Morning watch 5-5-14
By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK
It was a sunny start with a temperature of 39 degrees (F) 4 (C)
Yesterday afternoon I spotted watchers Dan and Carol across the river from my apartment here at Seneca Towers (ST) as they were watching falcons on the Veterans bridge and my building. I will be referring to the the female juvie as STJ (Seneca Towers Juvie) until we can ID her and as Joyce suggested, the unbanded male as STT (Seneca Towers Tiercel) until we come up with a name for him.
As I was getting ready for my watch I heard a falcon whining outside my window at Seneca Towers-as I got to my car in the parking lot I spotted STJ on the east side roof directly above me.
I left for downtown and found Dot.Ca (DC) on the 2nd ibeam of OCSR near the south corner from the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) at 6:40am. I went down to the hole for closer viewing as DC trotted down to the south corner.
DC flew off toward the Times Square building (TSB) at 6:46am. I wasn’t situated where I could see the nest box so I didn’t know if he went to relieve Beauty-he didn’t so I went in search of him.
While stopped on the Andrews St. Bridge (ASB) I spotted D flying south to north toward me over the river-he continued past the High Falls out of view around 7:15am. A minute or so later he came flying back through with prey in his talons disappearing around the south side of OCSR.
I went directly to the hole and found DC on the 2nd ibeam to the west side of the south corner and he was plucking feathers.
DC kept picking it up and moving further west then he would go back to plucking or eating-he’s a funny little guy!
At 7:40am DC finished eating and flew off with his leftovers to the base of Mercury and started chirping. Beauty flew out the nest box immediately and as she landed he quickly left and flew to the nest to get their precious ones covered up on a chilly morning.
<DC leaving OCSR
<Beauty coming out of NB
<DC landing on deck to go in NB
The Beautyful one spent 20 minutes on her food gift then she flew to the OCSR top ibeam near the south corner. I drove to the Radisson Hotel near Main St. to watch but she had her back to me.
I opted to go down to the hole so I could see the front of her. She looked around,preened and stretched
She picked at her talons, scratched her head and pooped as I observed her until about 8:30am.
Beauty flew off rather nonchalantly to the west gliding on her stretched out wings until I could no longer see her. I chose to end my watch at this point but I wasn’t finished watching falcons-oh no, not yet, for as I was pulling down Seth Green Drive to my apartment in the Seneca Towers I spotted STJ on the southeast corner railing and STT was on the west side railing.
<Click it to see full version 
STT
STJ
I had to change the battery in my camera which had died and when I looked back up STT was dropping down on STJ who had her tail up and ready to accept him as they mated. I wasn’t ready but got a couple out of focus pics as my camera focused in on the tree branch instead of the falcons. OY! STT flew back to his west side railing while STJ remained on her southeast corner.
He flew off a moment later when I wasn’t looking and just as I called it a watch and started to pull away she flew off to the south going into a stoop down into the river gorge. What a falcon filled watch I had today leaving a big old smiley on this watchers face! 🙂
Click on the links below to view a photo album and 3 videos
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May 5th, 2014 at 7:15 PM
Dang, you are so close to STJ, there must be a chance for you to get a gander at that anklet with the info…
May 5th, 2014 at 8:17 PM
I can’t see the roof or corners from my apartment Alison. I have to go out to the communal balconies on the east or west side (there’s one of each on every floor) to see the falcons but I’m afraid of heights so it’s tough to get a look or a pic for me. I hope to conquer my fear at some point and be able to at least stand by the railings but I’m far from that at this time. The building is 22 floors high-it’ll be tough to get a pic to ID her from the ground. But I’ll keep trying! 🙂
May 5th, 2014 at 10:45 PM
Thanks for giving us the lay of the land in your “new world,” MAK!
May 6th, 2014 at 8:27 AM
Ah, but what an incentive to conquer that acrophobia! This could be the cure and afterwards your life will get easier.
May 6th, 2014 at 9:54 AM
Barb, it certainly is a new world for me here-I’m liking it for the most part! Missing my house tho and feel bad that I can’t feed my back yard birds. I know they’ll survive but it makes it a little easier for them when there is food readily available, especially this time of year when they have hungry babes to feed.
Alison, I can think of no better incentive to conquer my fear! I know I can do it-I conquered the High Falls pedestrian bridge so… 🙂
May 15th, 2014 at 5:39 PM
What’s up, after reading this amazing post i am too happy to share my familiarity here with mates.