Bobby was not in the park during my visit on the 30th. He was probably hanging out in the Union Square Park area. I missed seeing him but was awed by Rosie's appearance.
I scanned the park for the hawks with other hawk-watchers but we saw nothing until a fellow hawk-watcher called to say he saw a hawk being chased by a peregrine falcon in the sky north of us. It was Rosie. She landed on a tower set back from the park. It must have provided a great vantage point for her. She sat on the tower for about forty minutes before descending to the trees.
A peregrine on its now regular perch (one that Pip and Violet used to share):
Starlings on the cross:
Rosie swooped down to the park. I could hear squirrels uttering their creaky door warning sounds to each other but I could not find her. Suddenly, one of our hawk-watching group members saw her and ran in her direction. I still couldn't see her. A park regular saw me searching and asked me if I was looking for the hawk. I said yes so he pointed her out to me. Thank you!
She only took a couple of bites before leaving the rat on the tree.
She went to a new branch to wipe her beak:
Off to a new perch (bit of the arch on the right):
Picking at and cleaning a talon:
More cleaning (blood still on her feet) while soaking up the last rays of sunlight:
That incomparable face:
Tucking into a side window at Bobst library. She was completely hidden from view when perched:
Perched at the Silver building:
A peregrine soon harassed her:
Peregrine on the cross:
Rosie flew north and out of sight for the rest of the day. Perhaps she went to join Bobby for the night?
Park Christmas tree still twinkling:
