By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Today started out with overcast conditions and a temperature of 60 degrees (F) 16 (C) and just before I ended my watch the sun came out

I didn’t find Beauty until my 2nd trip to the east side as she was on the south side of HSBC. She stayed less than 10 minutes and then she spread her wings and flew west.

As I crossed the Broad St. Bridge I spotted a falcon on the 2nd ibeam near the south corner so I drove down to the hole in order to get an ID. It was Dot.Ca and he took off 15-20 seconds later flying south.

I drove down State St. and found Beauty on the top ibeam at the west corner of OCSR.  She left after 5 minutes and flew straight over to the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) where I found her on the platform east side. She had some cached food and was working on a leg.

After about 10 minutes the Beautyful one finished eating and flew up to the northeast corner of the FCT platform railing and 10 minutes later she saw something and flew off to the southeast.

<click it

I left for the Hawkeye (HE) site to see if there were any falcons around but no luck there. I made my way over to Brighton around 8am and found Pigott on the west end of the south side vent. She was all foofed up and looking lovely. The breeze almost knocked her off but she caught herself by spreading her wings out.

Miss Pigott scrunched down Buddha style and then started stretching and spreading her wings, showing what good shape they are in after her incident earlier in the summer.

When I first arrived it was overcast and it even sprinkled for a bit, but blue skies started to move in and the sun came out. Pigott saw something in the southern sky about 8:45am and then she took flight going in that direction.

I left and checked downtown on my way thru stopping on the Court St. bridge to check out the river. I spotted the immature Black-crowned Night Heron fishing in the shallows amongst the gulls and ducks.

I left downtown after not finding our beloved falcons to check Hawkeye one more time but no sightings there either so I ended my watch around 9:30am. I saw our 3 resident falcons on my watch so that made me smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view my photo album and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqinO

http://youtu.be/HWltIcALgWc
http://youtu.be/4ty7ErGOW6I
http://youtu.be/7ENSZOT5bAo
http://youtu.be/XH7r7K1pcDg
http://youtu.be/lxUdtii7sGc
http://youtu.be/bVpTNN6pluo

Click on

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

(1:00 to 4:00 pm)

My first stop was the Hawkeye plant.  After hearing that Larry O had seen a falcon there this morning I hoped to find one too.  I circled the building, looking at all sides.  No falcons found there.

It was time to head downtown to look for Beauty and Dot.ca.  I found Beauty on the Frontier Communication Tower.  She was on the NE box below the platform.  Just as I found her, it started to rain, and continued to rain through most of my 3 hour Watch.  It was in the mid-60’s (F).  The weather people had forecast that it would go up to 77 degrees (F), but I don’t think it ever did.

*

*

*

*

*

My view from City Hall Parking Lot.

*

*

*

*

*

Beauty took off when I wasn’t looking, so I drove over to the Andrews St Bridge for a better look of the area.  I found Dot.ca on OCSR on the north side top IBeam.

*

*

*

*

*

After finding both Beauty and Dot.ca, it was time to see if Pigott was home at BS.  She was on the south side of the building on the west end of the vent.  Even in the rain, she was constantly scanning the surrounding area. Watching everything that moved.

*

*

*

*

*

After spending some time with Pigott, I headed back downtown to find that Beauty and Dot.ca had not moved.  Dot.ca was still on OCSR and Beauty was still on the Frontier Communication Tower.

*

*

*

*

*

All three adult Rochester falcons were accounted for and doing well.  But before I headed home, I stopped one last time at the Hawkeye plant.  While checking the west side of the building, I found a juvie Red-tailed Hawk on one of the light poles on the Driving Park Bridge.  While I was checking out Hawkeye, Larry O was downtown.  He reported that Beauty and Dot.ca had not moved.

*

*

*

*

*

I saw no falcons at Hawkeye, or did I?  While I was checking things out from the east side, I noticed what appeared to be a dark shape in the nest box.  From where I was I could not get a good look, so I took a picture.  In the picture, I see something, but it just might be a shadow, due to the poor lighting.  I’d like to think there was a falcon in there, but I highly doubt it.  lol  Here’s the picture I took before I ended my Watch.

*

*

*

*

*

I’ll end my report with a picture of Pigott I took yesterday and some pictures of the juvie and adult Black-crowned Herons that were in the tree next to the library.  Enjoy and Goodnight!

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Back to overcast skies and a starting temperature of 56 (F)  13 (C)

I had a little trouble finding a falcon this morning at the start as I checked all of downtown then headed to Hawkeye (HE) where I saw no juvies. Upon returning to the east side of the city at 7am I found the Beautyful one on the northeast corner of HSBC.

I shared space with her for 10 minutes and then she flew NW looped back around to circle HSBC before flying west out of my view. The pics below are her takeoff in sequence.

<Click it

I received a tweet from Larry (who had been near HSBC when I was, but on the south side) that he saw a falcon flying at the Hawkeye location. I don’t think I need to tell you that I whipped over there to join him. Unfortunately, the PEFA never showed itself again as we watched from the YMCA parking lot. We stayed about 30 minutes and then Larry drove to the north end on St. Paul St. to check because you can’t see the nest box from Driving Park where the YMCA is located. I left for Brighton (BS) but first a check downtown on my way found Beauty on the northeast cube of the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT).

Taken from north side

Taken from south side

I stayed just a few minutes then continued on to BS where I located Pigott on the west extension north side on the window below the old blocked off scrape. She had her back to  the world and promptly started to stretch so I could get a better look at her and you could clearly see her black band with 43/x on it.

Miss Pigott was very alert as she usually is looking in every direction of her territory, or at least the part she could see from where she was perched. Oh and more stretching.

I hung out with Pigott for close to an hour hoping Dot.Ca would come by for a visit but no such luck. I did enjoy watching her antics and poses for the camera. Oh and some more stretching!

Her tail feathers have filled back in quite nicely don’t you think!? She expelled a ribbon of poop and yes one more stretch to show off her gorgeous feathers.

At 9:10am as I was getting ready to call it a watch a light rain started to fall from the sky and a tweet from Lisa McK came in saying that while at the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge she was told that our male juvie Baron has been seen there. What wonderful news to send me off smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below for a couple videos

http://youtu.be/n02KRTdLZLk
http://youtu.be/2bmyxdFNb9E

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

After 4 hours of falcon watching last night, I can report that I saw only one falcon, and that was Pigott at the BS location.  She was on the north side of the west extension on a window below the old scrape.  I searched high and low.  No falcons seen downtown and no falcons seen at Hawkeye.  That’s just how it happens sometime.  lol

But, it wasn’t a total waste. Brian H had texted that he had both the juvie and adult Black-crowned Night Herons in the tree next to the library.  Of course I had to check that out.  They were both there and they were just beautiful.  Joyce joined us on the east end of the Broad St Bridge.

Later in my Watch, I was joined by Kathy O and we enjoyed dinner at the Genesee Brewery on the 2nd floor deck, where we had a gorgeous view of the High Falls and downtown Rochester.  Our binoculars were up much of the time, hoping for a glimpse of our falcons.  No luck.  But we did see a fox walk by the east end of the pedestrian bridge.  That was very cool.

I’ll download my pics and post a few in my next report.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!  I know I will!  Have a good day!

~ Carol P.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a chilly start to the day at 43 degrees (F) 6 (C) but it warmed up quick with bright sunshine prevailing

Unfortunately I lost all my pics and videos from this mornings watch. I started out with Beauty and then Dot.Ca (DC)on the HSBC building. She was eating on the northeast corner and he came flying in swooping on her twice. She finished eating and then they switched places with DC taking the northeast corner and the Beautyful one going down near the southeast corner. DC stooped twice coming back to the corner empty taloned and then he flew off to the southeast.

I left and checked the Hawkeye, Brighton and Blossom/Browncroft locations with no PEFA sightings.

Upon returning downtown I came across Beauty on the northeast cube of the Frontier Communications Tower. She zipped up to the northeast corner of the platform railing after a few minutes and flew north from there a few minutes later. I made another check of the Hawkeye site but did not see any juvies thus ending my watch at 9:30am. I’m not happy about losing my pics and videos but I’m still smiling for having seen our downtown couple today! 🙂

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

I got out a little earlier tonight, arriving at the Hawkeye plant around 6:00 pm.  For about 45 minutes I searched all sides of the building, but had no luck seeing any falcons.

*

*

*

*

*

At 6:45 pm, I decided to check out the High Falls area.  It was pretty quiet on the pedestrian bridge, but I could see an adult Peregrine on the SE corner of the Frontier Communication Tower (FCT) platform.  A local guy, who always stops to chat, joined me for awhile.  He was there to get a picture of the sunset.  There were two girls sitting on the lawn in front of the Observation deck, outside the fence.  They were way too close to the edge. It always makes me very nervous to see anyone that close to the edge.  That area is so unstable.  I was very happy to see them both leave with no mishaps.

*

*

*

*

*

I wished my friend good luck, hoping he would get the sunset picture he was after and headed over to the City Hall Parking lot.  From there, I could see that it was Dot.ca on the platform.

*

*

*

*

*

I could hear the cheering coming from Frontier Field.  The Red Wings won their game last night.  I hope they did as well tonight.

Dot.ca took off and headed southeast towards downtown.  I followed.

I arrived on the Broad St Bridge (BSB), and checked out the surrounding buildings.  Nothing.  I heard ee-chupping above and looked up.  Three falcons were flying high above.  There was absolutely no aggression.  One adult flew down and landed on the SE corner of the Chase Tower.  This was the ee-chupper and I do believe it was Beauty.

*

*

*

*

*

The other two falcons continued to fly together and apart, together and apart.

*

*

*

*

*

After checking my pictures,  I am now sure that this was an adult, which I believe was Dot.ca, and a juvie flying together, while Beauty watched from the Chase Tower.  Here is the best pic I have of the juvie.  Too far a distance to ID.

*

*

*

*

*

I continued to watch them until they flew high behind the Xerox Tower.  Beauty was still on the Chase Tower, so I decided to head over to St Mary’s Church where I could get a better view of the south and east side of Xerox.  When I arrived there, Beauty had moved from the Chase Tower to the south side of the Xerox Tower, 4th column in from the SE corner.  She was looking to the east, probably still watching the other two. (7:38 pm)

*

*

*

*

*

At 7:40 pm, it was already getting dark, time to head home.  But, of course I had to check out a few things before I ended my Watch.  First I wanted to check the Kodak Tower to make sure the juvies weren’t still going there to roost at night.  The lights were on and I could not see any falcons there.

*

*

*

*

*

The sunset was quite beautiful tonight.

*

*

*

*

*

My last stop before heading home was at the YMCA across the river from Hawkeye.  As daylight faded and night took over, I was able to see a dark shape on the railing across from the nest box.  It was a falcon and I assumed a juvie.  I was able to get a couple pictures and then POOF! she was gone.  I never did see the falcon leave, if she did.

Here is the last picture I took at the end of my Watch.  I had to lighten it quite a bit so that you all could see her.

*

*

*

*

*

Now, it was time for me to end my Watch.  Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

We started the day with a cool breeze out of the north,mostly cloudy and a temperature of 55 (F) 13 (C) the sun did win out later on.

I found Beauty on HSBC near the southeast corner at 6:30am. She was just hanging out when she stretched her wings and flew off after 5 minutes heading west with a beautiful sunrise coming up in the eastern sky.

I tracked her down at the Times Square building under the northeast wing showing her back. I parked behind He’s Chinese in the hole, staying with her about half an hour.

I drove the 2.5 miles to the Hawkeye plant and was pleasantly surprised to find a juvie on the north side railing near the nest box. I was parked on St. Paul St. to watch and it flew off to the south after 2 minutes.

I parked down on Carthage St. where I was the other day when I saw a falcon fly above the plant to the west (river) side with breakfast in its talons. I then drove around to the west side of the Driving Park Bridge and parked at the YMCA where I could barely see this juvie pop its head up now and then from the west side roof. It was back in on the roof making it hard to see but luckily kept coming forward for a bit then back in-this went on for most of the time it ate.

It was too far from the YMCA so I walked down the bridge which jumped and shook quite a bit especially when buses went by, making it that much more uncomfortable for this watcher who is afraid of height. I made it to the east end where I was as close as I could get and waited for leg shots so I could ID this young Peregrine. It gave me many leg shots only not the bottom half where the leg bands are located.

Lower Falls on south side of Driving Park Bridge

I was on the north side of the bridge observing this juvie whom I think could be Voyager because of the eyes and light color on the face. Not confirmed without seeing leg bands.

Some guys were fishing down in the river gorge.  The High Falls has its charm but I think this area is even prettier with lots of trees looking forever wild.

This juvie spent well over an hour eating, giving me lots of poses but not that leg band shot that would ID her.

At around 8:45am I spotted another juvie on the stack near Hawkeye to the northwest.

While I was checking this one out the Hawkeye juvie flew over with the prey and then they flew together including an attempted steal which at the time I thought was talon tagging. One of them landed on the northwest end the Hawkeye plant with food and the other started swooping on it much like Dot.Ca (DC) did to Beauty last spring. So I was thinking they must be DC offspring! lol The swooper landed on the stack and watched the other eat across the way.

The stack bird left when I wasn’t looking and the Hawkeye bird kept going in on the roof where I couldn’t see it and then coming out to the front edge but never up on it so I could see those lower legs. It eventually flew off with the leftovers around 9:15am toward me then doubled back and vanished behind the building. Even getting the take off shot the band is still not clear. I checked the entire plant but didn’t find anyone so I left for downtown.

<click it

I found Beauty under the Frontier Communications Tower platform with her back to me from the City Hall parking lot so I drove around to Church St. and could barely see her amongst the beams.

I was running late  from spending so much time with the juvies but who could blame me right!? So I left her after just a few minutes and went over to the the Brighton site finding a fully cropped DC on the west end of the south side vent but no Pigott.

So I called it a watch at 10:10am smiling for having seen not one but two juvies on this day! 🙂

Click on the links below to see more pics and videos from my watch

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqimK

http://youtu.be/ocWFHvoUolA
http://youtu.be/_N9Y3_aDQo4
http://youtu.be/JMq5rTRA5d8
http://youtu.be/0X0tGUWe1c0
http://youtu.be/aaRO-3jWds0
http://youtu.be/JQEsF7p7kho

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

I wasn’t able to start out for my Watch until 6:30 pm.  I knew I didn’t have long before it would be too dark to see anything, but I really wanted to see the juvie at the Hawkeye (HE) plant.  I pulled into the YMCA, which is on the other side of the river from HE.  The last time I was there, the structure the nest box rested on was covered with Crows.  Here’s my pic from the weekend.

*

*

*

*

*

Tonight was different.  There was one lone bird there on the rail.  I quickly took a look through my binoculars.  Definitely the juvie Peregrine.  Before I could get a picture, she (let’s just say she, since we don’t have a positive ID yet), took off.  Thankfully, she didn’t go far.

*

*

*

*

*

I hoped to get closer, but as I was driving across the Driving Park Bridge, she again took off.  As I was stopped at a red light, I watched her come in and out of view.  She was enjoying the light breeze over the building, playing.  The last I saw of her, it looked like she headed north.  I checked the building from the east side and could not find her.  So, I drove north and checked out the tall apartments north of HE.  I could not find her, so I returned to HE for one last look before heading downtown.

I was running out of time, so I quickly checked the downtown area.  No Falcons found.  Next stop, the BS location.

Pigott was on the SE corner of the east extension.  She was actively keeping track of everything happening around her.  Just once she vocalized very softly.  Dark clouds were moving in and by 7:45 pm it was getting dark.  I left Pigott preening to check the Xerox bldg for Beauty, hoping she was there.

*

*

*

*

*

I parked in my usual spot beside St Mary’s Church to check out the south side of Xerox.  But, it was too dark to see if she was up there.  My camera wouldn’t even focus when I tried to take a picture of the 5th column in.

*

*

*

*

*

It was after 8:00 pm and time to end my Watch.  As I passed Frontier Stadium, I could hear the cheers of the Red Wings Fans watching their favorite team in the playoffs.  Good luck Rochester Red Wings!

*

*

*

*

*

I’ll leave you with a few pics I took when I left work yesterday.  A Red-tail Hawk, who was just trying to enjoy her meal, was joined by two unwelcome dinner guests.  Goodnight everyone!

*

*

*

*

*

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This morning was cool,clear and crisp with a starting temp of 55 (F) 13 (C)- my kind of weather!

It wasn’t until 6:30am that I found  a falcon this morning and it was Dot.Ca (DC) first rather than Beauty. He was on the top ibeam northeast side of OCSR.

I stayed with him for about 15 minutes when I decided to look for Beauty. From the Andrews St. bridge I spotted a falcon on Kodak Office-northeast corner of launchpad. As I made my way over there from Platt and State St. I saw it take off into a blazing fast stoop toward the river. When it didn’t come back I went back to DC finding him with a visitor-the Beautyful one. They were somewhat close to each other on the top ibeam northeast side-he was by the north corner and she was further down from him.

<DC <Beauty Click on pics for full version

I stayed with them for a few minutes and left to check the Hawkeye plant for that juvie I saw there the other day. I lucked out as it was there on the south side railing in front of the nest box. FYI-it’s about 2.5 miles from Times Square to Hawkeye by car-less than that for a flying falcon.

I could not positively ID it because of the distance I was from it. A couple pics I thought I saw red on the right leg and others looked like blue. If it is one of ours red would make it Voyager and blue-Rosetta. I started walking across the big empty and blocked off parking lot but before I could get even half way the little stinker took off to the northwest. I snapped off a couple pics and made a small video of some of its flight.

<Blue? Red?> < Click it

I then went to the Brighton location but Pigott wasn’t there. Next was 590 at Blossom and Browncroft Blvd. to look for the juvie that’s been seen over there. Again like yesterday the only birds I saw on the light poles were pigeons. Since I was in Brighton I went back to look for Pigott again but no luck in finding her. KathyO pulled up next to me real quick on her way to work. Back over to Hawkeye again but the juvie was not there. I ended up on the Andrews St. Bridge where I spotted a falcon bump under the platform on the Frontier Communications Tower.

I drove over to City Hall and observed DC from the south and north ends of the City Hall building because of where he was located at first-immediately under the platform on the east side.

<Taken from south end <From north end

Soon after DC hopped his way out to a north side beam and that’s where I left him, thus ending my watch at 10:00am.

I saw 3 falcons on my watch today certainly good reason to smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view more pics and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqilk

http://youtu.be/JJPdCMHZmfM
http://youtu.be/ytUSvRXA0qs
http://youtu.be/qsuUwAg2fkc
http://youtu.be/Z8U5D8OhSIM

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

YAY the humidity has left the area and cooler temps prevail today-as I left the house it was 61 (F) 16 (C) and refreshing. Still dark and overcast tho.

I found Beauty on HSBC on her favorite hunting spot lately-the southeast corner. She stayed for 15 minutes before standing up, turning in one direction only to take off in the opposite direction. The sequence of pics below will show you what I saw.

<Beauty starts turning to the northeast Then she takes off going southwest And off she goes

I took off after the Beautyful one and found her a few minutes later on the top ibeam south corner of OCSR. I think she was playing games with me today for this is usually the corner Dot.Ca (DC) perches on and that little turn one way and go the other way over at HSBC was different. I drove down to the hole first to check and make sure it was Beauty and not DC.

I decided to get even closer by going down to Graves St. by Aqueduct Park. She stayed there about 10 minutes whipping her head from one side to the other looking for prey. She flew off around the river side of OCSR and disappeared on the north side.

< Click it to see Beauty fly off OCSR

I thought maybe she had gone to the Frontier Communications Tower so I headed over there. When I didn’t find her there I drove to the Andrews St. Bridge-lo and behold she and DC were on OCSR top ibeam. Beauty was on the northeast side and DC was at the north corner. I then went over to Bragdon St. by the Radisson Hotel for a closer view. I barely got settled when Beauty took wing heading east leaving me for the 3rd time in less than an hour-funny girl!

DC stayed thankfully and after a couple shots from there I went back to the west side of the river on State St. to observe him as he had turned facing that way, plus I wanted to see if  Beauty was on that side which she wasn’t.

Forum member Christiane had posted that she has been seeing a juvie falcon on a light pole near the 590 exit at Blossom Rd. so after checking both Hawkeye and our Brighton site and finding no falcons I drove out there. I thought she had said the Browncroft Blvd. exit so that’s where I got off 590 and I was glad to because the rush hour traffic was crazy on 590. I checked light poles and trees in the area but didn’t see anything but pigeons. Bobbie from Ireland also posted having seen one near that area while back here in the states a while ago. I will go back tomorrow and check near the Blossom Rd. exit.

Upon returning downtown I could find no PEFAs so I ended my watch at 9:15am. Again, I saw Beauty and DC on my watch today giving me more than enough reason to leave smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to view videos from my watch

http://youtu.be/yWcrFDbjaR0
http://youtu.be/vGaHbIui2f8
http://youtu.be/eX6j8cbnsVE