By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Sorry to say I don’t have much of a falcon watch to report about this morning. I found Archer on the top ibeam of the OCSR building near the north corner. I first spotted him from the Andrews St. bridge but the distance prevented me from ID’ing him so I drove over to Bragdon St. next to the Radisson Hotel.

Isn’t it wild how the lighting and distance changes the pictures. The 1st pic above is from the Andrews St. bridge,the 2nd from Bragdon St. and the 3rd from the pedestrian bridge. You can’t really see it in any of these pics but I could see the white spot on his wing with both my scope and binocs. I’m sure I’m not mistaken today as I was yesterday.I walked out on the Pedestrian bridge just in time to hear him vocalize and fly away to the northeast and out of view behind buildings. This would be the ONLY falcon sighting for me on this day. A Great Blue Heron passed over so I snapped off a shot of it.

Apparently Archer met the Beautyful one over at the nestbox and did some bowing before I could get over there as reported to me via text message from Donna after the fact. After driving around our fair city many times with no sightings I parked on the Broad St. bridge thinking someone would show up. I got out and checked the river to find a 2nd year Black-crowned Night Heron or Green Heron (not sure which)and a Great Egret fishing .

I waited around for awhile, took a couple more trips around the city and decided to call it quits. I wish everyone a good day and flash a little smile! 🙂

PS: I forgot that I’m waiting for a short video to download of the  Heron preening itself, I will add the link to the bottom of this report as soon as it’s done. Sorry my mind is shot lately! lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLoj8JMsGUA

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Today marks the start of  fall  here in Rochester my favorite season! I found Beauty on the HSBC building east side and I could see that she was eating on a chunk of red meat.

She finished it off and flew to the west toward the river. On my way over to the Broad St. bridge I looked at the Times Square building at each red light and could see the Beautyful one flying above it. When I arrived and pulled over I saw her fly to and land at the nestbox area. Next I spotted Archer fly in from the south and then they went into the scrape for some bonding. I saw Archer fly out when they were done and fly over to the OCSR building landing on the top ibeam at the west corner. So I drove down to Aqueduct St. for a closer view.

Archer didn’t stay there for long and then he was off flying toward the FCT. I never saw Beauty again after she went into the scrape with Archer. I went over to Fitzhugh St. parking in front of the sister cities parking gargage first and then moving up to in front of city hall. Archer was on the 2nd arm east side of the FCT.

I watched Archer for more than an hour look around his surroundings and preen himself. Close to the end of my watch he moved in closer to the middle of the tower before leaving.

Of course I missed him flying off being distracted by people on the sidewalk but I certainly enjoyed sharing space with Archer. At the bottom of this report are the links for a video of Archer and a photo album with more pics from my watch. Enjoy and keep smiling!  🙂

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIglv4XPt1o

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

It’ was another dreary overcast morning in Rochester and the best cure for that is watching falcons! I found both Beauty and Archer on the HSBC building and in the darkness there was no way of telling who was who. After I tweeted it out  and  looked back up there they were gone. Thinking they went to the nestbox I drove over to the Broad St. bridge and parked. I couldn’t see any figures near the nestbox or on the Times Square building,no bumps on the FCT or jail tower. Nobody on Mercury but as I kept panning I did spot a falcon on the top ibeam south corner of the OCSR building. I couldn’t ID it from where I was for I was too far away and it was still rather dark out so I drove down to Aqueduct St. for closer viewing.

I still couldn’t be sure but it looked like Archer to me and seconds later it flew off and then I saw 2 falcons flying off to the northwest. Heading in the general direction of FCT I drove to Fitzhugh St. and spotted Beauty immediately on her favorite perching spot on the FCT.

She spent alot of her time looking around the area. I thought perhaps she was looking for Archer since he was nowhere to be found. I believe he probably went over to KP. The Beautyful one did some preening and picking at her feathers as it started to rain lightly.

I moved to the city hall parking lot to view Beauty and had a gentleman stop and ask if I was watching the hawks. I chuckled to myself and said no I’m watching a Peregrine Falcon. He said yes of course, they are phenomenal!  I work nights at city hall and I see them all the time and again he said they are phenomenal! I said they certainly are and that’s why I get up every morning to come downtown and watch them. He said sorry to disturb you and I said no problem handed him a rfalconcam business card and away he went after thanking me.

It had stopped raining and the sun was trying to peek through the clouds as I left Beauty to go home. Another falcon watch in the books sent me on my way with a smile on my face and I hope all of you that read my report are smiling too! 🙂

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By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Driving straight through to the east side after seeing no falcons near the Times Square area I spotted who I believe was Beauty on the southwest corner of HSBC. At 6:30am it is still a bit dark out these days and so I didn’t bother to take any pics of her. I drove around to check each side for Archer with no luck. When I got back to a spot to view  Beauty she was gone so I drove immediately to the Broad St. bridge thinking she had seen Archer and headed to the nestbox for their bonding time. Sure enough I could see a falcon up next to the main cam. It was the Beautyful one!

I couldn’t tell if Archer was in the scrape and Beauty had disappeared while I moved the truck closer . I texted my trusty assistant Donna to ask if Beauty was in the nestbox and she let me know that she was not. I then drove down to Aqueduct St. and found Archer on the base of Mercury.

Archer was  watching  some Starlings down in Aqueduct park in one of the trees very intently. He was definitely in hunt mode! H e took a little time out for preening but mostly he was watching for the right moment to strike.

For the next hour I shared space with Archer while he looked around for a suitable breakfast. I thought it strange that  he never went over to join Beauty in the scrape for some bowing. That probably explains why she left and I never saw her again. I had the camera fixed on Archer the whole time waiting to get a takeoff shot but he never went after anything. He spread his wings one time then pooped and I thought he might go but just settled back down into observing his surroundings.

I had to leave earlier than usual for an appointment but I was happy to have spent some time with Archer as he had eluded me the last couple days. The sun is shining on us in the fair city today so I shall be smiling and I hope you will too! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Oh my what a dark, dreary morning in Rochester! Add some fog and misty rain to the mix and it makes for some difficulty locating our fabulous falcons. But with the help of my good friend Donna at home manning the cameras I was able to find Beauty when she came out of the scrape to perch next to the main cam. Of course sneaky Archer eluded me once again (leaving the scrape without me seeing)but he was up in there bowing to the Beautyful one (as Donna told me)while I sat down on the Broad St. bridge clueless! lol

So just like yesterday I went Archerless but I did get to spend the rest of my watch with Beauty which is always a good thing. After 5 minutes next to the main cam she flew up to the ledge 1 level higher than the nestbox on the opposite side above where our beloved Jemison first fledged.

The above pics are taken from below the Wilder building by Aqueduct St. The next pics were taken from Exchange St. in front of the Blue Cross Arena.

After this she turned around so I went back to Aqueduct St. to finish my watch with a better view. In the next hour Beauty looked around quite a bit and seemed to be in hunting mode for there was no preening involved. At one point she was trying to bring up a pellet and I took a video at the tail end of it (link at the bottom of this report). As she spread her wings to leave the ledge I snapped off a pic and then she dropped out of sight behind the Times Square building.

I hope everyone has a good day and as always keep smiling!  🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smFhLbIg2M0

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

I checked the cams before I left this morning to find Beauty at the nestbox so I left the house immediately to try and catch her there. As I expected when I got there she was gone but I did find her over on the HSBC building southwest corner. I found a suitable place to take a pic or two of her in the semi-darkness. I then  drove around to the various locations where I could inspect the other sides of the building to see if Archer was around.  He was not!

I drove back around to view the Beautyful one and after a moment she flew off headed toward the Times Square area. I followed behind and when I arrived on the bridge I could see the back of a falcon. I thought it was Beauty because I’m very familiar with her back since she has shown it to me so much. Donna texted to say that both Beauty and Archer were up there.

I missed him flying out from the scrape but did see Beauty fly off toward Mercury. I went down to Aqueduct St. to have a look around and found her on that side of the base of Mercury.

Showing her back side and then turning around before flying off to the east. This was the last I saw of her and I never did see Archer. Though they were brief glimpses of our resident matriarch this morning it was enough to give me the falcon fix I seem to always crave. I soo love these creatures! Until next time keep putting a smile on your face even if you don’t want to!  🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Another chilly start to the day in our fair city! Parked on the Broad St. bridge a little over an hour into my watch I finally spotted a falcon on the 2nd arm of the FCT. I drove over to take a look and after taking 1 shot with my camera it flew off. I believe it was Archer.

After a few moments I saw movement inside the framework but couldn’t quite see what it was so I drove over to Plymouth Ave. for a different angle. On the platform I spotted Beauty picking at something.

She then hopped over into the middle of the structure and flew out and up to the platform railing on the north side.

The Beautyful one spent a half hour preening and picking out white feathers from her chest. She suddenly looked to the north and flew off in that direction in a very casual flight. Did she see Archer in the distance I wondered? She didn’t return and after 10 minutes of waiting I decided to call it a watch. Smile people it doesn’t cost a thing! lol  🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

On a chilly 42 degree morning I had to go searching for our resident falcons and I found both Beauty and Archer on the east side of town. Archer was on the east side of the HSBC building and as I drove north a bit to get a look at the north side I found Beauty perched on the northwest corner.

Make sure to click on pics for full version

About 15 minutes later Archer flew off and around to land on the railing close to Beauty.

Moments later Beauty flew off followed by Archer and they were headed in the general direction of the Times Square building. Sure enough when I arrived on the Broad St. bridge I could see at least 1 falcon up at the nestbox. I pulled over and tweeted it out and soon got a text from Donna that both Beauty and Archer were up there. He flew out of there without me noticing for when I took a pic I could only see Beauty and she was facing out so I knew he wasn’t there any longer.

I then drove down past the Thomson Reuters building to check the Wilder building and just as it came into view I caught Archer  flying off the fire escape ladder after a Starling. He chased it out over the river and gave up and then it went after him as he made his way over to the base of Mercury! I chuckled at that,what a crazy bird having escaped the clutches of death and then pushing it’s luck like that! Nature is a wonder!!!

While I was following Archer, Beauty left the nestbox and so I drove down to Aqueduct St. in search of the Beautyful one. I found her on Widows Walk and while I did so Archer moved in  on the base of Mercury close to the foot and I could just see his head peeking up.

I barely had time to snap off a pic of Beauty before she flew over to the ledge one level directly above the nestbox area.

And from a different angle by falcon central on Broad St.

Archer had left and I could find him nowhere in the Times Square area so I assumed he went over to KP. That thought was confirmed when I received a tweet from CarolP that he was there with Unity. I left Beauty perched and preening up on the spot above her scrape to head home for breakfast. Until next time keep smiling! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

What an easy find I had this morning! For the first time EVER as I came down the ramp off 490 I looked up at the Frontier Communications Tower to see both Beauty and Archer. He was on the top arm and she was on the 2nd arm directly below him on the south side.

Make sure to click on pic for full view

Still a bit dark out at first as I sat there on Plymouth Ave. watching them the sky behind the OCSR building started to light up from the rising sun.

Beauty and Archer both took off flying to the south and then coming back toward me and heading west after that going higher and higher until I couldn’t see them anymore. I went for a little jaunt to see if they went to the nestbox and as I pulled up to park on the Broad St. bridge some 15 minutes later I spotted a falcon on the platform railing over on the FCT. So they had doubled back on me the little sneaks! I drove back over and parked on Fitzhugh St. I tweeted that Archer was on the railing and Beauty was under the platform eating but after checking my pics I found that it was the other way around.

Archer ate for 20 minutes under the platform while Beauty waited patiently. When he had his fill he  took the prey up to the platform where Beauty took over eating. At first he watched her from the railing above and then he half hopped/half flew over to the east railing.

Beauty took the prey over to the east side of the platform and finished it up as Archer watched.

She then flew up to the north railing where she cleaned herself up before flying off to the south toward Times Square and returning to perch under the platform. Archer remained on the east railing the whole time.

They both preened as I sit watching them. I took videos of them and put together a photo album of which I will post the links to at the end of this report.  I ended my watch with them seemingly hunkered down for a rest after their shared breakfast.

Again click on the pics for a full view

I had a very enjoyable watch with our downtown pair today. I hope I was able to capture it through my pics and videos so that all of you can enjoy it too! Have a great day and keep smiling!  🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96ojLaxQQNE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV1mfL0xVzI

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By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Today is a triple D day…dark,damp and dreary!. I was parked on the Broad St. bridge after driving around for nearly an hour when I spotted a falcon over on the top arm of the FCT west side. I drove over to Fitzhugh St. and parked in front of the sister cities ramp garage to get a closer look. I determined that it was Archer. Not a good day for picture taking but I took some anyway!

He flew off when I wasn’t looking so I had no idea what direction he went in. I got a message from Donna that she wasn’t getting tweets on her phone from me or Carol but they were going to the forum. I thought it funny that I didn’t get a tweet from Carol this morning over at KP. Anyway, she told me Carol had 2 over there and so when Archer didn’t return to FCT I decided to see if he had gone to KP. If I found 3 falcons there then we would know Mr. C had been there earlier with Unity and CarolP. As luck would have it I went there in vain for all I saw was Starlings and Pigeons. Not a falcon in sight so…back downtown I went.  I found Archer on the platform railing west side of the FCT and he was sporting a FULL crop!

At times you could barely see his head over that huge packed full crop! I figure he had himself a nice breakfast while I went on a wild falcon chase over to KP looking for him!

I ended my watch with Archer preening himself and Beauty hiding from me.

Fellow falcon watcher Lynda was nice enough to pick me up for a watch last night. She had already been downtown and saw no falcons so we decided to try our luck at KP. We found Unity on the north side of the tall still top catwalk. We left to get a bite to eat and upon our return as we sit eating we didn’t notice a falcon on the pigeon box eating too! CarolP drove up and alerted us of the fact. It was getting darker out and this falcon seemed quite dark to us. We thought it might be another mystery falcon but we determined that it was probably Unity after Carol got the scope on it and saw black over red on it’s left legband. KathyO also joined us. After it was finished eating it took the remains up to the east stack second catwalk and cached it in a corner. Then it went out of view. We were down in lot 73 so Lynda and I decided to go up to lot 77 to see if we could find it. This falcon had gone up to the railing of the catwalk and it looked like Unity to me. I have put together an album from KP(link at bottom of this report). Notice the difference from when Lynda and I saw Unity on the tall still and when we all saw her(if it was her) on top of the pigeon box. Lighting is everything and so you be the judge…was it Unity or a different falcon? Have a great day everyone and smile often!  🙂

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