest:

All three hanging out and stretching:

Getting some exercise:

This is one of the last photos I have of them as they are molting out of their fuzzy down and growing their wing and tail feathers.

More to come...

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings are now two months old

2026-06-26T00:00:00.000-04:00

The Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings are now two months old and are looking great.

They're learning quickly, improving their flying and navigation skills.

I love the patterns on their feathers. Note the toe and talon sticking out in the lower right.

I've been finding two of them close together a lot. Getting all three in one shot has been a challenge.

As always, I'm impressed by their flexibility, especially their necks. The hawk below on the right is getting a better look at its sibling by turning its head around and upside-down.

Note the difference in size of these two. They could be male (smaller) and female (larger), but I can't know for sure.

There's a lot of dropped food around the park, so be careful where you sit. This one scavenged a dead rat from beneath some flowers.

I love the color of the young hawks' eyes, which is a minty green. As they age, their eyes will turn brown.

And here is that scavenged rat from the flower bed...

All three are looking good and appear to be doing well.

Meanwhile, the hawks' parents are keeping close eyes on all the fledglings. This is Amelia the other day perched on the top floor of the Christodora, watching over one of her kids in the park below.

Amelia took off and was replaced by dad, Charlie, in the same spot. After he located all three fledglings, he delivered food to each one.

More to come...

Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings enjoying lazy summer afternoons

2026-06-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

Our fledgling red-tailed hawks in Tompkins Square Park are getting the hang of flying and landing, balancing in trees, and figuring out how to be raptors.

This is one of them in flight along Avenue B.

Looking good!

The three young hawks are getting to know their neighbors, especially the squirrels.

Mom and Dad are still providing food to the fledglings so they can focus on their flying skills. As they are well-fed and content, there's time for relaxing in the warm afternoons. This young hawk is just chilling on a branch.

The young hawks need their nap time as well. Below, one fledgling rests in a bed it made of leaves while its sibling nibbles at it, encouraging it to get up.

Relenting, the sleepy hawk got up and joined its sibling on a nearby branch.

Here is one of the fledglings with mom, Amelia.

They are soon joined by another fledgling.

After a few minutes (with no food to be had), one of the fledglings takes off.

All three young hawks currently have peachy-yellow chests which can help identify them. The pattern of brown spots is unique to each individual.

Looking very serious...

The fledglings all have heavy dark splotching across their bellies, and brown spots on their legs. Their eyes are also a lighter color than the adults, who have brown eyes.

Keep an eye out in the park for people with binoculars who are likely looking at the hawks.

Tompkins Square hawk fledglings exploring trees and (not) sharing meals

2026-06-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

The Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings are quickly honing their flying skills and are becoming more familiar with their environment.

On a recent afternoon, I found one of them at the top of some trees.

The fledgling (below, left) had its eyes on mom, Amelia (below, right).

When it saw her, it tried to make its way up to where she was perched.

Hey, Mom!

The pair stayed up there for a while, watching the activity in the park.

Later, Amelia (below, right), delivered some pigeon dinner to a branch where one of the fledglings (below, left) came to take it from her.

All mine!

The commotion attracted the attention of another fledgling, who joined its sibling on the branch.

The first hawk, however, was not going to share and did its best to block its sibling from getting any of the food.

The hawklet on the right eventually dragged the pigeon to another branch where the other fledgling couldn't reach it.

There's a notable size difference between these two, with one being significantly larger than the other. Below, the hawk on the left appears much smaller than the one on the right. It's possibly they are male and female.

The fledgling on the right also has a lot more brown speckles on its chest, which is helpful when trying to identify them individually.

More to come...

Celebrating the NY Knicks

2026-06-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

Wooo!

I ventured out of the neighborhood on Thursday to go to the parade honoring the New York Knicks. I've been loving the positive energy they have spread around the city and beyond over the last few weeks. I've never felt anything like it before and hope we can keep it going...forever.

Below are a few photos and video from Lower Manhattan.

This drumming group was great and got people dancing.

Here they are in action:

Down at Foley Square, fans took up every available viewing spot.

FDNY was there.

As well as the Sanitation Department. I've never seen a street sweeper decked out like this.

Not every fan was human. This robot in a Knicks jersey attracted many curious onlookers.

You can see more photos of the parade and other Knicks-themed images on my Flickr page.

Tompkins Square fledglings exploring trees

2026-06-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

It's been less than a week since the first Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk chick fledged, but they are already getting the hang of flying and exploring trees. Their parents are staying close to look after them and Dad is being especially attentive.

This is Charlie (right) feeding one of the fledglings in a tree near the Temperance Fountain.

Charlie had caught a pigeon and took it up to the branch where the fledgling perched.

They appeared to have a little discussion about it.

After a few minutes, Charlie took the pigeon to another tree where I think it was easier for him to prepare the meal. He called to the fledgling to follow him, but the kid didn't seem inclined to move from its perch.

Instead, the fledgling took the opportunity to hop around the tree and practice climbing and balancing.

Meanwhile, Dad paid a visit to the other two fledglings who were perched together in another tree. After a few minutes, he took off again.

One of the kids remained behind.

This is Charlie back in the nest tree, maybe checking on larder supplies.

Amelia kept watch over all the activity from a tree near the center of the park.

This is Amelia on one of her favorite perches over the east side of the lawn.

I caught her studying a large flying insect...

This is her checking me out from a tree.

Finally, we have Amelia and Charlie on the roof of the Christodora, where they must have a spectacular view.

All three Tompkins Square hawk chicks have fledged

2026-06-15T10:21:51.443-04:00

All three Tompkins Square red-tail hawk chicks have officially fledged the nest. They each left the nest tree consecutively on June 11th, 12th, and 13th.

They've been returning to the nest for meals, and are practicing flying between trees.

All three are visible in this photo, although one of them has their head blocked by leaves.

This one looks intently at something on the ground.

So far, the young hawks are staying high in the trees, but they will eventually explore the park. For now, the easiest way to find them is to listen for their food calls.

More to come...

Brown Pelicans - Part 2

2026-06-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

As we suffer through this heatwave, let's cool off with some Brown Pelicans.

They skim the water with seemingly little effort, then slowly glide up, twist to the side, and suddenly make a corkscrew dive.

I could watch this all day - and I did! For several days in early spring, watching pelicans dive was my way to relax and focus on the present.

Cormorants dive after the pelicans, hoping to steal their catch.

Laughing Gulls also follow the pelicans as they go fishing.

This is an immature pelican casually skimming the water.

Just one slow wing beat is all it takes to keep up the momentum.

This is an adult in breeding plumage. Up close, they're really beautiful with dark burgundy feathers lining the backs of their necks.

Some Brown Pelicans have been spotted this week off the shore of Staten Island. Keep an eye out for giant gray birds with huge bills diving or flying in squadron formation.

First Tompkins Square hawk fledge

2026-06-11T13:23:38.485-04:00

This is just a quick note to say we've had our first hawk fledge of the season in Tompkins Square. The first of three Red-Tailed Hawk chicks has taken the leap, and the other two are expected to follow shortly.

Everybody take care in the heat today!

Brown Pelicans - Part 1

2026-06-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

Earlier this spring, I made several posts about American White Pelicans.

Now for some Brown Pelicans!

I photographed the White Pelicans at a lake in St Petersburg, Florida. From there, it was short walk to the shore of Tampa Bay where the Brown Pelicans put on a show each evening.

Whereas the White Pelicans hunt in coordinated groups and scoop fish out of the water with their giant bills, Brown Pelicans employ a completely different hunting strategy: Diving.

Watching them really soothed my soul and raised my spirits.

This one carries some nesting material.

I couldn't get enough of these guys and took a zillion photos, so there will be more to come. They're such amazing birds and fascinating to watch.

Preparing for hawk fledge time

2026-06-08T20:45:25.928-04:00

We're getting close to fledge time for the Tompkins Square hawk chicks. All three are looking great and I hope we get to see them around the park very soon. Until then, here are some photos from last week.

Mom Amelia perches in the nest next to one of her kids who is almost as tall as her.

The young ones have yellowish chests, which is one way to distinguish them from the adults.

Here are two little fuzzy heads hunkered down in the wind.

This may be the only photo I have of all three siblings lined up and facing the same direction.

Big yawn...

Two of the three siblings:

Mom Amelia on the left, a chick standing, and another lying down in front of them.

Practicing some wing flaps:

This photo shows two chicks and dad Charlie (back right), which surprised me at the time. Both last year and this last spring, I have rarely seen him spend time on the nest. He usually delivers food, then takes off. This time, he brought some dinner and stuck around.

Dad was replaced by mom Amelia (right).

This is Amelia and Charlie perched together on the roof of the Christodora on a cloudy evening. They seem relaxed and to have everything under control.

Looking forward to more exciting updates coming soon.

Quality time with Pileated Woodpeckers

2026-06-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Earlier in the season, I encountered a couple of female Pileated Woodpeckers feasting on insects in a tree.

Their hammering could be heard across the whole forest.

These birds are so striking and charismatic.

These two danced around each other on a branch. I'm not really sure what was going on - they seemed more friendly than aggressive.

This is a third woodpecker seen zipping through the air.

The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America, being almost the size of a crow. They're usually the highlight of my birding trips.