Reports from the Hawk Bench continue

4/27/05 -- While time is running out [this season] for Pale Male and Lola and the hope of chicks in the nest, the loyal hawkwatchers continue their vigil at the Hawk Bench: Lincoln and Stella and Katherine and Lee and Noreen, Jim and Margaret, and Ric, and Elizabeth, Bill, and John L. and many others whose names will pop into my head as soon as I close the computer.. Frederic Lilien continues to film the daily comings and goings of the hawks and hawkwatchers for the sequel to his documentary Pale Male. For the last three days a noted photographer from the NY Times, Don Hogan Charles has been spending many hours at the hawk bench, photographing the hawks as they come and go. And Donna Brown continues to take detailed notes on events at the nest. Here are her reports for the last three days:


Field Notes 4-26-05

Sunset 7:48,
Temp. 66F,
Wind to 20MPH,
Mostly Cloudy,
Prey Tally-pigeon,

All times PM unless otherwise noted.

New twig with leaves on front of nest since yesterday.
According to report much work on Pale Male's part to
place a new large V twig in AM.
3:29 Pale Male on nest. Napping?
3:40 Lola to nest from N.
3:41 Pale Male up from nest, circles over bench.
3:42 Lola digs, down, stands, digs, fluffs back and
forth then down.
3:57 Lola stands, preens chest, errant feather on back
is flapping again.
4:02 Preens back and chest.
4:04 Preens wings.
4:06 Lola down in nest.
4:17 Lola invisible.
4:19 Lola preens, standing.
4:24 Head to concave.
4:26 Sun on nest, Lola mantles, it fades, extends
again.
4:31 Lola stands, then down. Pale Male from N to Linda
3, stands back to bench, looking over shoulder to SW.
4:34 Pale Male walks one foot in front of other over
railing to N, finishes walk, faces bench,wiggles tail,
scratches head, yawns.
4:35 Preens shoulder.
4:36 Woman to window, they startle each other, Pale
Male facing window, feathers erect, wings slightly
held from body, aggression stance. Woman slowly,
carefully, (So as not to disturb him ?) pulls down
dark transparent shade, reducing his view of interior,
Pale Male relaxes, walks to S on railing.
4:39 Pale Male looks toward Lola, beak movement.
4:40 Lola looks toward N then W.
4:54 Pale Male to air, flushes pigeons, circles model
boat pond, then circles S of pond, heads NW.

Nina's report:
4:57 Lola, head poking out of nest, visible to neck,
middle of nest, staring straight ahead. [W]
4:59 Looking around, still in middle of nest, alert.
5:00 Very windy, head facing N and W, head moving.
5:02 Alert, as if looking for something, head down
lower.
5:03 Looking at something? Looking slightly upward.
5:04 Eye not visible among twigs.
5:05 Pale Male lands in nest from N, Lola standing and
preening.
5:06 Pale Male looking W.
5:07 Lola on N side of nest, Pale Male on S end.
Nina's report ends.

Gary Shandling at the Bench.
E.J. McAdams, NYC Audubon, visits Pale Male and Lola.
Vanity Fair photo shoot progresses.
5:11 Pale Male down, faces W, head center.
5:13 Head above nest, alert W.
5:15 Pale Male eyes N.
5:31 Pale Male deep, center.
5:41 Lola flies from N, behind Linda, then over roof.
5:43 Lola flies from behind 927, then by Woody,
circles past Linda.
5:45 Lola on nest, Pale Male off and flies over bench
to cheers.
5:47 Lola digs, then settles.
5:49 Lola preens.
5:57 Lola looks N.
6:03 Lola invisible, then alert to S.
6:15 Sun on nest, Lola stands, mantles.
6:27 Lola digs, tail to bench, then settles into
concave.
6:28 Lola stands, head to S, digs, then settles down,
head to S, watches.
6:49 Alert to W.
6:52 Alert to W.
6:59 My exit.
Many thanks to Stella for calling in the roost report!
7:39 Pale Male to Pilgrim Hill roost.
Submitted-Donna Browne

Field Notes 4-25-05

Sunset 7:46PM,
Temp. 54F,
Cloudy, some rain,
Wind variable,
Gusts to 20MPH,
Prey Tally-None reported,

All times PM unless otherwise noted.
Earlier: Two nest exchanges, Lola brought back a twig
on one return, Pale Male brought a twig on a third
visit, deposited it and then took off again.
3:45 Lola on nest, heavy wind and rain.
4:15 Rain abates, Lola preens while sitting, head to
S, some peeking through twigs.
4:28 Lola stands, resituates head to bench.
4:35 Pale Male lands on Oreo Antenna.
4:45 Lola alert to W, head center.
4:50 Pale Male to nest with deciduous twig w/leaves.
4:51 Lola off nest towards Ramble.
4:58 Pale Male stands, adjusts twigs.
5:10 Pale Male head to S, only tips of primaries
visible, alert. Yellow-rump Warbler visits the Bench
London Plane.
5:25 Pale Male invisible in nest.
5:32 Pale Male stands, adjusts twigs while turning,
then down, head to S.
5:38 Lola to nest, pause, Pale Male stands.
5:39 Pale Male off nest, soars, glides, circles high,
then dives into treeline S of Pond. Lola digs in
lining, then carefully shuffles her body down into
concave.
5:46 Lola alert to WNW, then further down into nest.
Pale Male on Oreo Antenna.
6:08 Pale Male into the air, flies Madison, weaves in
front of 927, circles, ascends, banks to
perpendicular, kites momentarily, swoops, curves in
front and over linda, circles ascending higher, rolls,
circles higher and higher and higher.
6:16 Lola turns, head to N, carefully fluffs feathers
over eggs, adjusts a twig, her feathers blow
backwards, half up, turns and down, head to wall,
feathers still blow, half up, turns, head to S.
6:18 Only Lola's eye visible through twigs.
6:23 Lola's head pops up, very alert to W.
6:40 Lola stares NW.
6:50 Pale Male, Oreo Antenna.
6:52 Pale Male off and W...after gull?
6:53 Circles N of Pond.
7:00 Sunlight on nest.
7:06 Golden light on Fifth.
7:30 Lola alert to W.
7:45 Lola stands, turns, digs, sinks deep while
fluffing feathers over eggs.
7:50 Head up alert, then down and invisible.
Pale Males roost not found.
8:10 Exit.
Submitted-Donna Browne

Field Notes 4-24-05

Sunset 7:46PM,
Full Moon, 
Temp. 55F,
Humidity 80%,
Partly Cloudy,sprinkles,
Wind SSW 10-12MPH,
Prey Tally- Blue Bar Pigeon,

All times PM unless otherwise noted.
Early report: Anne saw Pale Male chase intruder RT
from Turtle Pond area.  Alice reports that both Pale
Male and Lola were in the nest concave together,
confirmed when other watchers saw them get up.

3:50 Lola sits the nest, watches N.
4:04 Pale Male discovered Oreo antenna.
4:25 Lola alert to SSW.
4:28 Lola stands preens wing, digs, shuffles back
down.
4:41 Ken observes Pale Male eject pellet while on Oreo
antenna.
4:46 Pale Male up and perches on Crow building
antenna.
5:00 Sun on nest.
5:09 Pale Male flies into park adjacent to Crow.
5:13 Lola stands, preens chest, beak to concave
tucking under herself.
5:31 Pale Male circles buildings on Fifth, lands N end
of nest with Blue Bar Pigeon, eviserated.
5:32 Lola up w/pigeon to Stove Pipe railing, and eats.
5:39 Lola is still eating, ingestion sequence-muscle,
bone, skin w/feathers.
5:48 Lola is finished. Pale Male watches her.
5:51 Lola flies towards Charles' Butterfly Garden.
6:11 Pale Male top 3/4 of head visible surveys area,
on alert.
6:19 Pale Male's head pops up, actively looking over
entire area.
6:39 Lola returns to nest, N end, pause before Pale
Male rises.
6:41 Pale Male up and off nest flies N up Fifth then W
at Oreo, 2 Crows head S and keep going.
6:43 Pale Male perches Oreo antenna, watches crows go.
6:44 Lola watches Pale Male.
Exit
Notes of Interest: The Screech Family is back near The
Pool, and now they all "whinny" while hunting.
There are young raccoons in a tree cavity in The
Ravine.
Submitted: Donna Browne