Yesterday afternoon we swung past the site of the old Bay Ridge Green Church (pictured below) on 4th Avenue and Ovington in Brooklyn to see if there was any new construction activity happening and found that it was still mainly a flattened site.
The above photo from 2008 and the below photo taken yesterday (12/16/2009).
However, as we walked down Ovington Avenue we saw a VERY LARGE bird swoop in and land on one of the trees inside of the old Green Church lot. We think that it was probably either a red tailed hawk or a peregrine falcon!!!
(Three peregrine falcons were born about two miles away on top of the Verrazano Bridge this past May.)
Here’s a shot of the bird as it checked us out.
While we most certainly are NOT bird experts to know if it was a falcon, a hawk or something else, we did notice two locations of what appeared to be possible nests.
If you’re wanting to take a look for the bird yourself, he was spotted in the tree above second ‘R’ of the horrendous yellow watermark and the possible nests are in the tree to the right (closer to the houses & 3rd Avenue).
For those of you who are curious about the bird and the nest or are a bird enthusiast, here are some more shots of the bird and the possible nest. If you recognize what type of bird it is feel free to drop a comment.
Click on a thumbnail to view it larger.
Possible nests:
UPDATE: So far I’ve received an email saying that the bird is likely either a ‘Sharp-shinned Hawk’ or a ‘Cooper’s Hawk.’
The raptor is an adult COOPER’s HAWK.These birds come thru when food diminishes up north and find New York City habitats (like lots) very enticing with pigeons and residents birds towards their liking. Cooper’s Hawks are accipiters, those birds that chase prey birds.Good birding
Peter
Brooklyn Bird Club
While not an expert, I checked out my Roger Tory Peterson “Field Guide to Birds” and I think this could be a red-tailed hawk although I cannot make out the tail coloring. It’s front markings appear to be those of the Northern Goshawk which I have seen in my garden periodically. Of course, the bird’s gender and age which are unknown make it difficult for me to definitively identify it because they would be of different coloration. As I said – I’m not an expert.
Just had this link emailed to me – hard to tell without knowing approximate size, but looks like a young Cooper’s to me, too (Peterson measures as 14-20″), although the breast sure looks barred (horizontal), rather than streaked (vertical). Broad-Winged Hawk, maybe? But very unlikely to be hanging around here this time of year. Pretty good photos – thanks for sharing; I may have to meander to Ovington with my binoculars, myself…