falcon sighting

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

Has anybody else seen a falcon hanging around? At least that's what I think it is - hooked bill, 3-4 times the size of a pigeon, light grey speckles. It flew onto a roof and perched up there for a while, looking all important. Spooked a cat, who hid under my front stairs. (Do falcons eat cats?) This was near the intersection of Summer & Linden, on a side street.

Comments

[lindalee.livejournal.com]

I have seen red-tailed hawks in the area. Could that be it?

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

Just checked wiki for RT hawks. Maybe this one could be a juvenile since its coloring is light grey (speckles on its tummy). No red/brown that I could see at all. Didn't get a good look at the tail.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

HAWK

there are grey ones too. They are often big. They are also crazy common--they like to eat pigeons which makes this a pretty good area for em :P

[ellf.livejournal.com]

I saw him - not sure if it was a falcon or a hawk, but it was flying around Bow and Walnut in Union Square.

[catling.livejournal.com]

I've definitely seen red tailed hawks hanging around Davis and Porter sq. on occasion, as well as other parts of Boston.

I don't think cats are their usual prey choice, but I don't blame the kitty for hiding, if you're a cat and a predator that big shows up in your area, hiding is probably wise just in case he's REALLY hungry. ;)

They tend to go after rodents and smaller birds like pigeons. I grew up in NYC where we just don't see critters like that, so I still get a thrill every time I spot a hawk somewhere in the Boston area.

[elbren]

www.palemale.com

[catling.livejournal.com]

Squeeeeeeeeeeee! That's so awesome, thank you. :)

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

I think this community showed remarkable restraint in not posting the "O'RLY" meme.

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

A couple of weeks ago, there were two raptors of some kind hanging around the football field at Tufts, probably stalking a chihuahua.

[obie119.livejournal.com]

There are Peregrine Falcons in the area, but Red-Tailed Hawks (of which plenty are juvenile and don't have a red tail) are MUCH more common and easily visible. Like 100 hawks viewed for every falcon sort of visible. Plus, the size you're talking about is much closer to a hawk. Enjoy!!!

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

A couple years ago there were hawks nesting in the belfry of the church next to the VFW on Highland Ave, but I think they've put up anti-bird netting.

This year I've seen hawks a couple of times perched on the high roofs next to the elevated Rt 28 on the way to Cambridge.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

There's one in my area near City Hall. Beautiful enormous bird, and once we saw it perched calmly on a lamp post along the bike path as people goggled at it.

[aki.livejournal.com]

There's a nest (most likely) somewhere atop the Uhaul building at Boston Ave & Mystic River Parkway. Our office looks out on to the roof and we occasionally get to see a pidgeon-cum-snack.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mer-made/2589318563/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mer-made/2334631940/

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

It's looking like the 'ville is a hunting ground. My neighbor just told me about seeing a hawk grab a pigeon in front of her house. She chased another away by whomping a bush with her cane until it flew away - it was trying to get at a squirrel under the bush (squirrel saved! poor bush!).