By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Since tomorrow is forecast to be a rainy day, I decided to go out this morning. I usually enjoy Sunday morning watches, but I really enjoyed today’s watch.

It had been a very long time since Nova and Neander had visited the Times Square Bldg nest box. Falcons have been seen over on the Five Star Bank bldg, but yesterday, our cameras caught two falcons on the Wilder Bldg chimney. So, I hoped to see them closer to the Times Square Bldg (TSB) this morning. My wish came true!

From the Court St Bridge, I could see a large flock of pigeons in panicked flight between the TSB and the jail communication tower. I was pretty sure I saw a falcon in the mix but did not see where it went.

I drove all over but had no luck finding any falcons. When I returned to the Court St Bridge, I spotted two falcons chasing pigeons around the Times Square Bldg. To my happy surprise, they both landed at the TSB nest box!

Parking closer to the building, I could see them and hear them ee chupping loudly to each other. They remained there for a while before they both took off, heading east. I was unable to find them, so I ended my Saturday morning watch.

Now, I can’t be 100% sure that it was Nova and Neander, but it sure looked like them.

Here are some pictures from my morning watch. Enjoy!

The following is a series of pictures showing Nova taking off from the Times Square Bldg nest box platform.

Finally, I was able to afford a new computer! I was posting pictures of my pictures, which weren’t very good. So, now I’ll be able to share my pictures again. I had thousands to go through! Pictures and videos from my 2022 falcon watch.

Here are some of my favorite pics of Kanfai Malachim, Zara and Blaze and Nova and Neander. I hope they are all doing well!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Here are a few pics from my watch on Saturday morning.

No juvies, just Nova and Neander hanging out.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Please continue to pray FOR A FRIEND

Today’s Watchers: Jeanne, Kathy O, Larry O, Joyce, Dana and Carol P.

It was a beautiful and very chilly (downright cold!) morning watch. Jackets were a necessity! Brrrr! Gotta love August in Rochester, NY. Of course, as I write this, it’s 76F and sunny. Beautiful!

There isn’t much of a report today. The only falcons we saw were the adults, Nova and Neander. At the beginning of the watch, Nova was on the south side of the Wilder Bldg green strip and Neander was up on the Times Square Bldg nest box platform. They were chatting back and forth, probably discussing where Kanfai Malachim and Blaze had gone. Nova for sure had a very full crop.

We started out in the hole (Aqueduct St) and ended up on the other side of the river on the west side of the Convention Center where we have a wonderful view of the whole area.

Neander ended up napping on the west side of the Wilder Bldg green strip and Nova took off heading north and turning in the general direction of the Powers Bldg.

So, no juvies downtown, but on the way home, Dana and I found 2 juvies at ST.

Here are a few pics of pics from this morning.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Please continue to say a prayer FOR A FRIEND.

Watchers: Kathy O, Larry O and Carol P.

The kids were back! Woohoo!

Yesterday, we only had Nova and Neander. Nova had food for her young ones, she called for them, but had no takers.

Today, it was all about Kanfai Malachim and Blaze. They were back under the watchful eye of one of the adults, who was watching them from the north side of OCSR.

When I first arrived, both juvies were on top of the old Radisson. Kathy and Larry with Gimli joined me on the Court St Bridge. Both juvies took off and flew low over the river. One came back and landed on the old Radisson clutching something small. This was probably a successful hunt! Although we did not see the actual catch. The juvie was enjoying its breakfast when the 2nd juvie landed nearby. This one had food too. All I can say is that they both came back with prey. lol Blaze and Kanfai Malachim both enjoyed their meals.

After finishing their meals, both juvies took off. They joined each other in a game of talon tagging and flying over the river. We saw a hawk flying towards us over the river. One of the juvies stooped on it and the hawk quickly moved out of the area. Blaze flew towards OCSR and it looked like he landed on top of the disk. We lost sight of Kanfai Malachim.

Larry drove over to the Andrews Street Bridge and reported that both juvies were back on the west side of the Old Radisson and there was an adult on the north side of OCSR top Ibeam.

Kathy and I headed over to the Andrews Street Bridge. When we go there, we could only see one juvie and it was Kanfai Malachim. Blaze had taken off and landed on top of OCSR. It wasn’t long before Kanfai Malachim joined him.

It was quiet now, so we ended our morning watch. I loved seeing Kanfai Malachim and Blaze together again!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Please continue to PRAY FOR A FRIEND

Watchers: Larry O, Dana and Carol P.

This morning was very cool, almost cold. Dana and I were wearing hoodies. Larry O had a towel wrapped around his shoulders. lol

It was a quiet watch. The highlight of my watch happened when I was parked on the Andrews Street Bridge. A juvie was on top of the OCSR Elevator Shaft. The juvie was too far away to get an ID.

After a few moments, the juvie spread its wings and took off, dropping down the face of the building. Fast! So fast, I actually lost sight of it. When the gulls low on the river started screaming, I knew the juvie was close, really close.

Right in front of me, the juvie raced across the river, chasing the gulls and a couple pigeons. Next, the juvie zipped over the Andrews St Bridge, heading north. I quickly lost sight of it. Well, that was fun! Of course I got no pictures or videos. I just watched and enjoyed. I would not be surprised if both Kanfai Malachim and Blaze have had a successful hunt.

We did check the High Falls area just in case. The only thing of note that we saw was a juvie Bald Eagle heading south.

The rest of the watch was pretty quiet.

Here are a few pics of pics from today’s watch.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Please say a prayer FOR A FRIEND

Morning Watchers: Larry O, Dana and Carol P.

I was going to take a day off, but just couldn’t do it. I’m glad I didn’t because I would have missed some really nice flying by our falcons. All four were seen today.

When I first arrived on the Court St Bridge, there was a juvie on the Old Radisson. The juvie took off and now there were two, talon tagging and having a good time. After awhile, both landed on the Old Radisson and both had food. Not sure where they got the food, but they were both busy eating their breakfast.

Larry O arrived with Gimli. He told me that there was an adult on the Times Square Bldg nest box platform. So maybe there was a food transfer I missed.

Things were quiet for awhile, before the juvies left the Old Radisson, heading west. The adult, I believe was Nova, also took off from the Times Square Bldg. On the way over to the Frontier Communication Tower, I heard the juvies flying overhead vocalizing quite loudly. Dana had joined the watch and reported that one juvie had landed on Widows Walk with an adult. The adult left.

From my view of Widows Walk from Fitzhugh St I could only see a little bit of the juvie. Another juvie flew in and landed on the NW lower corner of Widows Walk scattering 30+ pigeons that had been roosting there. It was Blaze, and Kanfai Malachim was jumping down from the railing to join Blaze on the corner.

They both took off and the air was filled with the loud vocalizations of two playful young falcons. I believe at least one of the adults was joining in on the fun.

Dana found Blaze, Kanfai Malachim and an adult on the Jail Communication Tower. After they all left, we ended our morning watch.

It was so nice seeing them all together again!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P

Watchers: Larry O, Dana, Linda and Carol P.

Another 3 H Day! Hot, hazy and humid with temps near 90F.

While yesterday was a Blaze morning, today was Kanfai Malachim’s morning. We saw Blaze get food and eat on top of the old Radisson yesterday.

Today started with both adults with food. Neander on Powers and old Radisson and Nova on the NE corner of Wilder. Nova was calling out to the juvies, but neither came in to take her offering.

Both adults took off heading towards Xerox/5 Star area.

We searched and searched with no luck finding any of the falcons. All the watchers settled on the Court St Bridge in the shade.

Finally a falcon, flying high above Xerox and heading our way, over the river and landing on the NW wing ledge of the Times Square Bldg (TSB). We’re pretty sure it was Nova and she was carrying food looking for a juvie. Still no takers.

It was time to search again. Dana and I ended up on the High Falls pedestrian bridge. From there, we could see a juvie on the west side of one of the Water St bldgs, overlooking the river. From the Andrew St Bridge, we got a closer look. When the juvie took off, we could see a blue band. It was Kanfai Malachim!

Kanfai Malachim flew low over the bridge and the river. She crossed the river, flew by the Times Square Bldg and headed north, landing on the Frontier Communication Tower below the platform. Linda, Dana and I set up in the shade.

Kanfai Malachim settled in to preen and nap. After a long rest, she took off heading SE.

We all split up to look for her, but we couldn’t find Kanfai Malachim and we didn’t see Blaze this morning.

When we ended our watch, there was an adult eating under the TSB NW wing ledge. We were pretty sure it was Neander.

As always, I apologize for the poor quality of my pics of pics.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

For those that have been wondering how Billie and Beau did this year. They successfully raised four juvies from their undisclosed nest site. We have been asked by the DEC to not say where they are nesting.

We’ll hopefully add some pictures soon.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

When I first arrived downtown at 6:30 am, something told me to check out the downtown buildings first and I’m glad I did. I parked near Geva Theater. From there, I could see two juvies flying and talon tagging over Five Star Bank. This went on for a long time.

Both juvies settled on top of the Five Star Bank Bldg. Blaze on the corner and Kanfai Malachim on top of one of the antennas. Blaze flew over Kanfai Malachim and around the back of the building. Kathy O and Dana joined me in front of the Martin Luther King Park.

It rained on and off while we were watching Kanfai Malachim on the antenna and it was very cloudy. Temps were going up into the high 80s, with high humidity. Really bad lighting conditions for pictures.

An adult flew past with food and the chase was on. Both Blaze and Kanfai Malachim chased the adult. One juvie was successful and landed on the SW side of B&L with the food. The 2nd falcon followed the adult, flying east.

It wasn’t long before the juvie on B&L took off. Kathy, Dana and I split up and searched for the falcons. Having no luck, we ended up on the Court St Bridge. From there we saw a juvie land on the NE corner of the old Radisson with food. Time to move again!

From Bragdon, we had a very nice view of Kanfai Malachim eating on the old Radisson in the rain.

From there, we could see an adult on the Times Square Bldg NE wing ledge. After Kanfai Malachim finished her breakfast, she took off heading towards the Times Square Bldg, vocalizing to the adult.

On the way back to the Court St Bridge, Dana saw Kanfai Malachim land on the Widows Walk. When we arrived on the CSB, she was gone and so was the adult.

As we were ending our watch, an adult landed on the Jail Communication Tower, Kathy drove over to verify it wasn’t a juvie.

We are doing a lot of driving around to find the falcons now. It was so much nicer when we could sit in one place to see them. Now that they’re getting older, they’re spreading out. I’m happy that we can share their adventures with all of you.

We didn’t see Red today. I kind of hoped we would. I hope this traveling juvie is doing well.