By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

The day started with a temperature of 42 degrees (F) 6 (C) with more sweet sunshine and a few clouds rolling thru

I looked around for 2o minutes and on my 2nd pass on the east side I spotted Dot.Ca (DC) landing on the south side of Xerox 4th column from the southwest corner at 7am.

I stayed with Mr. White stuff a few minutes and then left him to continue my search. I didn’t find Beauty anywhere so I eased on down the road to Hawkeye-nothing and then Seneca Towers-another unsuccessful site. Back downtown I went to find that DC had left Xerox and Beauty was still hiding from me. Off to the Brighton Site I went only to come up with nothing again. Sheesh! Upon returning to downtown I found DC on the south corner top ibeam of OCSR at 8:45am. He was looking especially white today!

DC was in definite hunt mode while he was up there and after 15 minutes passed he flew off to the west.

I checked the north side of OCSR and the Frontier Communications Tower but didn’t see anything so I drove to High Falls to try my luck. It was amazingly quiet there with only 1 gull flying near the falls and no other wildlife in sight-shocking! So I turned my binocs from the gorge to the city skyline starting on the east side. As I made my way to the FCT I spotted 2 falcons on the lower white section and it looked like one of them had food.

As I arrived at 9:40am I caught a glimpse of a falcon fly off FCT to the west as I parked on Church St. in front of the Hochstein School of Music. I could see that DC was up on the beam that goes to the large satellite dish on the east side.

I’m pretty sure it was Beauty that flew off but she must have snuck back while I was watching DC for he started looking below him at one point. I couldn’t see anything until I got a different view from Fitzhugh St. and sure enough there was Beauty and she was eating. She always gets his attention when she has food!

<DC  Beauty> Make sure to click on my pics to see the full version

10 minutes later DC flew off to the west and returned with his own breakfast and replaced Beauty on the same spot she had been eating after she gulped down her last bite and moved to the north side at the same level as DC.

<Beauty<DC

Beauty had quite the full crop and was not the least bit interested in what DC was eating as she moved over into the shade and started napping.

<Click it >  <DC <Beauty

I shared space with our downtown Peregrine pair until 10am thus ending my watch with a smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to see more pics and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqir-

http://youtu.be/cVY0qOBMAE
http://youtu.be/Rq8wKpSKgu8
http://youtu.be/NDYOJFlEsG4
http://youtu.be/i_OqTO-TDts
http://youtu.be/0J9c_kvVihM
http://youtu.be/R6dJ8097jRw

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

I saw 3 falcons tonight and wasn’t able to positively ID any of them.  Two had their back to me and it was too dark to get a good look at the 3rd.  Here’s my best guess.

Beauty was on the SW corner of HSBC.

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At first I thought this was Pigott at BS on the south side of the west end of the building across from the cubby.  After checking my pics, I now think this was Dot.ca.  His back was to me the whole time and he took off while I was checking out the 3rd falcon of the night.

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The 3rd falcon I saw tonight was at BS on the west end of the south side vent.  By this time it was too dark to get a good look and my camera is horrible in low light.  This bird looked darker to me and now I believe it was Pigott eating up there with feathers flying.  Here is a picture that shows a dark blur of a bird.

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After eating, she took off and flew to the front of the building.  I found her on the NW corner of the NW extension.

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There was no vocalizing between DC and Pigott while I was there.  Both were very quiet.  The only sound in the area was the honking of the Canada Geese as they took off in formation heading south.

The only thing I was certain about during my watch was that I saw three falcons and that this was not Beauty on the NE Box on the Frontier Communication Tower.

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Goodnight everyone!  Have a very nice evening!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Another sunny morning with bright blue skies and a starting temp of 41 degrees (F) 5 (C)

I spotted Beauty on the southeast corner of HSBC as I was stopped at the traffic light at Clinton and Court St. I drove to Chestnut St. in front of Manhattan Square Park looked up and she was gone but I found Dot.Ca (DC) on the south side of  Xerox. He was on the 9th column over from the southeast corner.

I left DC after 10 minutes and found Beauty on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR. Initially I spotted her from the Broad St. Bridge but I drove down to Graves St. to be closer.

I watched her for about 10 minutes as well and left to check Hawkeye (HE) and Seneca Towers (ST) around 7:30am. No juvie around at either place that I could see. Upon my return to downtown the Beautyful one was still on OCSR and DC on Xerox so off I went to the Brighton location where again Pigott wasn’t home. Back to our fair city after getting reports from Donna, Shaky and FlaDonna that Beauty and DC were on OCSR. Of course when I got there at 8:30am they were both gone, however I could see Beauty on the Frontier Communications Tower northeast cube so I went over there. On my way I checked OCSR on the north side anf found DC on the north corner top ibeam.

<DC> <Beauty>

Beauty was preening and scratching while pulling feathers out of herself as she is still in a molt. She’s just about done as she’s looking great.

So I spent half hour with Beauty and just before I left she pooped, stretched her wings and moved in onto an east side beam under the platform. I checked for DC as I made my way out of downtown but he was gone from OCSR.

Our downtown Peregrine pair are doing their own kind of bonding by hanging out together at different spots-OCSR, FCT and Xerox. I’m not sure if Beauty and DC will eventually make it to the nest box (theirs is a strange relationship) to bow and echup like he does with Pigott over in the cubby at BS but if and when they do we all will be smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to see some videos

http://youtu.be/B972PXtcYzY
http://youtu.be/isn9LiLtDbQ
http://youtu.be/ELszwfAoU-U
http://youtu.be/CzoI0fl9yug

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Brrr, a chilly start at 39 Degrees (F) 4 (C) with wall to wall blue skies once the sun came up.

I found Beauty and Dot.Ca (DC) at 6:55am on the south side of Xerox again this morning-she was on the 4th column over from the southeast corner and he was on the 4th column over from the southwest corner.

<Beauty   DC>

I hung out with our downtown pair for about 15 minutes and then I rolled on over to the Hawkeye (HE) site for a look/see. Nothing there so I moved on to the Seneca Towers (ST) high rise apartment building to the north at St. Paul St. and route 104. CarolP had seen a juvie there last night so I tried my luck but saw nothing. I returned to the east side of downtown to find DC still on Xerox but Beauty was gone. 20 minutes later he flew off to the southwest.

I left when he didn’t come back and as I was stopped on the Broad St. Bridge to scan everything visible from there with my binocs I spotted a falcon on the northeast corner of the FCT platform railing. I drove over to the City Hall parking to ID it and as I arrived cam watcher Donna texted that there was a falcon on the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT). Thanks D! It was Beauty and she was looking just lovely in the bright sunshine.

She did some preening, stretching and posing while keeping track of the pigeons and starlings that were close by.

I observed the Beautyful one until 8:30am then left to check the Brighton site (BS). Again, Pigott was nowhere to be found-she has been seen at night so no worries! When I returned to downtown a little after 9am Beauty was still on FCT doing her thing.

We shared space for 15 minutes and then I left Beauty to check the Seneca Towers and Hawkeye locations one more time before ending my watch around 10am. I saw a crow on the roof of ST and a  Red-tail Hawk circling above the Hawkeye area. Red-tails are my favorite hawk so it definitely sent me home with a smile on my face! 🙂

Click on the links below to view my videos

http://youtu.be/VT04LaWr0h4

http://youtu.be/vRnwjKkcRks

http://youtu.be/OqGwasmfoHQ—

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Another Monday late start, but it all worked out for the best.  I’ve changed my route going downtown since the Hawkeye juvie is in the mix now.  I usually head for St Paul St first and drive south towards Hawkeye.  Today I didn’t get very far before spotting the juvie eating on the apartments that tower over the river where St Paul meets 104.  I have always looked up at these apartments wondering why I’ve never seen a falcon there.  Well, today that all changed.

At 6:40 pm I was passing the apartments, looking up like I always do.  Today I saw a very familiar shape up on the SE corner.  I quickly turned around and headed back, trying to find a spot to watch from.  Not an easy thing to do in that area.  Plus the sun was lowering and the lighting was not good.  But, I finally found a spot where I had a decent view and took a closer look.  Yep, definitely a Peregrine Falcon and definitely a juvie.  Based on size, female and she was eating what appeared to be a pigeon.  This young hunter was doing very well indeed.

These apartments, which are just north of Hawkeye, are very tall, so it was impossible to get a look at the falcons legs to see if it was banded.  I watched her until it was dark and she finally stopped eating.  Just before 7:30 pm, she took off heading NE, leaving the remainder of her meal.

I followed the best I could, but there was no way for me to see where she ended up going.  I had hoped to find her nighttime roost.  No such luck.

Here are some pictures I took of the juvie this evening.  Remember to click on any you would like to see larger.  Sorry that they’re not very good, but distance and lighting were working against my old Kodak Camera.  lol Plus this is not an area I could take out my scope.

Goodnight everyone!

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By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was partly cloudy at the start today with a temperature in the upper 40’s but it turned out to be a sunny, crisp fall day-quite lovely actually!

I checked everywhere downtown without finding a falcon, then I drove to Hawkeye and got more of the same. Hmm, what’s up with that!? I returned to downtown at 7:30am and as I stopped on Woodbury St. on the east side and scanned Xerox with my trusty binoculars I found not only 1 but 2 Peregrines! Beauty was on her favorite spot, the 5th column over from the southeast corner and Dot.Ca (DC) was on the 3rd column over from the southwest corner.

Click on my pics to see full version

Beauty did a lot of preening and pulling white downy feathers out of her telling me she is still in a molt and she napped a bit too. The sun faded in and out during this time. DC spent most his time looking around for breakfast. After 40 minutes passed he left while I was watching his mate-the Beautyful one.

I left Beauty around 8:20am to check the Brighton Site where I hung out for an hour waiting for Pigott to show up but no such luck so I headed back downtown. I was delighted to find that Beauty was still on the 5th column of Xerox and DC was now on the 2nd column over from the southwest corner.

<Beauty

<DC

At 9:45am DC took off like he was shot out of a rocket going into a blurry stoop toward the river and quickly leaving my field of vision. I stayed with Beauty a little longer and then left to check Hawkeye again. There was nothing going on there so I ended my watch around 10:30am.

I believe that’s the first time I’ve spent watching our downtown pair of Peregrine Falcons on Xerox for the entirety of my watch except while I was checking Brighton and Hawkeye. Being the tallest building in downtown Rochester, Xerox makes for a long distance watch but it still made me smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to see my videos

http://youtu.be/bXc__j2Mgkg
http://youtu.be/K04g-nm9VPk

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

As fall finally arrived today, the rain from yesterday cleared up and the cold front moved through Rochester, bringing temps in the 50’s and overcast sky.  Bye Summer!  I’ll miss you!

Saturday – September 21,2013

It rained all day on Saturday, but I still got out for a few hours to look for the falcons.  I found Pigott at BS and Beauty on Xerox downtown.  Dot.ca was a no show.  But, I was also happy to find a falcon at the Hawkeye plant. In the rain and the mist, it was impossible to ID the falcon eating on one of the upper roofs.  I only saw it for a moment.  About 15 minutes later, the falcon took off and flew north.  I did go looking for it, but was unable to find it.  So, I had Beauty, Pigott and a falcon at Hawkeye.

Sunday – September 22, 2013

Finally, the rain of yesterday came to an end.  But, the cold front had moved through and it was much colder than it had been, with temps in the mid 50’s (F).

The Rochester Marathon took place this morning and many of the downtown streets were closed because of it.  I checked Hawkeye first.  No falcons seen there today.

I tried to go through downtown, but I couldn’t get through, so I headed out to the BS location to look for Pigott.  I found her on the east side of the NE extension on a window 4 down from the roof.  For the next hour or so, I watched her preen, sleep and keep watch over her territory.  Her crop was very full, so I knew she had eaten recently.

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I left Pigott at BS and was finally able to make it downtown.  The streets were open again.  I found Beauty on the south side of the Xerox Tower, 5th column in from the SE corner.  Dana joined me on the Watch.

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We drove over to the Broad St Bridge and found Dot.ca on the south side of OCSR on the top IBeam.

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I ended my Watch after seeing all three adult Rochester Falcons.  Making it a very good weekend Watch.

I’ll leave you with some pictures I took this weekend.  Enjoy!

Lots of sail boats out on Lake Ontario today.  and what I think were two young groundhogs out at BS.

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This Cormorant was spreading his wings and puffing out his chest.  Trying to impress his lady who was nearby?

and a Killdeer that visited with me when I was looking for a falcon at Lake Ave KP.

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I did a double take when I saw the sparrows under this picnic table escaping the heavy rain.  Very smart birds!

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Yummy apple!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was breezy,mostly cloudy and cool for this mornings watch with a temperature of 51 degrees (F) 11 (C) and it’s not expected to get much warmer for the remainder of the day. The sun was trying to come out at the end of my watch.

The big story for todays watch was the MVP Rochester Marathon which started at 7:30am and produced lots of car and foot traffic in our fair city, closing many roads around downtown. My one and only falcon sighting in the 3 hours I was out on watch was Beauty who I found on HSBC perched on her favorite southeast corner at 6:50am. She flew off around 7am when I wasn’t looking.

I drove around looking for her but never found her again. I checked the Hawkeye and Brighton sites with no luck finding any falcons. I spotted a pigeon peeking out from one of the Kodak Office ledges perhaps looking out for falcons and a starling on a fire escape right around the corner on Brown St.

In my travels I took some pics  from State St. and the Broad St. Bridge of the runners as they arrived.

The start for the marathon was on the Andrews St. Bridge (ASB) which was packed with runners. With no place to see them very good I drove up to the top of the Sister Cities parking garage for a look.

Make sure to click on the pics to see the full version

I came upon the ASB around 8:30am which had been re-opened and thought I saw a falcon on the Frontier Communications Tower platform but when I got over there it was gone. So I wandered around downtown and checked Hawkeye one more time before ending my watch at 9am. I did smile for 10 minutes at the very start as I spent it with the Beautyful one! 🙂

One link below to click on and see Beauty

http://youtu.be/NyKTEG8dQtI

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

At 68 degrees (F) 20 (C) I didn’t need a jacket when I stepped out the door today. It was overcast and got darker as time went on with a line of rain moving our way promising to bring cooler temps making for bad picture taking conditions. By the end of my watch it had made its way to Rochester dropping rain down on Beauty and I.

My first sighting today was at 6:50am when I spotted Dot.Ca (DC) on the top ibeam north corner of OCSR-his favorite morning perch.

I left to check Hawkeye and when I couldn’t find any PEFAs I returned to downtown finding DC to still be on OCSR.  Beauty was on the northeast cube of the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) her favorite perching spot on the tower lately. I parked in the Hochstein School of Music parking lot to watch.

Click on pics for full version

The Beautyful one stayed about half hour preening, scratching and looking around, then she flew off to the southeast at 7:45am.

I quick drove over to State St. just in time to see DC fly off OCSR to the southeast as well-so guess what direction I flew off in!? lol As I drove across the Court St. Bridge I spotted DC up on the southwest corner of Xerox, our tallest downtown building. I made my way over to Woodbury St. and parked in the parking lot next to the Geva Theater.

DC stayed there for 5 minutes then he flew back to the southeast corner of Xerox and that’s when I noticed Beauty on the 5th column from the southeast corner below him.

As I took a pic with both Beauty and DC in it she decided to fly off her favorite Xerox perch heading southwest and DC followed right behind her out of my view.

<Click it

I got a tweet from Larry that there was a falcon under the northeast wing of the Times Square building (TSB) so I drove over that way. I pulled into the parking lot next to the TSB so I could see the front of DC who was under the wing and then I glanced over at Widows Walk where I spotted Beauty on the north side railing. These two were playing cat and mouse with each other and MAK was right along with them! lol

I drove over to Broad and Fitzhugh to see the front of Beauty but she flew off while enroute so I took a ride to Brighton, arriving around 8:30am. Pigott was not there so I returned to downtown via Clinton Ave. and spotted Beauty on the southwest corner of Xerox. Once again I parked in the parking lot next to Geva Theater to share space with Beauty.

I then drove to Chestnut St. and parked in front of Manhattan Square Park where I had a better angle on Beauty.

<click it

It started to rain at a pretty good clip so I left to check on the Hawkeye site one more time before calling it a watch. I looked for DC on the way thru downtown but I didn’t find him nor did I find anything at Hawkeye thus ending my watch at 9:30am. Keep smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to view my videos

http://youtu.be/xBz6QD82T_I

http://youtu.be/Ula0exwU24I
http://youtu.be/2vvp_k1zFh0
http://youtu.be/Uc8PvQ_cN-4

http://youtu.be/OaQgN5S4kss
http://youtu.be/3swCrgtN-rY

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Today promises to be a gem of a day with warm gentle breezes,blue sky and sunshine. I stepped out for my watch with a temperature of 57 (F) 14 (C).

As I was west bound on Broad St. after checking the east side I noticed the Harvest Moon behind the Times Square building.

Please click on my pics to see the full version

I checked downtown and Hawkeye (HE) with no results and finally at 7:20am upon returning downtown I found Beauty on her newest favorite morning spot-the northeast cube on the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT).

Parked on Fitzhugh St. in front of the Sister Cities parking garage Dot.Ca (DC) suddenly appeared right above Beauty a couple minutes later on the northeast corner of the platform railing.

I couldn’t see the front of either one of them so I went down to the City Hall parking lot for a better angle. Both Beauty and DC were preening and acting like they didn’t know the other one was there.

After 15 minutes or so DC stretched his wings out and took off heading west. That would be the last I saw of him for the remainder of my watch. I stayed a little longer to see if he would return but no go, so I hung out with Beauty for a few more minutes and left her napping to go check out the Brighton Site (BS).

I spotted Pigott at the back of the south side vent on the west end around 8:30am.  She stayed there peering out for about 10 minutes when she hopped in that clumsy sort of way they do when they have prey in their talon/s revealing herself  when she started plucking feathers.

<click it

Miss Pigott already had a full crop but she wanted more and started eating in earnest.

She got her fill and flew over to the southeast extension landing in on the roof where I couldn’t see her. She then appeared on the southeast corner without her leftovers. Pigott kept looking over at her cache then around the territory. This went on for a few minutes and then she looked my way,then at her cache and lastly, she pooped and flew off immediately around to the northwest leaving the area.

I left for downtown and upon seeing no PEFAs there, I ended my watch at Hawkeye falconless there as well. I saw all 3 of our resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons and they are doing well-making us all smile! 🙂

Check out the links below for more pics and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqirc

http://youtu.be/N1UOd–4FtE
http://youtu.be/UnJ2F4h7OnY