By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a miserable start to the day with thunderstorms, fog,dark conditions and a temperature of 64 (f) 18 (C).

When I first arrived downtown at 5:20am it was very dark,foggy and pouring of rain making it difficult to see a falcon. I drove down to the hole and could just make out a falcon figure on the OCSR building top ibeam SE side.I drove back out to Broad St. and parked next to the Blue Cross Arena where I could see Mercury and OCSR better without cranking my neck too much.

I knew it was Dot.Ca (DC) because Beauty was with the eyases in the nest box when I left home and nobody tweeted a switch.  He left a couple minutes later and flew to the deck-north end by the well. Donna let me know he was up there since I didn’t see him leave OCSR. Back to the hole again where I could clearly see DC just perched in the rain.

DC stayed there for 10-15 minutes and then he flew off out over the river and toward OCSR. He made an attempted landing on the top ibeam but didn’t quite have enough altitude which was no surprise since he was soaking wet and probably weighed a bit more than usual. He flew back out and the 2nd landing was successful on the southeast side top ibeam.

By this time the storm had passed and it was lightly raining-bad timing on DCs part for he should have been under the cover of the ibeam when it was pouring. I was parked on Bank Place by the Philipone building facing east where I could see the OCSR  and Mercury but with my back to the Times Square building. Donna reported that Beauty had left the nest box and returned with cached food for the chicks which I missed as I was watching DC. I drove back up to my spot on Broad St. and noticed fog dropping down from the sky like a cloud of smoke enveloping the top of Xerox and Bausch&Lomb.

Make sure to click on pics to see full version

I watched DC on OCSR as it started to rain hard again until 7:30am and then I thought I should go check on Pigott out at the Brighton site. I found the pretty Peregrine on the north side of the east extension on the 3rd window down west end.

This is her night time roosting spot and it was very well protected as she didn’t seem to be wet from the rain. There was fog at the top of the building a first for me at Brighton but it had stopped raining and it was all good for observing Pigott. She was preening a bit and looking around for birdies in the trees below her.

15 minutes later at 8:05am Miss Pigott flew east. I took a drive around and found her in the back of the building on the west end of the south side vent.

She seemed to wave at me so I waved back. lol By this time the dark rainy conditions were moving out of the area and the sun was trying to burn its way thru the clouds. Pigott flew off about 15 minutes later to the northeast. I followed her with my trusty binocs until she melted into the dark sky.

I returned to downtown and parked on Broad St. by the Blue Cross Arena once again,  finding DC on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR and he was eating.

While I was at Brighton Donna reported that another feeding had taken place. These kids are not wanting for food that’s for sure. So since everything in the land of PEFAs was quiet I ended my watch at 9am. Although I didn’t see the Beautyful one myself  I was satisfied knowing she was up in the nest box with the eyases making me smile! 🙂

Below are links for videos from my watch-just click on them and view

http://youtu.be/WeuKdAK8rLo
http://youtu.be/L6oSmujXr54

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

I arrived downtown just before 4:00 pm and just in time for it to start sprinkling.  Beauty was in the nest box with the 3 eyases and 1 unhatched egg.  Dot.ca was on the communication tower above the Monroe County Jail, just south of the Times Square Bldg.

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Soon after I arrived on the Broad St Bridge our special guest Barb from LA, MAK, Jeanne and Joyce joined me.  Since DC was no jail bird, he came over to land on the Mercury statue’s money bag hand.  While we were chatting and keeping one eye on Dot.ca, he took off and stooped down to the east side of the Blue Cross Arena aka War Memorial.  He flew down to a tree and  zipped up, holding something small in his talons.  We all watched as he headed towards the Times Square Bldg to deliver what we later found out was a sparrow to the nest box.  Beauty took the offering into the nest box and fed the young eyases.  Dot.ca watched from the platform and then flew over to the OCSR.  He landed on the top IBeam at the south corner.  This is his guard spot.  From there he can keep an eye on the nest box and the surrounding area.

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We decided to head down to Aqueduct St aka “the hole”.  From there we had a good view of the nest box and Dot.ca on OCSR.

It rained on and off while we were there.  Barb had to leave, but before she left, I took this picture of (from left to right) Jeanne, Barb, Joyce and MAK.

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It was very nice seeing you again Barb!  Hope you come to visit again soon!

After Barb and MAK left, Kathy O joined us.  Both Beauty and Dot.ca did some flying.  Beauty cached the food that the eyases didn’t finish, then returned to the nest box.  Dot.ca flew up to the NE Wing Ledge.

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At 7:00 pm, everyone decided to call it a Watch.  It was time to head home.  Just before we left, Dot.ca flew around the OCSR and did not come back around.  We all said our good nights and I drove over to the Andrews St Bridge and spotted Dot.ca on the top IBeam of the OCSR on the north side at the north corner.  Always on guard duty.

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Now I could head home knowing that all three adults had been seen today and that the three eyases were being well taken care of.

Good night everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This mornings weather conditions featured overcast skies with a temperature of 56 (F) 13(C)

I arrived downtown at 5:15am and parked in the hole to start off my watch. Dot.Ca (DC) was nowhere to be seen for the first half hour.  I drove up on the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) where Dan was stationed in his chair. Suddenly we saw DC fly to the Mercury money bag (MMB) and Beauty fly across the river and land on the southwest corner of the Radisson Hotel. She flew off a few seconds later going to the MMB and knocked DC off, landing there herself while DC went over to the nest box. It all happened so fast we could barely keep up. Beauty then took off heading east behind the Rundell library only to reappear with prey in her talons and going to the base of Mercury with it. She  got to work right away plucking just enough feathers so that she could eat some.

After she had enough to eat the Beautyful one flew to the nest box to feed her babies and DC flew out to the MMB about 6:05am.

DC would stay up there for a while preening and occasionally looking around the territory. While checking out the river I spotted a Great Blue Heron down below the Thomson Reuters building looking to catch a meal also a pair flying north over the river.

At 6:40am DC  flew to the Times Square building (TSB) landing on the column across from the nest box where Orion and Jemison fledged to.

He stayed there only a few minutes before taking off across the river above Dan and I to the east side and then turning back to land once more on the MMB.

Remember to always click on pics to view full version

DC quickly left Mercury and flew downriver past the Radisson Hotel and disappeared near the Andrews Place apartments only to reappear with a pigeon in tow coming to rest on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR.

This was the first time I’d seen DC carry a pigeon almost his size and I must tell you he is one strong, impressive tiercel. It was 7am and Dan decided it was time to leave so I drove down to the hole and while I was on my way down there DC left OCSR. I thought maybe he went to the nest box to feed the family but cam watchers Donna and Campgee let me know he didn’t. Thanks ladies! It’s so helpful to have this tool when you’re out in the field. I don’t know where DC went with his large catch but he showed up under the northeast wing of the TSB about a half hour later.

I left for the Brighton site arriving about 8am finding Pigott on the west end of the south side vent where she was working hard on preening her wing feathers with a full crop I might add.

She roused (shook her feathers) a couple times and spread out her tail feathers giving me a nice display.

Soon after I got settled in to share space with Miss Pigott I got a phone call from GVAS president June Summers asking if I could meet with Wendy from YNN news on the BSB for an interview about our falcons. I left for downtown to give my 3rd interview to a local news station in the past couple years. This kind of exposure is a very good thing for us to make people aware of our local Peregrines. DC showed up on OCSR toward the end of the interview so I was able to point him out to the camera man Tim. As the interview wound down it began to rain so we wrapped it up. lol

As I drove down to the hole to see DC closer I saw Beauty fly over to OCSR with prey to the OCSR 2nd ibeam. When I got to the hole and parked Beauty was on the main cam and then she went down to the nest box. DC was eating on the 2nd ibeam near the south corner of OCSR. I ended my watch at 9am with much to smile about on this day! 🙂

Click on the links below for more pics and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqiFO

http://youtu.be/Y9i-F4rewoI
http://youtu.be/1qWU9C4fhLE
http://youtu.be/rkvoPMvkYVw
http://youtu.be/Jup8MKFatvc
http://youtu.be/7vJD8A9STK0

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Let us never forget those who gave all for us to have our freedoms…

Todays starting temperature was 42 (F) 6 (C) with a slight breeze and bright sunshine !

I started the day once more watching a feeding as Campgee tweeted that Beauty had left and come right back with their breakfast just before 5am. Thank you Miss early rising cam watcher!  Dot.Ca (DC) showed up on deck to watch and then I left for downtown. While enroute Camp reported that DC had food and wanted to feed his little fluff balls but they were too full. When I arrived at 5:18am DC was on the south corner top ibeam of OCSR.

DC flew off when I wasn’t looking so I left the hole (Aqueduct St.) and drove up to the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) to look for him. I found Dan who said that DC flew west. He also said that DC came out from the nest box area and dive bombed 4-5 crows near the river in front of the Rochester Convention Center. I told him of the other 2 hatches that took place since I saw him last and he was very happy and wanted to know when we expected the last egg to hatch. I told him so far there are no obvious pips so we might be done and he said “darn I want 4”! lol  DC was nowhere in sight and Dan was cold from sitting on the bridge since 5:05am so he opted to go home and warm up and I left for the Brighton site (BS). I arrived at BS just before 6:30am and found Pigott right away as she was in the front of the building (north side) on the west extension top window northwest end.

At first I thought I saw a prey wing under her but it turned out to be hers. lol I thought it strange that she was on this side of the building since I haven’t seen her there in weeks but she seemed fine preening for the most part. I actually caught her catching a wink a couple times which is rare for her as well. And she also would look at the trees below her for a possible bird to catch.

Around 6:45am Donna told me that DC had gone to the nest box with food and Beauty took it somewhere to cache it and returned immediately to her little family. Thanks a lot D! I shared space with Miss Pigott for a little over 2 hours and at one point she did some stretching and I thought she would take off but never did leave that window ledge.

There was a mockingbird somewhere nearby singing his melody of tunes and couple of squirrels were entertaining me as they chased each other under my car.

I left Pigott at 8:40am to check downtown for DC but I was unable to locate him. The city police were starting to block off the side roads surrounding Main St. in preparation for the Memorial Day Parade to take place at 10:30am so I decided to call it a watch at just before 9am. I didn’t see a whole lot of action but what I did see gave cause to smile! 🙂

2 links below for videos just click and view

http://youtu.be/RmnCGOkDSBI
http://youtu.be/w8Y_r6LDagw

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Good news!  Tonight Beauty & Dot.ca’s 3rd Eyas hatched.  Looks like the Rochester Watchers are going to be very busy when they fledge.  Just how we like it!  Everyone is so excited!  🙂

I wasn’t able to get out for my falcon watch until around 11:00 am this morning.  Watcher Kathy O was over at the BS location and she had Pigott on the south side vent.  So, that’s where I decided to head first, before going downtown.

As I was pulling into the street leading up to the BS building (11:30 am), I saw a Great Blue Heron fly over heading north.  I continued around to the south side of the building and parked by Kathy, who jumped out of her car.  She said “Pigott just flew around to the west side of the building!”  So we drove around the building a couple times, but could not find her.  Well, guess I wasn’t going to see Pigott after all!

Kathy decided to head downtown to check on Beauty and DC.  I told her I’d meet her down there after I tweeted out what had happened.  After tweeting, I drove slowly around the building one more time.  When I got to the west end, Pigott flew in from the west and landed on a window on the west end near the corner of the NW extension. (11:47 pm)

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Kathy O got my text and returned and we both watched Pigott preen.  It was great seeing her.  After awhile, she took off and flew to the south side of the building, landing on a window on the west side of the SE extension.

At noon Kathy left to check out downtown.  Again I told her I would tweet where Pigott was and then join her on the Broad St Bridge.  By the time I slowly completed my tweet (all my watcher friends know that I am a very slow texter on my old tracfone lol), ee-chupping filled the air and Dot.ca flew around the building searching for Pigott.  She immediately took off and they both flew together to the west end and into the cubby.  I could hear them chupping away with each other, but by the time I circled around to the west side, it was quiet.  Only Pigott remained on the edge of the cubby and she was silent.  Dot.ca had only remained a few moments, checking up on her I guess.

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At 12:15 pm, Pigott took off and soared higher and higher, circling and heading towards the southwest.

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I watched Pigott until I couldn’t see her anymore.  It was time to go downtown.

Kathy was on the Broad St Bridge when I arrived and Dot.ca arrived soon after me, landing on the top IBeam of OCSR near the south corner.

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The sun was intense and the sky a brilliant blue.  The temps were close to 60 degrees (F).  A beautiful day!  This was our view from the Broad St Bridge.

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Not much was going on with the falcons, so we watched the wildlife above and on the river below.  There is so much to see!  So much life in the center of our little city.  You would be amazed!

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Kathy had to leave, so I decided to go down to Aqueduct St (aka the hole) to watch.  From there I had a good view of Dot.ca keeping guard over his growing family from the top Ibeam of OCSR.  I could also see the nest box and now and then hear Beauty vocalize from above.  Sound really travels through that area.

I was parked near the local birds watering hole.  A small puddle that hadn’t evaporated yet.  They came from all over for a drink and a bath.  Fun to watch while Dot.ca preened above.  lol

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Larry O joined me for a short while, then had to leave.

At 2:45 pm, Dot.ca finally took off from OCSR and headed towards the Times Square Bldg.  I thought he was going to land on the nest box platform, but he veered to the left and circled the building low.  I could hear Beauty loudly vocalizing from the nest box.  Probably telling him it was time for him to hunt, which he did.  Or maybe collected a cache.

It wasn’t until 3:05 pm that Dot.ca returned and flew up to the nest box.  Beauty stepped out and grabbed the food, leaving him to watch the eyases.

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Beauty flew towards me, but I lost her in the bright sunlight.  It took me a couple minutes to realize that she had landed on the Wilder Bldg at the east end of the green strip, where she was prepping Dot.ca’s offering.

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It didn’t take Beauty long.  She took the food up to the nest box and Dot.ca came out, landing on the top IBeam of OCSR, to continue guarding his family.

At 3:15 pm, I called it a watch, very happy that I had seen all three adult Rochester Falcons doing well.  All was peaceful and quiet on this day that brought the arrival of a 3rd eyas in the nest box high above on the Times Square Bldg.  All was good.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This mornings starting temperature was 43 (F)  6 (C) with sunshine,blue skies and a stiff north wind that made it quite brisk.

I was all ready to leave for my watch when I checked the live stream of the nest box as I always do. Beauty left her baby and flew off and Dot.Ca (DC) arrived and just stood there staring at his eyas. He eventually went in and stood over it and it seemed like he was just about to try and lay down when Beauty returned with food. She fed their young one its first meal as DC watched (me too). I left for my watch right after with a smile to start the day. When I arrived downtown just about 5:30am I could see DC on the Mercury money bag (MMB) so I drove straight down to the hole.

10 minutes later DC stooped on a starling unsuccessfully and landed on the fire escape opposite the starling. The starling was chirping up a storm at DC as they had a stare down. The starling stood its ground as DC waited for it to fly off so he could snag it. DC gave up and flew back to the MMB as the starling immediately flew up to its nest in a hole on the Wilder building. The entire scene lasted less than a minute so I never got any pics.

Approximately 6:10am DC flew off to the southwest over the Blue Cross Arena and then turned southeast flying out of my field of vision from down in the hole. He didn’t return so I drove up to the Broad St. Bridge to have a look around.

Please click on my pics to see the full version

I found Dan on the BSB sitting in his chair so I pulled up behind his car. He told me Beauty had flown to the east side around 5am and came back with a small package and took it to the nest box(babies first meal). He asked me if I saw the crow chase and I told him I had been down in the hole and missed it. He then explained that DC had chased after 3 crows and actually grabbed one of them briefly before letting it go on its merry way. I said wow and told him I had an even bigger wow to tell him-we had a hatch! He was tickled pink as I watched his eyes light up and that wonderful great big smile of his appear on his face! We chit chatted a bit as I caught him up on other news and then at 6:30am he decided to leave as he was very cold and it looked like DC had gone to the Brighton location (BS) because Dan said he watched DC after the crow chase fly to the tree line in the southern sky. I set out for BS at this time but nobody was home there so I returned to downtown finding DC on the top ibeam south corner of OCSR.

DC flew east across the river then back and over to the deck around 7:30am then shot back off seconds later and flew back to the OCSR south corner once more.

As I watched DC Annette tweeted that Beauty had left the nest box and returned unbeknownst to me and then Donna reported hearing another egg peeping.  Oh yeahhh!  I drove over to the Radisson Hotel near Main St. to observe DC where I had a better angle on him. Just before the 8 o’clock hour he stooped over the Wilder building and didn’t resurface so I drove back to the hole to find him 3 stories down on the fire escape railing.

DC was after the starlings again turning his head to and fro to see one pop out the hole in the wall above him so he could grab it!

DC played this game for only 10 minutes and then he flew back to OCSR with nothing to show for his efforts.

Back to the Radisson I went and after 15 minutes DC flew west and returned with food.

I wasn’t sure at first if it was a fresh catch or cached food but after looking at my pics on my cameras LCD screen I could clearly see that it was a left over wing.

DC was on the east side of the south corner top ibeam as he plucked a few feathers and picked at the meat some but wasn’t really into it. He flew off after only a few minutes and landed further down to the east on the ibeam. It is there that I left him as I ended my watch at 8:45am. Let me just say that  there’s no better way for this watcher to start her day than to watch a newborn chick get fed its very first meal and I can think of no better reason to smile! 🙂

Check out the links below for videos from my watch

http://youtu.be/I9tWOFQodGg
http://youtu.be/wGioAwarQCE
http://youtu.be/GB97wRTdeaA

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

I’d like to dedicate this watcher report to our good friend from the Canadian Peregrine Foundation-Frank Butson aka Big Frank, who passed away suddenly  on Wednesday. He was a truly wonderful man and ambassador for wildlife.

I’d rather ignore the weather part today because it is dismal out and 20 degrees colder than yesterday morning. 40 (F)  4 (C)  misty to light rain with some wind and very dark dreary conditions.

I made my way downtown by 5:20am and drove down to the hole to have a look around-no Dot.Ca (DC) yet. I got restless after 15 minutes so I went up to the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) to check things out. Around 5:45am I spotted a falcon fly in from the east over the Thomson Reuters building (TR) and vanish behind it heading northwest. At 6:05am I saw DC fly to the deck and stand there waiting for his first sitting of the day-Beauty would have none of it as reported by Donna. Thanks! I believe she wanted to be bribed with food!  lol DC left when I wasn’t looking but I found him on the Wilder green strip when I drove back down to the hole.

DCs head feathers were all slicked back like Dracula from being so wet. He was looking to catch  a meal and was watching for the starlings that nest at the Wilder and Philipone buildings. After turning a couple times for a better view,stretching and almost falling off the ledge  he settled in for over an hour as we waited for the victim of his future attempt.

Just about 7:30am that attempt happened as DC stooped over the Philipone building but came back empty taloned. Back to the drawing board as they say but it wouldn’t be a long wait for 5 minutes later DC took flight going very fast toward the river over the Thomson Reuters building. I spotted him 5 minutes later on OCSR top ibeam southeast side and could see that he wasn’t alone. DC  had caught something and it was still kicking and flapping and giving him a tough time.  He finally quieted it and started plucking feathers.

I parked over by the Radisson and Main St. for the best view of DC who ate a good amount of  his catch. At 8:30am he finished up and flew off with his spoils to the Times Square building (TSB) to share  with Beauty.

Remember to click on my pics for a full version

DC landed on the southeast corner of the deck and Beauty came out of the nest box,grabbed the grub and flew to the east end of the Wilder green strip to chow down.

I drove down to the hole for closer viewing at this time as Beauty ate breakfast for the next 15 minutes.She would end up saving some to cache for a later date, perhaps for the babies that were on their way out of the eggs soon.

The Beautyful one took flight and went east across the river as I lost sight of her behind buildings. It was just before 9am as I took a ride up to the BSB to look  and right after I parked facing the TSB Beauty flew in from behind me (east side). I lost her momentarily and then she showed up on the OCSR south corner top ibeam.

I thought since everyone ate I’d go to the Brighton site to look for Pigott. Unfortunately, Miss Pigott had stepped out. I got a tweet from cam watcher Campgee who said  switch was made-daddy was out and mommy was in on the eggs. Thanks! I waited for a while to see if she would show up and then returned to downtown. DC was on the Wilder green strip with his back facing out. I ended my watch at 9:45am heading home smiling as I wondered if there were any pips in the eggs yet-ooooh babies are coming soon! 🙂

Click on the links below to view videos from my watch

http://youtu.be/BL-FgPM_SOk
http://youtu.be/eKa-xl1QM_w
http://youtu.be/FouIE4T1764
http://youtu.be/X_UpDwXrvmE

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was 70 (F) 21 (C) and still quite humid as I headed out the door this morning! It was a dark morning from the cloud cover which also kept the heat from escaping the atmosphere-making it so warm. I think that’s higher than our average high for this time of year but a change is a comin’ today. A cold front will move thru and drop temps at least 20 degrees by tomorrow morning.

As I sat at the traffic light at Exchange and Broad St. I got a tweet that Beauty had left her eggs and a falcon was on deck from Annette. As I pulled down to the hole I got another tweet from Campgee that Dot.Ca (DC) had come to the nest and Beauty left but doubled back and was next to the main cam at 5:17am. Camp went on to say that Beauty and DC had a little chat and then DC took off with Beauty getting back on their eggs. A minute later Annette was tweeting that one of them was on the eggs. Thank you cam watchers for doing my job-even when I ‘m there to see for myself it can get confusing! At this point I took a look around and found DC on the Mercury money bag (MMB).  He took off before I could get any pics and 5 minutes later I found him on the OCSR  2nd ibeam near the south corner.

I drove to Graves St. across Main St. from OCSR to see closer as it was so dark out. DC was plucking feathers, so apparently he had caught something when he left Mercury. He spent 15-20 minutes preparing and eating his prey and flew off with it. I didn’t see where he went but when I got back to the hole Beauty was on the base of Mercury eating. So DC either dropped it off there first or took it to Beauty at the deck and she brought it over. Cam watchers Ei and Annette reported a switch and so I knew DC was on the eggs. Thanks!

Beauty spent less than 10 minutes eating when she flew off and returned to the nest box. I saw a PEFA fly over the Philipone building around this time but wasn’t sure who it was and then I spotted DC just before 6am back on OCSR  so I think it was probably him flying. I could see that he had gotten enough to eat as he was sporting a nice sized crop.

I hung out close to an hour and then went to the Brighton site (BS) to check on Pigott. She was home perched on the northwest corner of the west extension looking pretty as ever.

We shared space for the next 20 minutes as she did her morning stretching exercises and then Miss Pigott flew southwest.

I gave it a few minutes and when she didn’t return I took a ride around finding her on a west facing window kiddie corner to the cubby on the west side. She flew off to the southwest again as I was pulling over. 5 minutes later Pigott returned and landed on the southwest corner of the southwest extension.

Things were quiet for the next half hour or so as Pigott looked up a few times making me wonder if DC was around and at just about 8am Pigott started whining loudly.

Around 8:30am I spotted a small falcon fly in from the southwest behind me and go straight to the cubby on the other side of the southwest extension from where Pigott was and then there was loud echupping coming from the cubby. DC had arrived and Pigott flew to the cubby immediately after  he started echupping and then they both were heard.

Pigott

It lasted a minute and then DC flew out the cubby and headed southwest while Pigott remained in the cubby whining. A few minutes later she flew out and went to the northwest corner of the west extension still whining. I thought DC might have gone  back downtown so I left BS to check but didn’t find DC anywhere. When I got back to BS and drove near the cubbyI could hear both falcons echupping again so I pulled over to watch. After a couple minutes it got quiet and then DC shot out from the cubby and flew around to the southeast out of view. Pigott started whining and came to the front ledge of the cubby.

After a minute Miss Pigott flew up to the roof of the southwest extension landing on the west side and the pretty girl was still whining for DC.

I took a couple rides around the building but didn’t find him so I left Pigott for downtown. I found our busy little tiercel on the Mercury money bag preening. I watched a few minutes and decided to end my watch at 9am. It made me smile knowing that it’s business as usual for our Rochester Peregrine Falcons! 🙂

Click on the links below to view videos from my watch

http://youtu.be/vQbFLTgzF30
http://youtu.be/9wgQvuEM04E
http://youtu.be/-0IwZ7oD-NU
http://youtu.be/p2NBSUrGG94
http://youtu.be/r8lbGn2UONc
http://youtu.be/bdDU61h3GDY

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Sorry that I didn’t have time to post my report and pictures (and video) yesterday.  Not much to report today (5/22/13).  Did see Beauty on the jail communication tower, while Dot.ca was on the eggs.  She did switch egg sitting duties with him while I was there.  A quick visit to the BS location found Pigott not at home.  But she was seen this morning.

OK now for what I saw yesterday (5/21/13).   When I first arrived downtown, I first drove over to the Andrews St Bridge to check out the north side of the OCSR, where Dot.ca has been found over the last couple days.  He was not there, but I could see a falcon on the base of the Mercury statue.  I tweeted that there was a falcon there and found out from Pat and NCA Falcon, both Rfalconcam watchers (Thanks!), that Dot.ca was inside the nest box.  So the falcon on Mercury was Beauty.   Next stop, the Broad St Bridge.

Just as I was approaching the east end of the Broad St Bridge (BSB), Beauty  stooped towards the river.  I did not see her come back up, so I quickly parked my car and got out.  It didn’t take me long to find her on the edge of the flat roof of the Riverside Conv Center.

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Something had her attention on the river below.  She kept looking down and swoop!   Off she went!  I soon saw what had her attention.  An expert  fisherman by trade.  It was the Great Blue Heron (GBH) who was just trying to catch a fish for his dinner.  For some reason, Beauty didn’t care for this at all.  I watched her dive on the large heron over and over again.  All the GBH could do was spread his wing and duck.  Which he did at least 5 times while I watched.

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When Beauty gained altitude, she would chase the Ring-billed Gulls, making them scream.  Then back to the GBH.  It was almost like she was letting off steam or maybe clearing the airspace for her soon to arrive eyases.  Whatever it was, it was fun to watch.  lol

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Beauty finally landed back on the Riverside Convention Center roof on the east side of the river across from the Mercury Statue.

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As I was watching Beauty, she stepped further onto the roof and I lost sight of her.  While she was up there, the heron made his escape to the south side of the BSB, where the fishing was a little more peaceful.  This is where I saw her land on the Riverside Convention Ctr.

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That was the last I saw of Beauty during my watch until she made her way up to the nest box to take over brooding the eggs from Dot.ca, who came out and landed on the Mercury statue.  It was a very hot and humid day, I had planned on leaving early, but I found a shady spot to watch Dot.ca from, so I stayed until about 7:00 pm.  I really wanted to get a good look at him to see if there was any indication that he was injured after the territorial battle with the unbanded tiercel.  I watched him for over an hour and he seemed fine.  He stretched out fully the left wing and foot we had been a little worried about the day he spent at the BS location.  Here are some pictures I took of him up on Mercury.

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Oh, and before I end my report, I was able to capture a short video of Beauty flying above the Genesee River.  If you look closely, at one point you can see her dive on the Great Blue Heron.  It took me a few seconds to find her, but I finally did catch up with her.  🙂  Just click on the link below.  Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/RS4OvCAjr-U

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Once again my watch began with mild temps in the middle 60’s with humid conditions and a bit of a breeze.

I made my way downtown by 5:15am but there was no sign of Dot.Ca (DC) so I took a spin around the city. As I arrived on the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) from the east side I could just make out a falcon on the south corner top ibeam of the OCSR. I went down to the hole (Aqueduct St.) and was able to identify it as DC.

He stayed up there 15 minutes just looking around when at about 5:45am DC flew off went into a stoop down toward the river after a crow.  Unfortunately, just as he caught up with the crow I lost sight of them behind the Thomson Reuters (TR) building. DC resurfaced landing on the Mercury money bag (MMB) and to my surprise Beauty flew into the picture landing on the base of Mercury. There was much vocalization out of our Mercury Matriarch, I suppose asking where breakfast was.

DC flew to the nest box to cover the eggs and Beauty walked around to the side of the base where I couldn’t see her-I missed these activities as I was tweeting. Campgee one of our very capable cam watchers confirmed what I thought, that DC had gone to the nest box as Beauty reappeared on the base of Mercury for me.

Beauty did some wing stretches and preening occasionally looking for something to catch and she spent almost 15 minutes gaping (throwing her head back and opening her beak). She must have gotten a feather stuck in her throat while preening which would explain the gaping. Janie, a coworker of forum member Pat, who works in the Thomson Reuters building came by and said hi on her way into work.

About 6:15am she flew off  heading west above the hole to the Widows Walk where she landed on the northwest corner. I could only see her tail feathers from the hole so I drove over to Fitzhugh St. where I could see she was plucking feathers from cached food she had up there. I then drove up to Broad St. and parked near the entrance to the Civic Center Parking garage to observe her.

She picked at her find briefly and then around 6:30am the Beautyful one flew off to the northeast with her cache in talon.

I found her next on the base of Mercury where she had obviously eaten, for she had a full crop and was wiping her beak on the edge of the base to clean off scraps.

Right around the 7 o’clock hour Beauty flew over to the Times Square building and came to rest on the column directly above the nest box and then down to relieve DC of incubation duties. He flew out to the Mercury money bag and started preening.

DC spent 15 minutes up there  rousing,preening and spiffing himself up as I watched him from the BSB. He flew off to the southeast around 7:20am.

I thought perhaps he was going to the Brighton location (BS) so I went there.  My first trip around I didn’t see or hear anything but as I drove by the west side on my second try I heard whining. I pulled over and looked to the cubby but didn’t see anyone-the whining was definitely coming from there. I sat there for 20 minutes as the whining continued on and off and then I drove out to the access road behind BS to see if there was a falcon on any of the rooftops. There wasn’t and I returned to my spot to hear more whining. I heard a mans voice calling MAK and behind me was LarryO pointing to the northeast corner of the northwest extension. I walked back there where I could see and ID’d the falcon as Pigott.

Larry left for work and then Miss Pigott flew off to the southwest corner of the southwest extension. She was still whining and then I heard echupping coming from the cubby. Again I didn’t see a PEFA but when it started chirping I knew it was DC-there’s no mistaking his unique chirping sound. The curious thing is that Pigott never flew down to join him but rather flew off to the southeast flapping quite nonchalantly until I could no longer see her. The noise in the cubby had stopped so DC had left while I wasn’t looking.  I returned to downtown at 9am to find DC on the MMB.

< Click it to see DC with his head on. LOL

I watched him for 15 minutes and decided to call it a watch with things quiet and settled after seeing all 3 Rochester Peregrine Falcons. We’re in the home stretch, as hatches will begin real soon and we’ll all be smiling when that happens for sure! 🙂

Click on the links below to view videos from my watch

http://youtu.be/3lUcYQz9dgo
http://youtu.be/VATeAtLj1cY
http://youtu.be/YcYr0mIFBK4
http://youtu.be/7HOR4_JkZzc
http://youtu.be/VSoCG3NA430
http://youtu.be/q2Kj1r3sf_o