By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

I didn’t think I’d be getting out so soon to enjoy our Rochester falcons but my fellow watchers whom I adore came through in a BIG way yesterday. First Lynda came and got me around 7:45am. We headed straight downtown but couldn’t find a falcon so we left to go to KP and try our luck there. Nope nobody around there either. We sat and chit chatted and then I scanned the stills with my trusty binocs and found Unity on the 2nd catwalk of the tall still. She was on the east side railing just barely visible at first. We moved farther east in the parking lot for a better angle and voila!

After a while she flew over to the blue building and landed on the corner of the black strip by the nook. And ended up scooting around the corner into the nook.

This is where we left her to go back downtown and look for Beauty and Archer again. We didn’t find either one of them and Linda had to get going so she dropped me off home. Joyce called and asked if I’d like to go sit with her while her car got some maintenance done and of course I knew we would go watching so I said you know I do! When her car was ready we went to her house and picked up her dogs Casey and Abby,checked downtown for falcons with no luck and picked up Brian. Over to KP we went where we spotted Unity on the blue building towards the top.

While we were in lot 77 we got to see a Merlin fly over us and check out the dogs in the tall grass and then land on a pole.

What a beautiful background for this smaller version of a falcon! I love the fall colors! CarolP came by and as we were all standing around I saw Abby flush a bird out of the tall grass and alerted everyone to it. It landed at the other end of the parking lot on top of a pine tree. Woohoo my first ever sighting of a Meadowlark!

Carol said she was going downtown to check for Beauty and Archer before it got any darker so Joyce said why don’t I ride along with her and she’d catch up with me after she ran an errand with Brian. Carol said come on MAK and off we went! As we approached downtown on State St. near KO we spotted a falcon on the FCT top arm. As we drove to the city hall parking lot we had Archer and the Beautyful one flying around and landing on the second arm. Beauty landed on the east side and Archer on the west facing each other. What a sight to behold when 24 hours earlier I didn’t know when I would next see our gorgeous pair or if I’d even see Archer again before he migrated.

They flew off in a hurry to the eastern sky and out of view. We took a ride over to the east side and found one of them on the railing of the HSBC building northeast corner and this is when we decided to end our watch. As a parting gift here are a couple pics I took on our way down Broad St. as we were leaving the city from the east that I thought were pretty..

I want to thank Lynda,Joyce and Carol for giving me the falcon fix that I needed yesterday. You guys are the BEST and you and our Rochester Peregrine Falcons made me SMILE!  🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

It is with great sadness that I must tell you this will be my last report for sometime to come.  I will not have access to a vehicle and I will be having knee replacement surgery on Oct. 17 and won’t be able to drive for awhile after that anyway. That being said on to my report.

To my surprise I found Archer on the Xerox tower this morning on the southeast corner column.

Less than 5 minutes later he was gone and I missed it! And  that’s how it goes in the life of a falcon watcher sometimes. It would be some 45 minutes later before I spotted both Beauty and Archer on the top ibeam of the OCSR building west side. They flew off almost as soon as I saw them. About 10 minutes later I spotted a falcon on the jail tower from the Broad St. bridge. I whipped over to Troup St. for a closer view and could clearly ID it as Archer.

Donna texted me at this time to let me know that Beauty had been in and out of the nestbox quickly. I had seen a falcon fly up to, land and then go in the nestbox shortly after they both flew off the OCSR building but I missed anybody come back out. So it was the Beautyful one that I had seen up there. 5 minutes later as I approach the Times Square building northbound on Exchange street I could see both Beauty and Archer on the south side of Times Square. He was on the corner and she was on the next column over to his left 1 level lower than the nestbox.

click on pic for full view

It had begun to rain making for bad photo taking but I clicked away just the same!

Our downtown Rochester pair remained perched there for the remainder of my watch. I took a video of them which I will post the link for at the bottom of this report as well as the link for an album from my watch with some surprises I found along the way. Plus a bonus video of the raging Genesee River with some of it’s inhabitants. I hope you enjoy these. As always I hope you have a great day and keep smiling until we meet again! 🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kfVbEmkGxY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4eoOzjxoDM

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By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

The morning started out dark,rainy and foggy once again today but by the time my watch ended the clouds and fog were breaking up and the sun was shining! As I drove over to the  east side and went to the parking lot of the Strong Museum of Play I spotted a falcon flying between Xerox and HSBC and then it landed on the south side of HSBC. It flew off less than 30 seconds later and disappeared into the fog. I drove over to the north side of HSBC where I could see Beauty perched on the northwest corner.

5 minutes later she flew off in to the fog again. I drove around and checked each side of HSBC without finding her and then headed over to the Broad St. bridge. After 20 minutes of searching without a sighting I returned to the east side and found the Beautyful one on the southwest corner of HSBC. She had given me the slip and doubled back after I drove away! lol

Beauty and I watched the changing weather for nearly an hour as the light rain stopped and the sun started to burn off the fog and peak through the clouds. Just as I was getting ready to call it a watch and pack up my gear she flew off going south. I watched until she became a speck in the sky and disappeared. I never saw Archer and wondered if perhaps he has gone on his migration for Carol didn’t report seeing him at KP this morning either. I went on a short evening watch last night with Joyce and have a couple pics of Unity and the black sky that was behind the complex to share before I end this report.

Enjoy the day and keep smiling! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Jeeze I thought yesterdays conditions were bad…not compared to todays cold,dark,rainy and foggy weather. No problem for the falcons or this falcon watcher. To my surprise I found Beauty sleeping in on her night time roosting spot high up on the 5th column of the Xerox tower! She left as I was getting my camera out to take her pic. Still pretty dark out it probably would have been a terrible photo anyway. So I left the east side and went to the Broad St. bridge where I spotted a falcon on the top arm of the FCT. I raced over to city hall just in time to watch it fly off! Remember when you were a kid playing tag and how frustrating it was when you couldn’t tag someone…lol! So I decided I’d much rather be chasing falcons at this early hour than laying in my warm bed and yes I was smiling! I know I’m nuts but hey someone has to do it! Having returned to the Broad St. bridge I saw a falcon flying around and above the Times Square building before landing in the nestbox area. I next saw Archer on the southeast ledge 1 level below the nestbox so I was able to determine Beauty was the one visiting the scrape.

FYI because of the horrendous weather conditions I had to doctor the pics  so they will be grainy looking. Beauty managed to fly over to the Wilder building without me seeing and landed on the green strip in the same place I left her yesterday. The misty rain started to intensify so it was time to stick the umbrella out the window to protect my camera because the show must go on!

Archer flew over to join the Beautyful one on the Wilder building and they were once again in the same spots as yesterday when I left them.

After 15 minutes Archer left her and flew back over to the Times Square building to perch on the southeast ledge. He then flew off after 20 minutes circling above Beauty as she stayed perched on that green strip and then he flew above the scrape before returning to the southeast ledge once more. I believe Archer was trying to entice Beauty to join him at the scrape for some bonding but she wasn’t having any of it.

I missed Beauty leaving the Wilder building and when I looked back to Archer he took off as well. I left the confines of Aqueduct St. for the Broad St. bridge where I could see so much more and noticed how much the fog was really starting to roll in and put a crimp in my watch. I could barely make out a white splotch over on the OCSR building top ibeam southeast side smack dab in the middle and then I saw a dark falcon shaped blob down by the elevator shaft on the same ibeam. I surmised the white blob was Archer and the dark one Beauty. Here are the terrifically horrible pics!

Bring on the snow, I’m ready!!! lol  Smile people… it doesn’t hurt and it’s FREE!  🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Brrr! It feels more like the 1st of November than October, which incidentally is my favorite month! Dark with a fine misty rain falling and 49 degrees out when I left my house. I managed to finally spot a falcon on the OCSR building top ibeam north side from the Andrews St. bridge but it flew off as soon as I stopped the truck. My right hand girl and trusty assistant on the cams Donna texted me that Beauty was at the nestbox so I headed over to the Broad St. bridge. Beauty was still up there when I arrived.

As usual she left when I wasn’t looking and 20 minutes later I spotted her on the Times Square building in a spot I’d never seen her before. I parked on Exchange St. in front of the main entrance to the Blue Cross Arena and viewed her on the south side of a column that was 1 level lower than the nestbox.

I didn’t see him at first but Archer was to her right at the southeast corner of the same level below where Jemison made his first flight.

Click on pics for full view

He had his feathers all foofed up to stay warm so I couldn’t see his white spot on the right wing and so I didn’t know if I had a different falcon or Archer. I soon spotted it and was able to tweet out that it was indeed Mr. Archer. Both he and the Beautyful one flew off to the northeast and I found them over on the Wilder building on the green strip. Beauty was to the left of the fire escape ladder and Archer was to the right. Both preening and staying out of the wind as best as they could.

I don’t often get these two close enough to tape them together so I took full advantage of this opportunity and made 2 tapes of which I will post the links at the bottom of this report. I watched them for about 15 minutes as they preened and occasionally Beauty whined at him and he for the most part ignored her. It got to be time for a pitstop, breakfast and meds so I ended my watch leaving Beauty and Archer on the green strip of the Wilder building satisfied that all was well in our downtown falcons’ world. Enjoy this first day of Rocktober, stay warm and smile! 🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S6ah_CvgB0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5-WH3lK6tA

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

As I was approaching the Broad St. bridge this morning I got a text from Donna that Beauty was at the nestbox. I did my u-turn so I was facing the Times Square building and couldn’t see her. Donna said she left so I focused my trusty binocs on the FCT off in the distance to see the shape of a falcon on the top arm east side. I drove over to city hall and could verify that it was Archer.

About 10 minutes later Archer flew off heading north he snuck back and landed on the west side top arm of the FCT.

15 minutes later Archer flew to the south and I thought he might be going to meet Beauty at the scrape for I got a text from Donna that Beauty was there. So I drove over to the Broad St. bridge but by the time I got there she was gone and Archer wasn’t around either. For the next 20 minutes or so I searched for our downtown duo and finally while parked on the Andrews St. bridge I spotted a falcon on the east (river)side of the cupola over on the KO tower. I sped over to Mill St. and managed to get 2 pics of Archer before he flew off to the north out of sight.

I thought he might be going to see Unity at KP at  the time. I drove around the city for nearly an hour and during this time I stopped on the Broad St. bridge to take pics of  a juvenile and adult Great Blue Heron fishing down in the river.

I then proceeded to the Court St. bridge where I spotted Mr. Archer under the southeast wing of the Times Square building. I went over to Aqueduct St. and snapped off a couple rounds of him before he took off.

At this time my trusty assistant Donna texted me that both Beauty and Archer had been at the nestbox and I missed it! Imagine that! lol Finally after eluding me I spotted the Beautyful one up on the base of Mercury.

With the sun behind her I decided to leave Aqueduct St. and go up on the Broad St. bridge where I could get a front shot with the sun behind me. Well she was barely peeking out at me and then she was gone!

Vanished off the back of Mercury and that was the last glimpse of either one of our resident falcons for this watch. I made a video of Archer when he was over on the FCT of which I will include the link to it at the bottom of this report. Enjoy the day and flash those pearly whites with a smile!  🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl_c8t5QI6U

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

On a very dark gloomy morning I found the Beautyful one and suddenly the day got brighter! She was on the northeast corner of  HSBC. As I drove to a spot where I could check the north side of the building for Archer she took off. When I next looked Beauty was on the northwest corner and Archer was right above her on the railing.

Archer soon hopped down onto the roof and it looked like he was eating. I drove to another location for a better view and when I stopped to look Archer was gone and Beauty left almost as soon as I got there. She headed toward the river so I thought perhaps they had gone to Times Square to bond at the nestbox. They did not and it would be half hour before I spotted Archer peeking out from high atop the Xerox tower on the column at the northwest corner.

He left after 10 minutes and I missed it! As I set out to look for Beauty and Archer on the east side I got a text from Donna that Beauty was next to the main cam “yakking”. I went  to the Broad St. bridge but couldn’t see Beauty or Archer anywhere so I drove down to Aqueduct St. where I found Beauty on Widows Walk east side with her back to me.

I was parked in the alley next to the Wilder building when Beauty flew off around the back of the Times Square building out of my field of vision momentarily. She suddenly appeared  flying through between the Times Square  and Democrat and Chronicle buildings in my direction going over the parking lot and Wilder building disappearing above me. I didn’t see her but she came back and landed next on the column ledge 1 level above the nestbox.

She kept looking around as she preened a bit shaking off the light rain that had begun to fall. Occasionally I could hear her whine so I got the impression Archer was somewhere near that she could see him but I could not.

I ended my watch satisfied that I had seen our downtown dynamic duo. Enjoy the day and smile much!  🙂

Link for a video of the Beautyful one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQwGWPI7FjM

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Let’s see, on my last watch Beauty was very active and this morning was more of the same. Since Archer has not been seen in a couple days and Beauty seems restless I’m thinking he has left the area. Perhaps on a short trip or winter migration and she is looking for him. This is just my opinion.

Now for my report. It took awhile on this dark and humid morning but I finally spotted a falcon on the FCT top arm south side from the Broad St. bridge. I drove over to city hall just in time to check it out and determine that it was the Beautyful one before she flew off.

I followed her with my binocs as she flew over to the Kodak Office tower and landed on the launchpad. I waited a couple minutes to see if she would fly off and when she didn’t I headed over there. Unfortunately she left while I was in transit and it would be nearly an hour before I caught up with her again. I parked on the Broad St. bridge to see what was happening down in the river and I found the juvie Black-crowned Night Heron fishing and then it flew up to a tree right in front of me.

After that I spotted Beauty on the 2nd arm of the FCT. She stayed just long enough for a few pics and then she was off again.

20 minutes later I could barely make out the shape of a falcon over on the jail tower and just as I pulled up and took a look through my binocs Beauty flew off and headed north. I backed the truck up and pulled out onto Plymouth Ave, where I was able to watch her fly over to the FCT and circle above it before flying off to the east and of my field of vision. I decided to leave at this point but as I was stopped at a traffic light I spotted her up on the platform of FCT and naturally I had to investigate. I found a spot where I could get a shot  of her and then I ended my watch.

Have a super day everyone and don’t forget to smile often! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

I have one word to describe the Beautyful one this morning…BUSY! I first found her in the semi-darkness next to the main cam.

Less than 5 minutes later she was gone. I just happened to spot her flying across in front of the Times Square building when I was checking the nestbox area with my binocs. She flew down Exchange St. heading south and then I lost her behind the Blue Cross Arena. I thought she might have gone to the jail tower since that was the general direction she was headed and so I drove up to a spot on the Broad St. bridge where I could see it. Sure enough there was the bump of a falcon on the north side and just as I put the truck in gear to head over there it was off and flying toward me. Over the river and past me flying due east. I could tell it was Beauty by the size and so I drove to HSBC where I found her on the northwest corner.

She flew off almost as soon as I found her going to the west toward the river.  Back to the bridge I went spotting her next on the top ibeam west corner of the OCSR building.

The Beautyful one stayed there for half hour and let me catch my breath. Suddenly she dropped off the back of the building.

5 minutes later she returned to OCSR same spot. 5 minutes after that she flew off again flying across directly in front of me above the parking lot by Aqueduct St. where I was parked and behind the Times Square building out of view.

Click on pic for full view

Beauty flew back to the same spot on OCSR once again staying put this time for about 10 minutes before she was off again around 8:00am only to return 5 minutes later to OCSR where I observed her for the remainder of my watch.

Some 25 minutes or so later I said goodbye and headed home. Beauty did very little preening this morning she was either looking around for prey or maybe flying off to protect her territory or looking for Archer. Perhaps a little of all three but she was a girl on the move and kept this watcher BUSY! I won’t be doing an early morning watch tomorrow as I have an 8:00am pre-test appointment for the first of my upcoming knee replacement surgeries. I have included a link at the end of my report for an album of Unity from last night at KP with Joyce,Brian and CarolP. Enjoy and keep smiling! 🙂

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By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Well apparently as I drove through looking for the dynamic duo they were in the nestbox bonding and I didn’t even know it. Nothing new! Even when it’s light out I can’t see Beauty and Archer when they are deep in the nestbox. I drove to the east side after failing to spot them and checked Xerox and HSBC. Upon my return to the Broad St. bridge some 5 minutes after they were caught on camera in the scrape I found Beauty on the 2nd ibeam west corner of the OCSR building. I went down to Aqueduct St. for closer viewing.

It looked to me like she had a full crop. She flew off after about 15 minutes  behind the Times Square building.

I had a feeling she was headed to the jail tower. On my way over to Troup St. I saw her on  on the 2nd arm west side.

The sun was shining on the Beautyful one nicely and I couldn’t resist taking a pic of it!

She left the jail tower when I was taking the pic of the sun and I had no idea what direction she was headed so I went back to Broad St. Now as I read my tweets I see I made an error posting that she was on HSBC. (bad week for me with mistakes) Beauty was in fact on the OCSR building top ibeam at the west corner.

Beauty stayed there for a half hour before dropping off the back side of the building in a stoop. I lost sight of her as soon as she stepped off the building. I spotted her flying to and landing next to the main cam echupping. I thought maybe Archer was up there, then she went into the scrape.

Beauty quickly left according to my trusty assistant Donna manning the cams for me. I left and found both Beauty and Archer over on the FCT east side. She on the bottom arm and he on the top arm.

This is where I left our downtown Rochester pair ending my watch. I made an album of the day for your viewing pleasure and the link is at the bottom of this report. Enjoy the day and smile once in awhile!  🙂

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