Normal Rockman: A Tale of 2 Red Tails

Yeaaaaaaaaa. Feeling pretty pleased with myself after capturing these photos of a red tailed hawk in Rockefeller State Park Preserve while on a run last week. Makes me feel slightly less stupid for jamming my camera + lens into a fanny pack while running. I'll preldue with a short story about my recent experiences in Rockefeller: I've been tracking a pair of great horned owls in the area and recently noticed a large nest, either of a red tail or a great horned owl, along usual running circuit of mine. Originally I assumed (and kind of hoped) that it belonged to the great horns. I took a first glance in with some binoculars and didn't see anything but decided to take another look this past week. Suddenly--a screech--and a red tail shot out of the nest, soon followed by a second red tail. I clearly tripped the invisible wire, which I apologize about. But it was worth it. Red tails CONFIRMED and it's mating/nesting season!!!

Red tail nest (left) and patient percher (right)

They flew off in the direction of a large nearby field area and I proceeded to keep running in that direction and had the good fortune to catch something on top of a large tree on the edge of the field. I took a few shots, following it around as it flew away either due to my proximity or due to the hawk itself having tripped the blue jay alert wire. Soon, I saw both hawks of this pair in the same area. After taking some mediocre pics of them flying around above me, I lost track of them and started running back, feeling pretty satisfied with myself. But as I'm going, I notice something dark gray floating down past me on the trail...looks like a feather...huh...another one...and another...I start scanning...BOOM! Red tail--eating something--about 20 feet above me. Wow. I start taking shots, careful not to be too disruptive. The hawk becomes aware of me, stares me down and does that hilarious head circling thing, but soon gets bored. About 10 minutes later it suddenly somewhat lazily took off and fell down on the field below--score. Off to another tree for more treats, this time even close to ground level. This is when I got my best and most clear pics. I'm just really happy to have gotten these. I love red tails and it feels special to have seen one feeding like this AND to be associate it with a breeding pair with a known nest.