eBird-a-thon 2011 (Southeast New York)

Head over to Benjamin Van Doren's site ‘Warblings’ for contest details.

eBird.org: NYC Area Abundance Charts

Below is a table of abundance charts based on data submitted to eBird.org. The data is arranged by location, by month and by season.

When the location name in the left column is clickable this will bring up a page of 2011 arrivals showing the latest arrivals first. This feature does not work for multiple locations i.e. counties or hotspots

eBird.org: NYC Area Reports (2010 & Overall)

Below is a table of abundance charts based on data submitted to eBird.org. The data is arranged by location, by month and by season.

When the location name in the left column is clickable this will bring up a page of 2011 arrivals showing the latest arrivals first. This feature does not work for multiple locations i.e. counties or hotspots

American Kestrel with Lizard 14-Jun-2009

Female American Kestrel With Lizard
MANHATTAN — UPPER EAST SIDE
Images by BEN CACACE

The nesting American Kestrels, on the Upper East Side in the mid 70s, have revealed the presence of lizards on their territory.

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.

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.

Met Life Building: Peregrine Perch 13-Mar-2008

Peregrine Falcon Perch
MET LIFE BUILDING
Image by BEN CACACE
(Click image for a larger view)

During lunch hour today I spotted a Peregrine Falcon heading south while looking for American Kestrels from Park Ave. & 51st St. north of St. Bart's.

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.

“Krider's” Red-tailed Hawk Links: 7-Aug-2007

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Park Ave. Peregrine Falcons: 6 August 2007

It was good to finally see a Peregrine Falcon tonight on its Park Ave. territory — north of the Met Life building. My last sighting was June 21st when a Peregrine was seen circling over Park Ave. with prey. It landed on 350 Park Ave. to eat the meal.

Adult Red-tailed Hawk in Pale Male's Space

Adult Red-tailed Hawk
CENTRAL PARK — 85TH St. & 5TH AVE.
Image by BEN CACACE
(Click image for a larger view)

Tonight this adult Red-tailed Hawk was spotted near the north edge of Pale Male's territory. The hawk has a red tail. It was just inside the 85th St. & 5th Ave. entrance. Blue Jays and Robins were making a racket.

Park Ave. Peregrine Falcons: 24 April 2007

320 Park Ave. 28-Mar-2007

These observations occured while heading back to work as I passed through the Park Ave. Peregrine Falcon territory. As soon as I turned the corner I spotted a falcon on 320 Park Ave. (‘Mutual of America Building’).

The image to the right was taken on March 28th and is the exact same perch I found this Peregrine on. It was facing south and keeping an eye on the nest building. This falcon was first spotted at 6:10pm EDT.

At 6:35pm I decided to move north from the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where the President was just arriving, to my usual viewing spot at 52nd St. and Park Ave.

From here I spotted an ‘object’ in one of the openings on the north face of the ‘nest’ building. Since I didn't have binoculars I could only guess this was a Peregrine Falcon. It was the right size, the right color and had the right attitude.

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 combined 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

♀ on 280 Park Ave. 7-Apr 5:25pm photo by B. Cacace 420mm | ISO: 80 | Shutter: 1/400s | Aperture: f/6.3	Above 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. It might be hard to tell but the highly processed uncompressed image above is 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’ (320 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. As I was heading south I turned to look at falcon and noticed that it wasn't perched any longer. This was around 4:10pm.

On my way back I passed by 46th St. & Park Ave. around 5:15pm and spotted a falcon circling over Park Ave. The falcon then entered an opening at the top of a building's east face. This is probably the site of their nest.

The falcon exited the site followed by its mate. One falcon then 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 remained 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), circled over the avenue and then headed towards the east.

I left the site at 5:30pm.

Park Ave. Peregrine Falcons: 2 April 2007

299 Park Ave. Image by Ben Cacace (31-Mar 6:21pm EDT) 420mm | ISO: 80 | Shutter: 1/125s | Aperture: f/5.6

I left the office late and didn't think to go birding but since there was still a few minutes of daylight left I headed downstairs to observe the Peregrine Falcons. It was worthwhile since I got to see a phenomenal stoop and the first evening roost of either falcon.

I arrived at 6:45pm, about 35 minutes before sunset, and a falcon was already perched on the northwest corner of 299 Park Ave. (‘UBS Building’) between 49th & 48th St. on the east side of Park Ave.

I started taking photos and missed the moment when the Peregrine moved. This was around 6:52pm. I kept an eye on the buildings and noticed a falcon taking off from 299 Park Ave. from a point a bit further south from where I first spotted it. This was around 7:00p.

The flight display over the next few minutes was spectacular even though it was purely functional. The falcon took off from 299 Park Ave. and dove directly towards the highest point of a building due west. The heights of both buildings were about the same. It perched in a space 12 openings from the north edge of the building.

After settling in for minute or so it headed back out and started making clockwise circles over Park Ave. When the Peregrine came close to the face of 299 Park Ave. it flipped over and plunged vertically along the face of the skyscraper. A breathtaking sight.

When it leveled out it was at the exact height it needed in order to perch in the opening of a building and did this flawlessly. I still can't believe how fast and accurate this maneuver was and that it perched in the opening with seemingly little effort. This spot was 6 spaces from the building's north edge.

Within a minute it made a powered flight up the face of 299 Park Ave. and perched on one of the vertical metal strips that are so popular with the newer buildings. It remained on this perch from 7:02pm until I left the site well after sunset at 7:50pm. This is the first roosting site I've spotted for either of these Peregrines.

Park Ave. Peregrine Falcons: 31 March 2007

Peregrine Falcon
299 PARK AVE.
Image by D. BRUCE YOLTON
(Click image to visit Bruce's site with add'l photos)

The above image was taken by Bruce Yolton on Saturday March 31st shortly after 6:30pm. Thank's to Bruce for allowing me to use his image on this blog. He had the right idea in trying to get as close as possible to the Peregrine Falcon. This was the easiest way of increasing image size without having to buy more glass.

299 Park Ave. (6:21pm EDT) 420mm | ISO: 80 | Shutter: 1/200s | Aperture: f/5.0 (clickable image)

The image to the right was taken by me and is the of the same Peregrine on the same perch as Bruce's photo. I took this from 49th St. looking east as I was approaching Park Ave. I was half a block away from the Peregrine.

The activity was limited. I arrived at the site around 6:25pm.

It was great having Bruce there. At his suggestion we looked for a closer spot to image the falcon. We ended up at the corner of 51st St. & Park Ave. on the west side of the avenue for the photos he took.

The falcon remained on the same perch from before the time I arrived around 6:20pm until 6:44pm. Bruce left the site around 6:50pm.

I stayed on and watched the last pass of a falcon at 7:16pm. It headed north behind 350 Park Ave. and then passed behind the Park Ave. Atrium between 52nd & 53rd St. I wasn't able to follow it north of the Atrium.

I left the site at 7:20pm. Be sure to visit Bruce's site (click the top photo) for more images and in the future for additional updates.

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 12:40pm.

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 one of the buildings 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. Enough time was spent at the site to make it a worthwhile outing.

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 a 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 7:21pm the 320 Park Ave. falcon 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. every day I've visited the site. This is a better hit rate versus viewing Peregrines from the south end of Central Park.

Park Ave. Peregrine Falcons : 27 March 2007

299 Park Ave. (6:29pm EDT) 420mm | ISO: 100 | Shutter: 1/500s | Aperture: f/3.7	320 Park Ave. (6:45pm EDT) 420mm | ISO: 80 | Shutter: 1/80s | Aperture: f/4.5	350 Park Ave. (6:32pm EDT) 317mm | ISO: 80 | Shutter: 1/80s | Aperture: f/4.0

The center and right images were taken when both Peregrines were visible. They were perched a city block from each other.

There was a lot of activity tonight. Both the male & female were visible simultaneously on several occasions.

I arrived at 6:00pm. At 6:13pm a single falcon was heading uptown along Park Ave. It veered to the east as it approached 57th St. My observing location was at 52nd & 51st St. on the east side of the avenue.

A lot happened between 6:30-6:34pm.

First a falcon was seen coming in from the north heading down Park Ave. to a perch on 299 Park Ave. (the ‘UBS Building’) between 48th & 49th St. The perch was the same corner (north-west) used on the 22nd of March. This is the leftmost image above.

From the south another Peregrine was seen heading for a perch on 320 Park Ave. (the ‘Mutual of America Building’). This is between 50th & 51st St. It perched facing south.

Soon after landing this falcon headed for an opening at the top of a building along the west side of Park Ave. Seconds later the falcon on 299 Park Ave. followed it to the same opening.

After the second falcon landed one of the Peregrines left the site with prey in its talons to a perch on 350 Park Ave. (the ‘Park Ave. Bank Building’) between 51st & 52nd St.

By 6:43pm I noticed a Peregrine perched just south of this falcon on 320 Park Ave. This is the falcon in the center photo above. The falcon that carried the prey to 350 Park Ave. is in the rightmost image.

At 6:50pm the 350 Park Ave. falcon headed south along Park Ave. followed by the 320 Park Ave. bird. Both veered west along 48th St.

The last sighting at 7:25pm was of a Peregrine heading north along Park Ave. pursuing a Mourning Dove. The falcon didn't appear to be flying hard to keep up with the dove. Both disappeared from view behind the ‘Park Ave. Atrium’ (between 52nd & 53rd St.) briefly.

Seconds later the Peregrine appeared again swooping on a bird. I couldn't tell if the bird was caught since the Peregrine disappeared again behind the ‘Park Ave. Atrium’.

The sky was clear and the temperature was between 74°-71°F.