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Morning watch 10-14-13

Monday, October 14th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Yuck-what a dark, dreary morning with a fine misty rain falling and a starting temperature of 55 (F) 13 (C)

I first found Beauty on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR-she had her back to the world staying out of the misty rain. I could see her tail hanging over the edge of the ibeam from Graves St. so I went to Main St. by the Radisson Hotel for a side view.

img_0003-beautys-tail-hanging-off-ocsr img_0004-beauty img_0007-beauty2<Beauty

I left the Beautyful one to look for Dot.Ca (DC) at 8:16am but I didn’t find him so off to the Brighton Site (BS) I went. As I pulled around to the back (south side) of the building I spotted UT (unbanded tiercel) on the southeast corner of the southwest extension.

img_0011-ut img_0012-ut img_0013-ut<UT

A couple minutes after I arrived Pigott came flying in coming to rest on the west end of the south side vent and she had a fascinator stuck above her cere. Fascinator-a term to describe a feather that is stuck on a falcon. She and UT could see each other well as they were kiddie corner.  About 10 minutes passed when I looked away from Pigott to see that UT was gone and when I looked back to Pigott she flew off heading south. She returned and landed on the same corner UT had been on just before 9am.

img_0014-pigott-with-a-feather-in-her-cap img_0016-pigott-with-a-fascinator img_0025-pigott img_0026-pigott<Pigott

Miss Pigott stayed there for half hour looking around her territory and I drove around the building a couple times to see if UT had come back but I failed to locate the little guy. I got some pics of the fall colors in the area as I made the rounds.

img_0029-fall-2013 img_0030-fall-2013 img_0035-fall-2013

img_0031-fall-2013 img_0036-pretty-variation-on-one-tree img_0032-fall-2013 Click on the pics to see the full version

Pigott was looking so cute with that feather stuck to her forehead-I was surprised it didn’t come off when she took flight cuz it looked like it was barely hanging on. Anyway, at about 9:20am Pigott flew out and around to the southwest corner of the west extension for half a minute then she took flight northbound and didn’t return.

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I went back downtown hoping to find DC but I was only able to find Beauty. She was on the southeast cube and she had her back to me-I guess she wasn’t in the mood today. lol That’s okay, because I was able to get side shots of her from Church St. on the south side and the City Hall parking lot on the north side.

img_0051-beautyful img_0053-beauty img_0055-beauty

Isn’t it great how these birds can look so pretty despite the dark conditions!? I went over to the Andrews St. bridge to have a look around for DC but I didn’t find him at the north end of the city. I ended my watch at 10am leaving downtown smiling as I always do because of our beloved Rochester Peregrine Falcons! 🙂

Click on the links below to view 3 videos

http://youtu.be/_8xDUguDidY

http://youtu.be/E2oF-tDjqxA

http://youtu.be/x0nSMjcKuZg

Rochester Falcon Watch – A Weekend Filled With Falcons – 10/12 & 10/13/13

Sunday, October 13th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

I don’t think we could have asked for a more beautiful weekend, and I and many of my Falcon Watcher friends took full advantage of the gorgeous weather.  First some pics from Saturday.

Saturday – 10/12/13

Beauty on the Frontier Communication Tower.

Beauty on FCT 10-12-13Beauty on FCT 10-12-13*

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Beauty and Dot.ca with their backs to me on Frontier Communication Tower

Beauty on FCT 10-12-13Dot.ca on FCT 10-12-13*

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UT at the BS location

UT at BS 10-12-13UT at BS 10-12-13*

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Pigott flew in and UT started to ee-chup.  He flew to the south side of the building and I found him on the roof just above Pigott who was at the slat window.  A Turkey Vulture flew over and a smaller falcon aka a Kestrel buzzed the building.  UT alarm kakked and took off chasing out of the area.  The first picture below is Pigott at the slat window and the 2nd is UT streaking across the back of the building.

Pigott at Slat Window 10-12-13UT Returns After Chasing Off TV and Kestrel 10-12-13*

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While I was at BS, I was joined by Jo, and two of her friends that were visiting from Pittsburgh.  They had all watched the nest site at the Cathedral of Learning where Beauty was born.  I was also visited by Larry O and Harold and mile 7 of their Saturday hike.

Larry O & Harold at Mile 7 of Their Hike 10-12-13*

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After Larry left, I headed over to Russell Station where Joyce, Dana and Lou were watching a juvie Peregrine with a black over green band harassing the Turkey Vultures.

Dana had seen the juvie there earlier that morning and I had missed seeing it.  We were  joined by Sage and Roger from Buffalo who hoped to be able to see Billy.

Sage and Roger from Buffalo 10-12-13*

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I caught up with everyone, just as Dana and Lou were leaving.  We thought the juvie was gone, but I spotted her on the catwalk of the west side smoke stack.  It was really hard to see her, since we were looking directly into the sun.  Kathy O joined us just in time to see the juvie take off and stoop towards the pond where a lot of ducks were hanging out.  A duck was flying in for a landing and the juvie was hot on its tail!  That was one lucky duck. It landed safely and the juvie pulled up and flew out over the lake.  It turned left and up over the trees at the edge of the lake and started chasing the Turkey Vultures that were flying very low over the area.  For over an hour, this very active juvie was busy chasing and stooping on the birds that flew through the area.  We saw her chase another duck and then towards the lake again and behind the trees.  She did not return.  That’s when Sage and Roger arrived.  We did go look for the juvie, but never did find her again.

We are fairly certain that this juvie was Billy, the same juvie we had positively ID’d.

Billy We Believe at Russell Station 10-12-13Billy We Believe at Russell Station 10-12-13Billy We Believe at Russell Station 10-12-13*

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Sunday – 10/13/13

This morning I joined Dana at Russell Station for a couple hours.  We also checked out Charlotte and Summerville.  No falcons seen.  I didn’t get out again until later in the day.

Just before 6:00 pm, I joined Lisa McK, Joyce and Jo at the BS location.  Pigott was 8 windows down from the roof on the north side of the building and UT was first on the NW corner of the NW extension and then on a window on the north side of the west end.

Pigott at BS 10-13-13Pigott at BS 10-13-13UT at BS 10-13-13*

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It looked like Pigott had eaten well.  She had a very full crop.  As the light was fading, Pigott flew over to the north side of the east end of the building and landed on a window where it met with the NE extension.  This was a spot we had seen her roost many times.  UT landed on a window on the north end of the NE extension.  It looked like they were going to settle down, so it was time to check the downtown area and end my watch.

Joyce found a falcon with its back to us on Xerox on the north side about 4 columns in from the NE corner.  I found a falcon with its back to us on the Kodak Tower on the NE corner of the launch pad.  I believe it was Beauty on Xerox and Dot.ca on Kodak, but I can’t be sure since it was getting dark.  It was time to end my weekend of falcon watching.

Falcon on Xerox 10-13-13Falcon on KO 10-13-13*

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I’ll leave you with a few pics I took during my travels this weekend.  Remember to click on any you would like to see larger.  Goodnight everyone!

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Morning watch 10-13-13

Sunday, October 13th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was 50 degrees (F) 10 (C) to start my morning watch with a bit of a breeze and sunny

From the east side I spotted Dot.Ca (DC) on the northeast corner of Xerox-as I was looking for a good place to watch from I happened to find Beauty on the 2nd column east of the northwest corner. I tried many different spots but decided the Broad St. bridge gave me the best view of both falcons.

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DC flew east at 7:40am and Beauty remained on Xerox. I took a ride around the tallest building in downtown Rochester to see if he landed somewhere else on it but he was not. I did however come across a beauty of a tree.

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Beauty left the building around 10 minutes later which I missed but I quickly caught up with her as she was under the northeast wing of the Times Square building (TSB). I parked in a couple different places before settling on Exchange Blvd. across from the TSB and directly below the Beautyful one.

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There was a bee that kept buzzing Beauty as she surveyed her territory and finally she had enough and flew north at about 8:15am.

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I checked the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) and Kodak Office since that’s the direction Beauty flew but I didn’t find her so I headed over to the Brighton Site. Larry had tweeted out that he had a falcon on the northwest corner of the northeast extension. When I arrived just before 9am, I saw the falcon. As I made my way around the building (it’s one way) stopping in the back (south side) of the building where Larry and his dog Harold were having a look on that side. We talked for a few minutes and then they left-so I stationed myself in the east side parking lot to observe the falcon whom I determined was UT (unbanded tiercel).

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He did some preening and watching starlings that are usually hanging around for about 20 minutes. UT rousted-shaking loose a white feather and then he spotted something that got his attention. He cranked his neck up and then stooped to the west for the first of 3 stoops he made in the next few minutes.

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UT returned without the goods landing on the northwest corner of the northwest extension and stooped off there moments later coming back once more empty taloned landing back on the northwest corner of the northeast extension. He stayed there only a minute before stooping for a 3rd time around 9:30am to the east and never returned. It was just me and a starling  in a dead pine tree so I left for downtown.

img_0081-stoop-2<Stoop 2 img_0084-stoop-3<Click it for stoop 3  img_0096-starling<Click it

From the City Hall parking lot I could see Beauty with her back to me to the inside of the northeast cube. I went to Church St. by the Hochstein School of Music to see the front of her and was pleasantly surprised  to find DC below her on the northeast side as well. She was sleeping and he had a full crop.

img_0106-sleeping-beauty<Beauty img_0109-dc<DC  img_0112-bdc

DC turned around prompting me to go around to the back of the Open Door Mission at the end of Montgomery Alley to see him. He was half asleep as well so I ended my watch at 10am leaving our downtown pair to rest.

img_0121-dc-half-asleep<DC img_0126-beauty1<Beautyimg_0128-bdc<Click it

I’m still wondering why DC hasn’t been over to BS to drive UT out of that territory but I’m not complaining as UT makes me smile as much as the rest of our Rochester Peregrine Falcons! 🙂

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqiye

http://youtu.be/0hSfwyXFWC0

http://youtu.be/qFi1aruGSeE

http://youtu.be/l2ciAGZpHUI

http://youtu.be/3d87BemgYuc

Morning watch 10-12-13

Saturday, October 12th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

47 degrees (F) 8 (C) was the starting temp this morning as I left for my watch-the sun came up with no clouds to interfere with it

img_0025-the-sun-peeking-thru-an-opening-in-trees The sun peeking thru an opening in the trees

I found Beauty on the southwest corner of HSBC again only I parked on Court St. to watch her today. A few minutes after I arrived she started plucking feathers and eating a small package she had up there.

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Beauty spent a good 35 minutes eating and when she was done she wiped her beak off on the edge of the building, which is called feaking and then flew off heading west.

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And as is her pattern, she went to the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) where I saw her from the Broad St. Bridge which is my patter- I check from there after Beauty leaves HSBC. I parked in front of City Hall on Fitzhugh St. to watch the Beautyful one at 7:53am. She was showing her big yellow feet (BYF) a lot today as she scratched and pulled out little white feathers.

img_0050-hi img_0056-beauty img_0063-im-1 img_0064-b-bye-little-feather-of-mine img_0069-feaking

I left her after 20 minutes or so to go over to the Brighton Site. I arrived there around 8:30am spotting Pigott on the west end of the middle part of the front of the building-a spot I’ve never seen her on before this morning. I searched the building 2 more times for UT but didn’t find him.

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I didn’t stay with Miss Pigott for long as I got a message from cam watcher Donna that Beauty was at the nest box and there was another falcon that flew by. Thanks a bunch for your help Donna! So I flew back downtown and as I approached from Exchange Blvd. I could see a falcon under the southeast wing of the Times Square building. It was gone when I got to Broad St. and pulling into the hole I could see no PEFAs in the area so I then drove over to the FCT. It was just about 9am when I arrived finding Beauty on the northeast cube from the City Hall parking lot with her back to me. I decided to go down Fitzhugh St. where I could see the front of her but she moved in further where I had a hard time finding her, at first I thought she had flown off while I was enroute. I saw some movement which led me to not only Beauty but also a napping DC right below the platform.

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Again I went back to the parking lot where I could see both of them clearly on the north side of the tower and both with their backs to me.

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This is how I left them as I ended my watch around 9:30am. Keep smiling! 🙂

Check out the links below to view a photo album and videos from my watch

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqixw

http://youtu.be/JIfoYh74LSc

http://youtu.be/lW9zCKAvPjs

http://youtu.be/jYzE7z7Dnpc


Morning watch 10-11-13

Friday, October 11th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It wasn’t quite as sunny this morning as it has been but the rest of the day was filled with sunshine. The temperature as I stepped out the house was 44 degrees (F)  7 (C)

As I stopped on Woodbury St. to check Xerox and HSBC I spotted a falcon on the southwest corner of HSBC with its back to me so I drove to my spot on Chestnut St. for a front view-it was Beauty peeking out from the corner.

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10 minutes later Beauty flew to the northwest corner giving me a few shots in succession of her flight toward me.

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After she landed on the corner she took a few steps to the south nibbled on some cached food and returned to the corner with a chunk of it.

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The Beautyful one had a few looks around, scarfed down the last bit of food and took flight at 7:33am heading northwest.

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I drove straight away to the Broad St. Bridge stopping to check around-I spotted a falcon on the top arm east side of the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT). I drove over to Fitzhugh St. and parked in front of City Hall finding that it was Beauty. She was all foofed up to keep warm in the chilly morning air and she preened off and on while keeping an eye on her territory.

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I left Beauty to look for Dot.Ca (DC) but didn’t find him so I went over to the Brighton Site (BS). There was no sign of Pigott or UT (unbanded tiercel) and I started to wonder if maybe DC was running UT out of town. Fellow falcon watcher and friend DebbieH called me saying she would like to meet me at BS so I could give her a tour of the site. She arrived around 9:30am and after I showed her around we took a trip to downtown finding Beauty and DC on the FCT. She was on the northeast cube and he was above her on a beam below the platform.

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So I breathed a sigh of relief that DC wasn’t off doing battle with UT. We stayed with the downtown dynamic duo for a few minutes and then left  at about 10:15am to check out Hawkeye and Seneca Towers where we found no PEFAs. Making our way back to BS to get my car there still was no sign of Pigott or UT so we called it a watch at 11:00am. I liked the color of this tree so I thought I should share.

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It was nice to pal around with Debbie on my watch today and share some smiles! 🙂

Check out the links below to view some videos

http://youtu.be/lnXIsgdCTNs

http://youtu.be/KKQq60cJxA4

http://youtu.be/Ys1RMA-pYJs

Morning watch 10-10-13

Thursday, October 10th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Another chilly start to the day with a cool 40 degree start and partly cloudy skies

I found Beauty and Dot.Ca (DC) on the north side of HSBC -he was on the northeast corner and she was near the northwest corner. When I got to my spot on Chestnut St. DC was running along the ledge toward Beauty and midway he flew off  to the west but Beauty stayed.

img_0001-bdc img_0002-dc<DC img_0007-beauty<Beauty

She had her back to me as we hung out for the next 15 minutes and then she was gone flying west as well.

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I followed suit and went westbound down Broad St. to the bridge where I spotted DC under the northeast wing of the Times Square building. I drove down to the hole and parked next to He’s Chinese for the best view of our handsome DC. He was in definite hunt mode, watching every little thing that moved in the area and just before 8am he flew off in a hurry to the northeast.

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I next went to the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) where I found the Beautyful one on her northeast cube.  She too was looking for a tasty treat.

img_0033-beauty3 Remember to click on my pics to see the full version

I didn’t stay with her for long as I left to check Brighton as I keep thinking DC is going to catch up with UT over there and battle with him. When I arrived at 8:30am UT was on the southeast corner of the east extension with his back to me as I parked in the busy east side parking lot to watch him. Pigott was not anywhere on the building that I could see.

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After 10 minutes he flew to the southeast corner of the southeast extension for less than a minute stretched out his wings and then flew southeast. He obviously saw something and a few minutes later I would find out what it was that he saw.

img_0049-ut1 img_0050-ut-has-left-the-building img_0051-ut img_0052-ut-on-his-way<Click it

I sat there waiting to see if he would come back and just as I was ready to leave I spotted a falcon to the north of the building flying over the main road and then there was another that came up from behind it-both flew very low, probably 15-20 ft. above the ground and then they disappeared in the trees. Soon after I lost sight of them one came back into view flying to the northwest end of the building followed by another a few seconds later. I got a call from good friend and fellow falcon watcher KathyO to hurry and get over to the west side because she had Pigott and UT real close to each other-the closest she’s ever seen them.

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Kathy had to get to work but it was great to see her tho briefly. After she left a third flyer came into the picture.

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Miss Pigott seemed like she had food as she was hunched forward and every time she moved a bit UT would look at her feet. He was being very silly cranking his head every which way making my neck hurt just watching him and yelling at some geese.

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Pigott moved in on the roof where I couldn’t see her while UT continued to entertain me.

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I drove to the back service road to get some distance in order to see Pigott. She had moved to the west side of the northwest extension still very close to UT.

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As it turned out Pigott didn’t have food. I left them to it, returning downtown only to find no falcons anywhere. I really like Mr. UT-he makes me smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to see more pics and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqixS

http://youtu.be/5a8vNNd9VAk

http://youtu.be/3n5eN8c0eyU

http://youtu.be/3nfewmcPhyU
http://youtu.be/OLu018P6qMc
http://youtu.be/MvaIRwALeGg

Wednesday Late Afternoon/Evening Falcon Watch – A Few Hours Spent With a Banded Juvie at the Lake – 10/9/13

Wednesday, October 9th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

4:00 – 7:00 pm

Watchers out during this time: Dana, Kathy O, Jo, Tim and Carol P.

Temps in the low 60’s (F); Cooler Down by the Lake (Ontario).

After work I headed over to Seneca Towers to start my watch looking for the juvenile falcon.  After checking out the building and finding no falcons there, I was just getting ready to head over to Hawkeye when I received a tweet from fellow watcher Dana.  She was down at the lake on the Summerville side and she was watching a banded juvenile Peregrine Falcon on the Coast Guard Station antenna.  I decided to join her instead of going downtown.  I was very happy to find the juvie still on the antenna when I arrive.  Dana was nearby and I joined her.  During the couple hours we spent with the juvie, she flew off on hunts and returned to the antenna three times.

There were lots of folks out, passing us and asking what we were looking at.  We were happy to explain.

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Pat joined us for a short while and she was able to see her first stoop as the juvie took off and stooped on the ducks in the river (Genesee) that emptied into Lake Ontario between the Summerville and Charlotte Piers.  Pat was thrilled!

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When the juvie flew to the Charlotte side, diving on gulls and ducks, we followed because she did not return.  So over to the Charlotte side we drove.  When we arrived there, we looked across and she was back on the Coast Guard Station antenna.  lol  We went back over to the Summerville side.

Here are some pics of the juvie during our watch.

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We know for a fact that she is banded, a silver USFW band/no colored tape and a green/black band.  Our suspicion is that this may be the same juvie that we’ve been seeing at the Seneca Towers and Hawkeye, but of course we cannot be sure.  None of my pics are clear enough to show the numbers/letters on the bands, but my hope is that Dana’s pictures will show them.

Note:  During the time we were watching the juvie, Kathy O, Jo and Tim were at the BS location with Pigott and UT.

I’ll leave you with some other pics I took down at the lake during my Watch.

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Morning watch 10-9-13

Wednesday, October 9th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

When I checked the local TV weather before heading out they said it was 39 degrees outside-when I got downtown the bank clock said it was 47 degrees. Either way I had to where my gloves this morning for a brisk but sunny start

I found Beauty on the north side of HSBC to start my day-sweet! She was smack dab in the middle and stuck out like a sore thumb.  She wasn’t there for long-6 minutes to be exact when she flew northwest.

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I caught up with her on the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) perched on her favorite northeast cube. I parked on Fitzhugh St. in front of the Sister Cities parking garage to observe the Beautyful one. She was alert and in hunt mode paying close attention to birds below her. At one point she turned around to get a better look at them so I had to go down to the City Hall parking lot to see the front of her.

img_0010-beauty1 img_0012-beauty-on-her-ne-cube img_0017-beauty img_0037-hi-mak

img_0045-the-eye-of-beauty Beauty up close and personal

I left  her after almost an hour and headed over to the Brighton Site landing there about 8:30am. I was greeted by both Pigott on the west end of the south side vent and UT (unbanded tiercel) on the slatted window ledge in the bright sunshine.

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Pigott had an exceptionally full bulging crop but still was keeping track of the starlings flying around-like she could fit any more down that throat of hers. In between preening, UT was also watching the starlings albeit with his back facing out he had his head on a swivel. Miss Pigott flew off to the southwest after 10 minutes passed and that was the last I saw her.

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I got my first UT poop shot when he decided to go to the back corner of the ledge, peek out and then come forward again showing his back to the world. He did some stretching exercises as well including the speed skating  maneuver.  He’s a very alert little guy except I don’t think he saw Pigott leave as he had his head buried under his wing preening when she left.

img_0078-ut-poop-shot img_0095-ut img_0096-ut-hidingimg_0104-only-the-shadow-knows img_0107-ut

I left him around 9:20am to check the Hawkeye and Seneca Towers sites-no luck spotting a falcon at either place. In returning downtown I went to FCT after seeing a dark spot under the platform from the Andrews St. Bridge. It took some work but I finally found both Beauty and DC in amongst the beams very well hidden. They moved around a bit and settled on facing each other from a very short distance.

img_0108-bdc img_0110-beauty-and-dc <click it img_0111-bdc

I ended my watch at 10:15am wondering why DC wasn’t sending UT packing over at Brighton-perhaps he is doing what his father Jack does, spending a few days with Beauty exclusively and then with Pigott a few. And he just hasn’t been in Brighton since UT arrived.  All I can say is if we can have 2 pair without any fights I’ll be smiling! 🙂

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Tuesday Late Afternoon/Evening Falcon Watch – Beauty, Dot.ca, Pigott & UT Seen – 10/8/13

Tuesday, October 8th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

4:00 to 7:00 pm

Watchers during that time: Kathy O, Jo & Julie – New Watchers & Carol P.

A gorgeous fall day in Rochester, NY.  A bit chilly with temps in the 60’s (F), but my watch started out with sunshine and blue skies.

My first stops were ST and HE.  No juvie falcon seen at either location.  Downtown, I found Dot.ca on the south side of the OCSR on the top I-Beam close to the south corner.

Dot.ca on OCSR 10-8-13Dot.ca on OCSR 10-8-13*

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The river’s water level was high and the area was alive with all kinds of birds.  I’ll include some pics at the end.  I drove around the downtown area and found Beauty on the south side of the Xerox Tower, 5th column in from the SE corner.

Beauty on Xerox 10-8-13Beauty on Xerox 10-8-13*

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While I was watching Beauty and Dot.ca a tweet came in from Kathy O.  She was at the BS location and she found Pigott on the south side of the west end adjacent to the cubby area.  It was time for me to join Kathy at the BS location.  We hadn’t seen UT last night and I hoped he hadn’t left Rochester just yet.  Kathy had run an errand, so she wasn’t there when I first arrived.  I slowly circled the building and found a falcon on the SW corner of the west end of the building.  Because it was facing away from me, I couldn’t tell if it was Pigott or not.

UT at BS 10-8-13*

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I waited to see if this falcon would reveal it’s identity.  Finally some stretches and a roust!  It was our unbanded tiercel, UT.

Finally UT Shows His Unbanded Legs 10-8-13UT Gave a Big Roust 10-8-13*

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At about 5:45 pm, UT stretched his wings and took off heading to the south side of the building.  He landed on the slower section of the slat window and vocalized with some soft ee-chups.  He was looking towards the southwest.

UT Landed on the Lower Section of the Slat Window 10-8-13UT on the Slat Window at BS 10-8-13*

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That’s when Kathy and I saw Pigott fly in and land on the SW corner of the SE extension.  She had a HUGE crop!  Obviously she had recently eaten.  lol  She preened a bit and stretched.  They could definitely see each other from their positions.

Pigott with a Very Full Crop at BS 10-8-13*

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At 6:25 pm, Pigott flew over to the slat window and landed next to UT.  They vocalized a bit and then UT flew up to the SE corner of the SW extension, just above Pigott.  It was starting to get dark and Kathy had to leave.  I wanted to stick around until 7:00 pm, when it would be dark, hoping to see where they settled for the evening.

Pigott on the Slat Window at BS 10-8-13UT Above Pigott at BS 10-8-13*

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Two ladies came towards me, walking their dog.  One had binoculars and was looking up at UT.  They walked over and introduced themselves as Jo, Julie and their dog Finn.  We met Julie over the weekend and Joyce met both Jo and Julie later.  Jo used to work near the Cathedral of the Learning in Pittsburgh, PA, where Beauty was from and she used to watch that nest site.  I showed them where UT and Pigott were  on the building and we chatted until UT took off and flew south.  He returned to the building and landed on a window just to Pigott’s right.  He took off and headed south again.  We waited to see if he would return.  By 7:00 pm, it was dark and UT had not returned.  Pigott flew up to the corner he had vacated and looked towards the south.  We wondered if he might be hunting and that she could see him.

It was time to end our Watch.  I said goodbye to Jo, Julie and Finn and sent one last tweet that I was ending my watch.  The moon was gorgeous this evening.

Moon Over BS 10-8-13*

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I’ll leave you with a few pics I took during my Watch today.  Enjoy!  Remember to click on any you would like to see larger.  Goodnight Everyone!

A Tree in the River - The Gulls Like it -10-8-13Cormorant Buddies on the River 10-8-13*

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View Under the Court St Bridge 10-8-13View Under the Court St Bridge 10-8-13

Morning watch 10-8-13

Tuesday, October 8th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

A chilly start to the day with a temp of 44 degrees (F) 7 (C) and just a few clouds making for mostly sunny skies and another nice sunrise

img_0027-sunrise Click on my pics to see the full version

I found Dot.Ca  (DC) on the northwest corner of HSBC to start my watch. He was on the railing at first but the wind kept making him lose his balance so he flew out and returned landing near the corner. I wasn’t sure if it was him at first because his chest didn’t look as white as usual, funny how lighting plays tricks on your eyes.

img_0003-dc1 img_0004-dc-fighting-the-wind img_0005-dc-lost-his-balance-from-the-wind

DC started eating and as time went on the tail of his victim hung over the edge revealing that it was a cardinal as it was red. They are my favorite song bird so I was in mourning for a bit. He finished eating after 10 minutes and flew west at 7:20am.

img_0014-looks-like-a-red-tail-on-that-prey-cardinal-oh-no img_0021-dc img_0028-dc-takes-wing img_0029-dc-is-off<Click it

10 minutes later I spotted DC on the southeast corner of the Kodak Office (KO) launchpad as I was stopped on State St. I drove down to the  Browns Race/High Falls area and parked on Mill St. to observe him. It was then that I noticed Beauty directly below him on the southeast corner of the playpen. DC was keeping an eye on Beauty and she was keeping an eye on birds below as she was in hunt mode.

img_0032-dcbeauty img_0044-dc-looking-down-at-beauty img_0058-beauty

Around 8am I decided to go check the Brighton Site (BS) and as I started to make a k turn 2 Rochester Police squad cars came up and blocked me in front and back. A female officer walked up to me with a male officer standing by the back of my car. She said a call came in about someone taking pictures and the other one asked if I was watching hawks. I pointed to Beauty and DC, showed them some pics from my camera and gave them a quick run down about our beloved PEFAs. No worries as we all drove off smiling. 🙂

I made it over to BS at 8:30am only to find that there were no falcons around. Hmm, had DC chased off  the unbanded tiercel (UT) or did Pigott and UT go flying off somewhere together. Anyway, I returned to downtown stopping on State St. near  KO  I saw that Beauty and DC were still on their previous spots.

img_0083-dc<Click to see DCimg_0085-beauty<B img_0088-bdc

I drove on to check Hawkeye and Seneca Towers. The juvie that has been seen at those places is not there in the mornings but is seen almost regularly in the afternoon and evening and today was no exception-not seen! Returning to State St. only DC remained on KO-the Beautyful one was gone. DC was facing the sun looking like my knick name for him-Whitey.

img_0097-whitey img_0099-hellooo-down-there img_0102-livin-on-the-edge img_0103-whitey

I left DC and checked out  the High Falls overlook off of Commercial St. in Browns Race for a change of pace. It was neat to be closer to the falls and looking down on them. And I couldn’t resist taking a couple pics of some holly bushes there.

img_0109-top-of-high-falls img_0115-holly-berries

When I was done I drove over to the Frontier Communications Tower to see if  Beauty was there and she was, hiding very well under the platform near the southeast corner. I was there only a few minutes as her eyes were getting heavy and she was ready to nap.

img_0116-beauty-under-platform img_0120-preening img_0138-beauty img_0126-beauty

And that’s all she wrote-I ended my watch just before 10am with a smile on my face! 🙂

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