Fellow Birders;
Early this morning (about 7:30) I stepped out in front of my mother's home
in Flushing, Queens county, and a large raptor flew in front of me, perhaps 25'
away, and landed in a tree a couple of doors down. Fortunately by bins were
just inside the door, I was able to grab them quickly enough to get a
confirmation of the i.d.; it was a Northern Goshawk, an adult, and probably a
female based on size (I did not get a clean look from the front). It headed
south after less than a minute when somebody walked by-- it may have come from
Kissena Corridor, which is about 6 blocks away, and I might speculate that it
was heading towards Jamaica Bay. What a thrilling sighting on a block of row
houses, and a wonderful addition to my "2nd Life List" (species seen since
brain surgery about 10 months ago)! I hope this magnificent bird lands
somewhere where it might be enjoyed by other birders.
On another matter: I do appreciate the care we take on this list serve
regarding the posting of locations of roosting owls, and the reasons for doing
so. Unfortunately, this does make such locations sort of "privileged
information" for those who have each other on speed dial! I've got my wife and
daughter here for another week, visiting the US for the first time, from
Panama. I sure would love to show my daughter an owl before they leave--
ironically, the only owl they have seen thus far was a Barn Owl, which breeds
in Panama as well! We whiffed on the Snowl Owl at Jones Beach on Monday, as
did I think everyone-- there were birders scattered all over the West End (and
many off-trail), it wouldn't surprise me if the owl sought a more private
location! Pelham Bay Park is convenient to us, but it's a big place, and it's
hard to cover much ground with a 6 year-old who is not used to the cold. So I
wonder if anyone would be willing to write me privately ( kenallaire<at!
>earthlink.net ) and give me enough details to point me in the right
>direction, for this location or somewhere else in Queens/Bronx. For the
>record, I have a 'scope and do not photograph, I have no need for close
>approach, and my daughter is well-versed in birding ethics; her last owl in
>Panama was a trio of Spectacled Owls that she watched in silence for about 5
>minutes! Thanks in advance for any advice you might offer-- a new owl would
>be a great finish to a trip in which my family has seen a lot of new birds...
Cheers,
Ken Allaire
El Valle de Anton, Panama
skypename: kenallaire
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