NYC Raccoons and Red-tails in Winter
Snow frosted the city yesterday.

Broadway and Riverside split at 107th Street, looking lovely
The water towers wore white skull caps.

A crow surveys 109th Street from atop a water tower
Esau was on the alert for wildlife

Prey?
but the park was quiet

Steps lead toward the river
The retaining wall is always beautiful, and especially so with a dusting of snow.

Raccoons live here.
The entrance to the large raccoon den is once again piled with snow.

I once saw six raccoons emerge from this hole in the wall.
It’s been over a month since I’ve seen a raccoon here, and I’m starting to worry. Raccoons in northern climates pack on the fat in autumn so that they can spend less time foraging in the coldest days of winter and more time curled up in their den. They don’t actually hibernate, but they may sleep away several weeks of bitter weather, living off their fat stores and waiting for milder days. It’s been a cold and snowy winter, so maybe my Riverside Park raccoons are just dozing away the cold and dreaming of spring. But still I worry. (Check back soon for an update on raccoon rabies in NYC.)
Sledders were out

Traipsing up the hill
as were walkers

A man strolls in an only-in-New-York fuchsia faux-fur coat
ice dancers

Olympics pairs, they are not
and a single cross-country skier

Heading south
as well as a passel of happy dogs.

Happy but headless snow dogs
No birds to be seen yesterday.

Branches empty of animals
Unlike Sunday, when a hawk devoured a songbird on the bare ground beneath the retaining wall

Red-tail takes a break from pulling entrails
The snow had finally melted in parts of the park

Back to work
and the hunting was good

Do you mind? I'm eating here.
After a few minutes, the hawk soared over my head, so low that I ducked to avoid contact with the carcass gripped in his talons. He swooped up to a branch high above the ground in search, perhaps, of privacy from paparazzi like me

Alone at last
And there, finally taking the hint, I left him to his meal.
Explore posts in the same categories: 2011, Birds, February, Hawks, In the City, NYC Parks, raccoons, Riverside Park, Wildlife/Natural History, WinterTags: hawk eating bird, hawks in city, NYC raccoon den, NYC raccoons in winter, NYC red-tailed hawk, NYC snow day, raccoons in city, Riverside Park in snow, urban hawks, urban raccoons
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January 4, 2013 at 10:06 am
[…] rural areas, Red-tailed hawks dine mostly on rodents, but here in the city they are frequently seen eating pigeons and songbirds in addition to rats, squirrels and […]
February 27, 2011 at 8:27 pm
Damn..you guys sure are getting more than your share of snow this winter…Great that you go out in it anyway..and yes..you never know what you will see when you go out walking! :)
March 14, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Just thinking that although the snow is now gone (it’s taken me so long to respond to comments!), it’s hard to know for sure when winter’s over. I’ve experience a couple of major April snowstorms. Still, it FEELS over and the days are long now.
February 26, 2011 at 10:55 pm
The hawk photos are wonderful.
I have walked along Central Park in this area and enjoyed the trip down memory lane.
March 14, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Thanks, Donna. I just got back from a quick trip to your neck of the woods (Philly) and saw a beautiful hawk swooping low over Market Street right near the 30th Street train station.
February 24, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Great hawk photos!
March 14, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Thanks, Georgia. Glad you enjoyed them.
February 23, 2011 at 1:55 pm
May I just comment on Daddy-o’s comment; he sees you the way we do only he expresses it like no one can. Love walking upper west side with you.
March 14, 2011 at 6:20 pm
It won’t be long now before you’ll be walking it yourself.
February 23, 2011 at 8:41 am
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Steve Creek and Out walking the dog, Out walking the dog. Out walking the dog said: NYC Raccoons and Red-tails in Winter http://wp.me/pGHnM-JA […]
February 22, 2011 at 10:31 pm
Quite an adventure, and apparently a very long walk. I loved the retaining wall photos. Think about how long it took to build them by hand!
I also liked the ice dancers. Very poetic.
Don’t worry about the raccoons. They are pretty dormant right now. Lots of fat to hold thru the winter and they will be out and about in another couple of weeks.
Can’t wait to see there photos!
February 23, 2011 at 9:18 am
Thanks for the reassurance on the raccoons, Bill. I’ll be watching for them. And yes, that retaining wall is an amazing structure, and HUGE in some spots. It provides great animal housing.
February 22, 2011 at 10:02 pm
I really enjoy all of snowy photos, but especially do I like keeping tabs on you Melissa and Esau.
February 23, 2011 at 9:18 am
Thank you, Karol! How nice to hear from you.
February 22, 2011 at 5:37 pm
Endlessly amazing, beautiful, surprising. You see the world the way the rest of us wish we could.
February 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Awesome!
February 23, 2011 at 9:19 am
Thanks, KENNECTED. I’m delighted to have you visit the blog.