I stopped by a park on the Hudson River in New York on the way home from work a few weeks ago. A younger eagle was sitting in a tree by the river. This adult flew by a few times checking on it and obviously checking me out as well. It gave me a look as it approached.
I’m Checking You Out! You’re Good
It seemed to decide I was okay and flew back to an area where the land on the river appeared to be private property. I am not sure if it had a nest in that area or if these were eagles wintering in the area.
I’m Checking You Out
I have been missing out on some good days to view wildlife lately. My car finally gave out. It was the hybrid battery. I put just under 367,000 miles on the car. I was hoping to make it to 400,000, but the math isn’t mathing to replace the battery. Hopefully, I will have another car soon and be able to enjoy more adventures. Have a safe and happy weekend!
I saw these on a body of water near the Hudson River in New York. They were not very close, so these are taken with a zoom lens and cropped a bit. I wish I could see them closer. Maybe some day I will get that opportunity.
Head Up
Hooded Merganser
This is identified as an adult male by All About Birds. New York is in their year round range.
I understand they have not been seen for a week. It has been very windy. Hopefully, they are still around, otherwise they may have already headed north.
Avian flu is in the area, so hopefully it is not that. Have a great week!
I love it when the owls fly right towards you, especially in good lighting conditions. Most of the time they come up a little before before sunset, but sometimes they come up earlier.
Short-Eared Owl Head On
A quote from Helen Keller:
Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.
Short-Eared Owl Head On
In the case of the owls, occasionally they look people straight in the eye. On this large piece of land where people can only stand on a very small section of it, it is great to see the owls come up close to people and look them in the eye. Enjoy your week.
This screech owl was in a tree close to a little traveled road. Cars stopping in front of the tree did not wake it. Construction vehicles, and aircraft flying around did not awaken it. Other wildlife could not rouse it. It is one heavy sleeper.
Wakey-Wakey Screech Owl
I was rooting for this bird, I think a nuthatch, to wake it up. It flew from another nearby tree and proceeded to walk down the owl’s tree towards the hole. I think it thought it was not such a good idea to go further. According to All About Birds:
The Eastern Screech-Owl is known to eat a variety of songbirds, including the European Starling.
Wakey-Wakey Screech OwlWakey-Wakey Screech Owl – Eyes slightly open
This was the closest it got to opening its eyes. This bird must have been tired out from hunting during the night. It could also be a good sleeper. Can you sleep through a variety of noises?
Usually you do not see short-eared owls on very windy days. Sometimes you are lucky. Since there is ice covering the ground I think that caused some of the shorties to come up well before sunset.
A Windy Day – Short-Eared Owl
Some used that to their advantage to ride the wind and seemingly hover when they were hunting.
A Windy Day – Short-Eared Owl
This one landed on a post in front of where we were allowed to stand. Lucky us! It seemed to battle the wind to stay on the post.
A Windy Day – Short-Eared Owl
Sometimes windy days can be good days. Have a great rest of your weekend.
Northern Harriers are one type of hawk native to North America. It is one hawk I mainly see in winter.
Female Northern Harrier
Food
Northern harriers hunt small mammals and birds. They can get rabbits and ducks. During winter, when I see them, they mainly go after voles and mice. This one is carrying grass, but I am not sure if there is a vole or mouse amongst it.
Female Northern Harrier
Hunting behaviour
I have found these birds in grasslands where they fly quite low going often between the grasses. Harriers hunt during the daytime. They can also hover then dive while hunting. Harriers rely on hearing and sight to capture their prey. I have seen them chase after and steal a vole from a short-eared owl in late afternoon.
Nesting Behaviour
Northern harriers will roost in groups on the ground, sometimes with Short-Eared Owls, according to All About Birds. Because they roost on the ground, animals such as coyotes and feral dogs will go after adult northern harriers.
Female Northern Harrier
These are fascinating birds to watch. I love seeing them hover and chase after the short-eared owls. Have a great Wednesday!
I saw this while driving. I took the picture from a distance on the side of a road. This bird was in the woods and seemed to stay within it. I believe it is a red-shouldered hawk.
Red-Shouldered Hawk -This one I added colour to.Red-Shouldered Hawk- This one I did not add colour.
I had one person look at the back of the camera and he thought that is what it was. Also, that is the first choice the Merlin App gives for it. The second choice was a broad-winged hawk. The lighting was not great and it was taken from quite a distance. The photo is also heavily cropped and lightened. The colours may not be totally accurate. It appears to be an immature. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
I have been catching every illness it seems coming into work since December. Therefore, I have not made any trips and have stayed close to home. If I can see an owl near a road I drive on, all the better. Luckily I have seen, two since December from a road. This short-eared owl was close to a road.
Short-Eared Owl in a Tree January 2025- sun was behind the clouds
It was near a bird feeder that was active and a lot of small birds were raising cain in the woods around the owl. I was wondering if it would go after birds visiting the bird feeder. Someone has told me they don’t, however by logic it would be a possibility as barred, great horned, and snowies will get a bird. According the the NYSDEC website:
Short-Eared Owl in a Tree January 2025- Looking towards the bird feeder ‘s direction.
Short-eared owls are the most diurnal (active during the day) of all the northeastern owls. They are most often observed in the late afternoon and at dawn or dusk. These birds eat primarily small mammals, but they occasionally take smallbirds, and the young sometimes eat insects.
If it chooses to land on a tree in good sight of a bird feeder, it is watching the bird feeder, it is probably contemplating a bird for dinner.
You usually do not see the ear tufts on the short-eared owl. I thought it could have been because of the wind, however, according to National Park Service website:
“The ear tufts of the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus, family Strigidae) are inconspicuous until the owl becomes defensive or curious, at which point the whole facial expression changes: feathers around the nose may flatten and eyes narrow slightly.”
Short-Eared Owl in a Tree January 2025- Sun behind the clouds
It seemed to be both curious about the bird feeder and defensive as many little birds nearby were expressing their displeasure at its presence. Have a great week!
One very windy Sunday morning I went down to see if I could spot loons wintering near one New England Beach, which they usually do. No luck spotting any, however, I saw this gull which appeared to be picking up a rock, but I am sure it is a shell.
Icelandic Gull
Merlin gives three choices for this gull. The first one is an Icelandic Gull. If I am wrong, let me know. The other two to me do not look that close to this one. It is hard to tell with the early morning light, but it appears to be an immature. The east coast of the northern US is within the range for the non breeding gulls. Only some of the gulls migrate south for the winter. Many stay in the arctic all year.
Icelandic Gull- flying off towards the jetty
The gull appeared to be heading in the direction of the jetty. Possibly it would try to crack the shell open there? Have a great weekend.
