Wallkill River NWR – Sparrows and Sparrow Hawks

At times referred to as the American Sparrow Hawk, this male was one of five American Kestrels at Wallkill River NWR.

I went out to the Wallkill River NWR on Saturday morning, planning on walking the Liberty Loop. It was a gray rainy morning, but I was still  hoping to get some flight photos of the Northern Harriers that have been cruising the loop lately and I also had 3 Pied-billed Grebes out there on Thursday evening and I wanted to see if they were still at the refuge. When I arrived I took a quick look around from the viewing platform and noticed a Red-tailed Hawk perched in a tree north of Oil City Road. I decided to walk up Liberty Lane and check it out and leave the Liberty Loop for another day. I was not disappointed, especially in the raptor department:

  • 5 (!) American Kestrels
  • 2 Northern Harriers
  • 1 Red-tail Hawk
  • 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk

A perched female American Kestrel at the Wallkill River NWR 9-29-12

There was a complete absence of shore birds, but there were 6 Great Egrets and 2 Great Blue Herons in the pond to the left of Liberty Lane. There was a good showing of songbirds – I got a nice look at a Red-bellied Woodpecker, there were many American Goldfinches, and I had a couple of Palm Warblers too. I saw many sparrows which I struggled to identify as usual. I really have to put more time into it, but I haven’t made it happen yet. I had several Song Sparrows and I believe I also had a number of Savannah Sparrows, which I identified with my photos once I got home:

A Savannah Sparrow thinks things over.
I love this Savannah Sparrow photo- check out the details on the bird’s head.
A Song Sparrow strikes a pose as usual. Wallkill River NWR 9-29-12

2 thoughts on “Wallkill River NWR – Sparrows and Sparrow Hawks”

  1. I love the kestrels. Such sweet little hawks. Great photos, I’m going to have to get out there with you soon if I want to see them.

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