Bare leaves make for good hawk watching. Last Sunday, Riverside Park looked like this from the upper promenade on Riverside Drive.

A mix of color and bare branches.
The dog and I went down the stone stairs to walk along the path just below the retaining wall. Around 112th Street, we spotted a bump on a bare branch, silhouetted against the sky.

Bare branches give the gift of easy wildlife spotting.
Let’s take a closer look.

What's that branch bump?
We passed beneath it, and looked up. A gorgeous red-tailed hawk peered down at us,

Oh, it's you. Where have you been?
then turned its attention to a squirrel rustling in the leaves beneath the retaining wall.

Keeping an eye on the park's rodents, so you don't have to.
We walked on and turned back.

Lovely.
A little further on still, and you can see how what a boon bare branches are to hawk spotting.

Anyone there?