On Tuesday, December 2, a Nor’easter barreled through New York City, bringing a cold, steady rain for most of the day. Areas to the north and west got the snow, but most of NYC was just out of range for a nice snowfall. My plans for birdwatching were rained out.
Or, so I thought. When I went into the kitchen to make coffee, I looked out the window. In the large tree that rises high above a rocky vacant lot, I spotted what looked unmistakably like a Cooper’s Hawk. Even through the dreary rain, I could discern its slender silhouette and the bold bands of its tail. I grabbed a pair of binoculars nearby, and to my delight, I confirmed to myself that it was indeed the Cooper’s Hawk of Cooper Street, a returning seasonal favorite. In my experience, the Cooper’s Hawk can handle the dreariest of weather.
People who live in other places may spend countless hours inside enjoying birds at their bird feeders or frolicking about the yard. I live in an old apartment building with strict limits to hanging feeders on a fire escape. Fortunately, some trees line the streets in Inwood, and the tree cover helps the local birds find food and shelter. NYC Parks maintains an interactive map of NYC Trees, making it possible to know what trees seem to attract the most birds.
I normally find and observe birds with my Nikon camera and its powerful zoom. I also own a couple of pairs of binoculars. I keep an old Bushnell, too bulky for the field, next to the kitchen window. I recently acquired a Celestron Nature DX 8 x 42. Affordable and lightweight, these binoculars provide clear and bright images with vivid colors.
With this experience, I have simply expanded the range of birdwatching opportunities to include the indoors, beyond waiting for clear skies and fair-weather birding. Observing birds through sight is not the only way to practice indoor birding. I was first alerted to the presence of a possible hawk out my window by a loud vocalization of crows.
During the storm, I sometimes wondered what neighbors thought of this woman looking out the window with her binoculars or taking pictures with a camera.
Cover: Blue Jay. December 2, 2025.
The Secret Order of Owls
At this time of year, owls may be present. Due to the sensitive nature of these sightings, I now plan to keep most owl observations to myself. I may post pictures in the monthly sightings pages after the season has passed. My one exception is the celebrity Eastern Screech-Owl that seasonably visits its crevice.
Drawing of Eastern Screech-Owl by author. I haven’t seen the owl yet this season.
Christmas Bird Count 2025
Registration and open spots are moving quickly for the NYC Bird Alliance’s Christmas Bird Count 2025 on December 14. For available opportunities and to register, please consult the organization’s website. Hurry to sign up for a favorite location. The Javits Green Roof is one of the locations.
The Birds of Inwood Shop
Attention, shoppers! The holiday season is here, and the Birds of Inwood Shop of Redbubble may be THE place to go for greeting cards, journals, framed artwork, decorative home items, phone cases, tote bags, and all sorts of T-shirts and hoodies decorated with your favorite birds of Inwood.
If you are into making bird gifts yourself, please see this post.
Latest sightings
The December 2025 monthly sightings page is now live.
Latest posts
- Observing Birds Outside the Window: The Comforts and Surprises of Birdwatching During a Winter Storm
- A Thanksgiving with Hawks and All the Birds of Inwood
- Easy Fall Birding with White-throated Sparrows
- The Birds for Our New York City Moment
- Fall Birding Falls Into Place: Notable Birds of Inwood During Mid-October
Birds of Inwood 
Comments welcome!