Urban Peacocks and Red-tails in Winter

Last night we saw tiny snowmen on the top of the retaining wall in Riverside Park.

It wasn’t much of a snow, but it gave a mysterious look to the park at night.

This morning in the drizzle, a Red-tail Hawk flew low over our heads as we were crossing Amsterdam Avenue. We tracked it as it soared into the animal gates that lead to the grounds of St. John the Divine.

The hawk soared along the path of the grounds, then suddenly swooped upward. We found it perched with a second hawk towards the back of the cathedral.

I have only my iPhone camera these days, so I can’t zoom in for a close look. But here it is with a slightly closer look.

Moments later, as we continued to watch the hawks, Phil, the Cathedral’s white peacock, wandered past us, looking rather bedraggled.

He was completely unfazed by a boisterous group of schoolkids who almost walked right into him as they came around the corner.

Phil simply moved aside with no fuss or hurry.

The dog, on the other hand, was definitely fazed by the sight of Phil. He moaned with frustration and strained at the leash.

The poor fellow has been trying for a taste of peacock ever since he first encountered the three neighborhood peacocks five years ago.

Ah, well. We all have our dreams.

Explore posts in the same categories: 2013, Birds, dogs, Domestic animals, Hawks, In the City, Peacocks, Seasons, Wildlife/Natural History, Winter

Tags: 1000 urban miles, NYC nature, NYC peacocks, peacocks, peacocks st john the divine, red-tailed hawks, St John the Divine red-tailed hawks, tiny snowmen, urban birds, urban nature

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