By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

When I arrived downtown this morning I caught a glimpse of Beauty on the base of Mercury. She took off as I was turning down Aqueduct St. in the direction of FCT.  I drove over that way and didn’t spot her until after I had checked around Kodak Office first. She was on the west side of the Frontier Communications Tower and this is where the Beautyful one and I hung out together for nearly 2 hours.

When she took off heading toward Times Square I took off right behind her. I arrived just in time to see her up on top of the main camera at the nestbox. I missed her leave and wondered if there had been a switch made when I spotted her on the west corner top ibeam of the OCSR building.

Beauty appeared to be nibbling on a tiny bit of cached food, with a full crop I might add. After 20 minutes there she flew over to the nestbox very briefly and then flew off to the FCT again.

As I ended this cat and mouse watch with Beauty she flew off her spot on that FCT and went straight toward Times Square again! I think she may be a little perplexed over the egg situation or not.  In any case she is still the Beautyful one that graces our Rochester skies!  Perhaps I’ll see Archer and/or Unity on my next  watch.  See ya! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

First of all I apologize for being so late getting this report posted. Let’s just say I’ve had a couple of issues today that got me way behind. I checked near Times Square,Wilder and Mercury with no sightings. I then went to the east side near Xerox,HSBC and Midtown again with no luck. I decided to go over to city hall and check the Frontier Communications Tower once more no falcons to be seen. I then took a look through my binocs at Kodak Office…bingo. I saw a big white chest sticking out from the 16th floor ledge. I raced up State St. as my heart was also racing for I was afraid of another territory battle.  Let me ease your minds right now by saying it was NOT Unity from Kodak Park and there was no battle. Phew!  These 2 pics do not look like any falcon I’ve ever seen.

As I was texting my findings this mystery falcon vanished and the next time I looked up there was a falcon flying above the Kodak tower.

It flew to the cupola and landed on the northeast corner. After taking a pic and zooming it I could positively identify it as Beauty.

She was looking around for something so I assumed she saw this intruder, flew over and it either was hiding somewhere that I couldn’t see it or it just left the area. While all this took place a man walked down the street toward me on the other side of the road and crossing as he got closer to the truck giving me a murderous look and walked by the passenger side real close. Kinda scary at the time. Anyway back to the Beautyful one. She moved over farther on the cupola to the east side still looking around and down.

Once again while I was tweeting I missed Beauty fly off and so I frantically left and started driving the perimeter of Kodak Office when I got a message from Donna that Beauty had gone to the nestbox and Archer was now out. I never saw that mystery falcon again and so I went to city hall once again after not finding Archer near the Broad St. bridge area. He wasn’t on the Frontier Communications Tower either but suddenly I saw that guy again, the one that gave me the look and he was staring at me and walking toward the truck again. As if my heart wasn’t pounding enough already he came up to my passenger side window as I was trying to ignore him and said I want to talk to you. With that I hit the lock button and put the window down about 2 inches and asked what he wanted. He said are you following me and I said no,then he asked if I was taking pics of him and I said no I’m taking pics of Peregrine falcons. He said what are those I told him and then he didn’t believe me so I showed him the pics of Beauty on Kodak he still didn’t believe me. He said he could be from the CIA or FBI and that I should be careful of what I take pics of. I showed him all the pics in my camera from the morning and he said you could have it in another file. Trust me if I can do that I don’t know how, I told him it was all good and that I wasn’t taking pics of him. He still wouldn’t believe me and so I said I gotta go and I peeled outta there. Good grief! I did a quick drive around the city looking for Archer with no sign of him I decided to go to KP. At first I didn’t see anything but I eventually spotted a figure on the northeast side of the tall still railing.

I wasn’t sure it was Unity from this vantage point so I went to the east end of the parking lot for a better view and I was quite sure I was looking at Unity.

I watched her for awhile and then she flew off to the north and out of sight. I surveyed the entire power plant for about half hour with no more sightings and left to end my adrenalin rushing watch. 🙂

For more pics of my watch go here: http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=300047832213%3A382681729&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharer

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Archer was on the eggs when I checked the cams before going on my watch today.  When I got downtown Archer was on top of the fire escape ladder on the Wilder building.

Obviously he and Beauty switched on the eggs while I was in commute. i watched him for about 15 minutes preening and looking over his territory. Well, this one anyway. He flew off heading directly north.

I knew where I had to go…Kodak park. When I arrived I found Unity on the tall still tucked in and Archer was on the east stack lower catwalk.

As I checked my tweets I found that I had wrongly reported Archer on the tall still and Unity on the stack, sorry. After about 40 minutes Archer took off heading west and Unity followed him to the end of the complex we can’t see from lot 77.  10 minutes later I spotted one of them flying from behind the stills and landing on the north side of the west stack lower catwalk where again I couldn’t see it but I knew it was there cuz it didn’t fly back into view. A few minutes later I spotted Archer up on the blue cage-like structure that sits atop the duct that goes from the plant to the east stack.

I could hear alot of vocalizing going at this time tho I wasn’t sure who was talking since I could only see Archer. He flew down in front of the ORB and I never saw him re-surface. I found Unity on the lower catwalk of the east stack momentarily and then she flew to the southwest corner of the blue building.

Unity flew off while I wasn’t looking and I spotted a falcon flying south and then I found Unity back on the east stack so I assumed Archer was the one I saw flying south and had left to go back downtown. I lost track of her and after 25 minutes of no falcon sightings I thought I better get back downtown in case she had followed Archer. As I was coming down State St. I could see that there was a falcon on the Frontier Communications Tower. I drove over to Church street and upon closer inspection I could see that it was Beauty.

The Beautyful one flew off without me seeing and just then LarryO stopped by to get the scoop. Beauty didn’t come right back so I went over to Broad St. and so did Larry. She wasn’t around Times Square or Mercury so I decided to go speak to Larry before heading home. We discussed the egg hatch situation and he seemed to think that if the eggs were no good then Beauty would know and would stop incubating. Let’s keep our fingers crossed on that one. As I crossed N.Plymouth on Broad St. I looked to the west/back side of FCT to see that Beauty had faked me out and returned to it after I went looking for her. I continued on my way home with a smile on my face. 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

I checked the cam before I left for my watch and Beauty was still on the eggs. When I arrived on the Broad St. bridge at 5:40am Dan was already there. We spoke about the eggs and Beauty,Unity and Archer. We feel really bad that there may not be any hatches this year due to the stress our resident females have endured. We have all been quietly fearful of this happening for awhile keeping it to ourselves. Because of the double duty on Archers part the natural cycles of our females has no doubt been compromised. Anyway, as bummed out as we are we continue to hope for a hatch and so I will get on with my report now. Here is a pic of Beauty on HSBC from yesterdays watch which I didn’t have much to report on nor the time to write it.

Dan said he saw a falcon fly to the nestbox at 5:35am but didn’t see one fly out. He decided to leave early after over an hour of not seeing any more falcons. Donna had let me know that Archer snuck into the nestbox at 6:35am and so I knew I would be searching for Beauty. After a few trips around the city without successI drove up to High Falls to enjoy the natural beauty that is there.

I will put the link at the end of this report of video I took of the falls that is still uploading. I needed to be getting home so I left there and had every intention of going straight home until I spotted the Beautyful one on the Frontier Communications Tower on my way through the intersection of N.Plymouth and Broad St.. She was up there on the west side railing of the platform looking big as life and gorgeous in the morning sun.

I watched her perch there for a few minutes with a full crop preening and relaxing and then I continued on my way home. 🙂

For more pics go here: http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=492851732213%3A927340641&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharer

To view my video of the High Falls go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcFWaSluQF8

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

This morning the sun was shining with blue skies. Archer was on the eggs when I left home for my watch. Beauty made me wait an hour before showing herself on the Times Square building under the northwest wing. I don’t recall ever seeing her under this wing.

Isn’t she a Beauty? 🙂 After 10 minutes of preening and scoping out her territory she flew down to the ledge directly above the nestbox.

More preening for half hour then she flew over to the green strip on the Wilder building  quickly flying off  to the base of Mercury.

She was eating something up there and ironically as I looked down I saw a leftover in the parking lot. lol

Soon after finishing up her cached snack Beauty flew over to the nestbox where she and Archer switched. She went in and he came out landing on the base of Mercury looking at what she left behind up there.

Finding nothing that appealed to him Archer took off heading north which is the direction of Kodak Park and Unity. I had to head out myself. 🙂

For more pics from todays watch go here: http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=186430632213%3A15686701&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

After hearing about the fight over at Kodak Office and that nobody was on the eggs for a bit I decided I better go check things out. I checked Kodak Office first finding it to be falconless. When I got downtown I was not able to find any falcons and I knew Beauty was back on the eggs so I headed over to Kodak Park. When I arrived I found Archer on the west still and Unity on the tall still.

They were preening and enjoying the rainless partially sunny skies.Suddenly Unity stooped down in front of the ORB with the white water tank blocking my view I lost her at first and then I spotted her flying on the north side of the power plant. Archer kept on preening like he hadn’t a care in the world! Unity returned to the tall still until Archer took off flying west over the brick part of the complex with Unity following behind until they went out of my viewing area. They came back with Unity flying over the top of me and heading east while Archer landed on the tall still. When she didn’t return Archer flew off to the east/southeast and didn’t return. I decided to go back downtown cuz I was worried they might have gone there and maybe there would be another fight.  I was wrong thankfully all was quiet and I went home. 🙂

For more pics go here: http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=901519532213%3A1447334705&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharer

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

When I first arrived downtown the fog seemed like it was lifting and it wasn’t misting for the first time since Saturday. As time went along the fog started dropping down lower and it was raining by the time I left for home. Better luck next time as they say. Anyway, Beauty was on the eggs and I was waiting for Archer to show up. He did, only he snuck in without me seeing him make the switch.  I happened to notice Beauty fly off the nestbox deck right over the top of me down on Aqueduct St. and over to the money bag hand of Mercury.

I haven’t seen her in that spot for awhile so it was good to see her up there where she seems to be a perfect fit and often looks like she is part of the statue. Today Beauty was all about preening.

She flew off  Mercury to the top ibeam of the OCSR building west corner where she continued to preen for 20 minutes or so before heading out. I searched around the city for about a half hour without finding her again. She probably had hunted and was eating somewhere. It was a short but sweet watch with the Beautyful one! 🙂

For more pics of this mornings watch go to:   http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=693053532213%3A1053698256&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharer

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Hi everyone, boy I think some sunshine is in order but sadly not anytime soon. Each day this week has gotten progressively foggier. I’m starting todays watch report with pics from yesterday afternoons watch: http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=880553432213%3A1718686307&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharer

As I drove onto the Broad St. bridge this morning the misty rain was lighter than yesterday but the fog was worse. The street cleaner was already out and about.

I found Archer on the green strip of the Wilder building. This is their latest favorite hangout, I think because of the weather related vision issues and it’s close to home.

15 minutes later Archer stooped down in front of Times Square where my view was blocked and caught breakfast taking it back up to the Wilder green strip to prepare. Feathers were in the air!

He ate some of it and left the rest. Archer then flew over to the nestbox and switched with Beauty who after she re-surfaced flew over to the Wilder building to consume what was left there for her.

About 30 minutes later Beauty half stooped toward the front of Times Square again where I couldn’t see what was going on only to surprise me by chasing 2 crows coming from behind me up Aqueduct St. First the crows appeared above the truck hauling you know what then Beauty came through right behind them. They couldn’t have been any higher than a few feet above the truck as they veered off to the right past the north side of the Thomson Reuters building. It all happened so fast as things usually do in the Peregrine Falcon world. Phew! So cool watching Archer and Beauty fly low in between buildings! The Beautyful one then flew back to the green strip before going over to the nestbox to resume incubation. Archer said no this time but upon her next visit he gave up the eggs and flew north. I had to leave ending my watch. 🙂

For more pics go here:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=832198432213%3A818361716&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

It was another foggy morning with a fine mist coming down as I found my way downtown. Beauty was on the eggs when I left home. I drove down to Aqueduct St. after I found Archer on the green strip of the Wilder building. He flew over to the nestbox and made the switch with Beauty and she went over to the green strip on the Wilder building.

Beauty stayed there for 5-10 minutes then flew over to the OCSR building top ibeam southwest side. DebbieH came walking up Aqueduct St. and was surprised to see me there. I told her where Beauty was and handed her my binocs to take a look. As she was leaving to go to work she told me I was a crazy lady for being out in the nasty weather. Call me crazy but I LOVE our falcons and like to make sure they are ok everyday! lol Again after about 10 minutes Beauty flew off going east and out of view. I drove around for the next hour looking for the Beautyful one and finally spotted her back in almost the same spot on OCSR. She probably was eating while she was gone. 15 minutes later she made her way back to the nestbox and Archer came out and flew to rest on top of the fire escape ladder on the Wilder building.

Cute isn’t he? Beauty and Unity think so!  Anyway, he wasn’t there for long when he stooped straight down the face of the Wilder building and I lost him behind the Phillipone building.

I decided to leave at this point but as I drove through the parking lot I saw Beauty come flying out and over to the green strip on the Wilder building.  Naturally I had to stop and take a pic or two before heading home. 🙂

For more pics go here:  http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=862159332213%3A1877708682&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

When I got up at 5;10am and looked out the window I didn’t see any rain but when I walked out the door I found that it was misting very lightly and steadily. As I got on route 490E off in the distance I could see that it was foggy downtown.  As I approached the Broad St. bridge I saw that Dans’ car wasn’t parked in it’s spot. No surprise given the weather. I did a u-turn to park the truck facing the Times Square building and nest site. Beauty was on the eggs when I left home. So I sat and waited for Archer to fly in and make the switch in between clearing the windshield with the wipers. I watched through the scope and apparently Archer snuck in and Beauty snuck out when I wasn’t looking at 6:00am. So when I sent out my first tweet at 6:11am Archer was already on the eggs unbeknownst to me. I drove down to Aqueduct St. to see if there was a falcon on the Wilder building. My second tweet said that Archer had briefly flown to the nestbox and then flown to the Wilder building,  it was in fact Beauty.

Donna let me know what had transpired and set me straight. Good job and thank you very much! So this was the Beautyful ones’ first attempt to get in the nestbox with Archer not budging. He clearly didn’t want anything to do with leaving his much drier location!  Finally around 8:00am Beauty got her way and Archer let her take over  the scrape, and HE flew over to the green strip on the Wilder building .

5 minutes later Archer flew to the top ibeam of the OCSR building on the southwest side.

A few minutes later Archer suddenly flew off in a big hurry almost in a half stoop toward the Times Square building. Being down on Aqueduct St. the buildings are very close and you are somewhat boxed in so I lost Archer  behind the Philipone building and never saw him again. The fog started to roll in further so I took a couple pics and ended my watch. 🙂