The soaring spectacle of 6 Red-tailed Hawks above Lamppost #249 took on a mighty showcase. Several of the hawks did maneuvers, one flew into the woods and re-emerged with flourish; there were entanglements, flyby theatrics,close encounters of the avian kind...you had to see it. It was likely as Shane mentioned to me a few of the resident Prospect hawks defending their turf from invading out of city migrating redtails .At one point, all six I saw ( later another birder said 7 total) came down low above the famous lamppost .If it wasn't a rarity on this very slow day, at least it was a great show nevertheless by the big raptors in their peak October appearance.
P.
site = Prospect Park
date = 10/25/08
observers = Peter Dorosh
Pied-billed Grebe (4; 2 at Three sister islands;2 lake)
Great Blue Heron (reported by Shane Blodgett Lake shore)
Canada Goose (present Lake)
Mute Swan (Lake)
American Black Duck (5 west island; 2 lake)
Mallard (present Lake and west Island)
Northern Shoveler (59 West Island, est 160 Lake)
Ruddy Duck
Red-tailed Hawk (6 in soar or flying circles, thru woods above Lamppost 249,south Lookout Hill slope;reportedly 7 total; 10 am on for another hour)
Merlin (reported by Shane Blodgett)
American Coot (several seen Lake)
Ring-billed Gull (lake)
Herring Gull (lake)
Rock Pigeon
Blue Jay
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow (2 west island)
White-throated Sparrow
Purple Finch (reported By Shane Blodgett ;female,Peninsula)
House Sparrow
STOP
