Morning watch 6-6-14
By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK
I forgot to check the temperature when I left this morning but I did check it on my way out of downtown on the State St. bank clock. It was 58 (F) 14 (C) and sunshine prevailed throughout my morning watch
As I arrived on the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) I could see Beauty up in the front of the nest box. As I pulled over she flew out heading east crossing the river out of sight. A couple minutes later she returned and landed on the top ibeam south corner of OCSR. I then went down to the hole for closer viewing.
At 6:41am the Beautyful one spread her wings and sprung off the ibeam heading south quickly leaving my field of vision behind buildings.
A few minutes later Beauty returned coming to rest under the southeast wing of the Times Square building (TSB). I decided to park on Exchange Blvd. in front of the Blue Cross Arena (BCA) to view her from a different angle.
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Beauty then performed a series of hand signals which is always good for seeing those BYFs (Big Yellow Feet).
At just about 7am Beauty suddenly dropped off the ledge going into stoop formation so fast that all I could do was watch as she went straight down toward the hole parking lot after a bird. I lost her for a split second behind the Philippone building before she came back into view over Exchange Blvd. in front of He’s Chinese. She was swooping back and forth like a pendulum coming close to the road on the downswing no more than 3-4 feet above it, scaring the heck out of me as the light changed and cars were heading that way! Thankfully she flew off toward Widows Walk before getting hit by a car only to fly back thru with prey in her talons and went to the base of Mercury with it.
Beauty had caught herself a Mourning Dove and it was still alive when she first landed as I could see it flapping its wings in an attempt to escape-mercifully she quickly ended its life, plucked some feathers then flew to the nest box to feed the eyasses. She spent about 10 minutes in there then I saw her fly up to cam 1 as I went back to the hole to observe.
Just about the time I started wondering where her mate Dot.Ca (DC) was, Beauty spotted him coming from the north with food and she took wing to meet him.
The race was on to reach the deck with Beauty right on his tail feathers. Their was a flurry of wings and vocalization as they landed so I couldn’t tell you who landed first but Beauty promptly took the food and went in the nest box as DC flew over to the top ibeam south corner of OCSR.
I situated myself where I could see DC on OCSR and the nest box area from Aqueduct St. DC dozed off a little as I wait for Beauty to emerge from the nest.
I decided to go up on the BSB where I could see in the nest box somewhat and as I was pulled over watcher Pat walked by on her way to work at Thomson Reuters. I caught up with her and gave her the scoop on the mornings activity and then she was on her way again. I couldn’t see Beauty so I returned to my spot in the hole and soon after Beauty flew up to cam 1. She too was sleepy as I noticed her eyelids shut a couple times.
Meanwhile, over on OCSR DC was awake and preening. He pooped and got back to maintaining his feathers as I started packing up my equipment to leave.
I was sure the kids were in a food coma after getting 2 meals in a short period of time as their parents were relaxing in the warm morning sunshine. I ended my watch at 8:15am smiling after another great watch! 🙂
Click on the links below to view todays videos
http://youtu.be/RY5AO_t6ihQ
http://youtu.be/-JVue4kq-CM
http://youtu.be/-UJG3s-DUFA
