Horned Larks continued their winter visit, reliably found feeding on the Flag Plaza lawn and occasionally chasing one another around.
Get off My Lawn (at Caven Point)
If there’s one thing raptors don’t like, it’s other raptors in their territory. Over the years I’ve been visiting Caven Point I’ve seen plenty of visiting raptors run out of town by the residents. On December 11, I got to the end of the boardwalk and heard two Peregrine Falcons yelling from the tree above. Occasionally one or both took off and dive-bombed some bushes, then returned to yell more from the tree.
One dive-bombing session brought something large and round up–it perched in a tree momentarily and then took off. The round shape was Great Horned Owl being harassed by the falcons. Peregrines are smaller than a Great Horned Owl, but the falcons were fiercely trying to get the owl as far away as they could.
I only saw the owl twice: once in the tree and later on while I was walking the beach. A falcon suddenly burst onto the scene, and the owl, who had been fully concealed in phragmites, flew briefly before finding another hiding spot.
I didn’t expect to see the owl again at Caven Point and sure enough, I didn’t. The falcons had made it very clear it wasn’t welcome!
Other Raptors
December is prime raptor-viewing time and I was able to see a few Red-shouldered Hawks along with the resident Peregrine Falcons. Other raptors in the park included American Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks, and Cooper’s Hawks.
Everyone else
Beautiful. You’re inspiring me to cross the river and get to Liberty State Park.