By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Happy Memorial Day!

Just in case I checked the cams this morning before leaving and what do I see but the Beautyful one in the nestbox looking around,scooching down in the scrape and picking at pebbles. I watched her for 5-6 minutes on the live stream until she left and so did I. I didn’t go down the Broad St. bridge first as I usually do but checked Kodak Office and the Frontier Communications Tower without a sighting. I proceeded to the east side checking Xerox and HSBC with no luck. As I came back through on my way to Times Square I noticed the white car of Dans on the Broad St. bridge. It made me happy to see him again. He hadn’t come down with me in the morning for almost 2 weeks since that day we had talked about the eggs at both sites possibly not being viable. I pulled up and he put on that big smile of his for me. He told me a falcon had flown out of the nestbox at 5:35am and I told him that it was Beauty and caught him up on all the latest news. We decided to go to the pedestrian bridge at High Falls thinking that Beauty might go to Kodak Office where she’s been hanging out lately. We can see pretty much everything from there at a distance.Finally around 6:55am I spotted Beauty on the FCT platform rail southeast corner. She was facing us and looking in the general direction of Kodak Park.

Beauty flew to the Times Square building after about 10 minutes and landed under the northeast wing. Again facing the north and looking in the direction of KP.

Apparently since the eggs in the nestbox are no longer Archer is compelled to stay at KP with Unity and those eggs that we are sure are no good. Such is the life of an instinct driven falcon. Dan had to go so I left High Falls, lovely place that it is, and drove to Aqueduct St. to be up close and personal with the Beautyful one.

We sat and visited for half hour and then she flew off. I tweeted it out so Dana, who was at Kodak Park at the time could be on the lookout in case Beauty had decided to go over there. I’m so worried about her and Unity duking it out again. I drove around the city without locating her and then went home thus ending my watch. As promised I put together an album from yesterdays watch at KP. Here’s the link and enjoy! 🙂

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=466292342213%3A166912795&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

And this mornings album:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=873003342213%3A1131442977&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Joyce picked me up for an afternoon watch.KathyO called to see if I knew Unity and Beautys’  band colors. I told her and so she and CarolP knew they had Beauty over at Kodak Park with Archer. No Unity at that time. Joyce and I left and when we got to KP CarolP and KathyO  were gone. We went down to lot #73 the special ID’ing parking lot. We saw 2 falcons copulating on the north side of the tall still as we were driving up the road. Archer then flew to the black strip of the blue building. And the female falcon to the PPH(pigeon poop hole).

It’s dark in that PPH and so I thought it was Beauty because the chest looked dark and Unity is very white.I tweeted that it was Beauty mistakenly which I apologize for because it caused such confusion. Now on the west still lower catwalk Joyce and I were able to confirm that it was in fact Unity.

She was whining ALOT for a big portion of our watch. Many times they flew back and forth between the stills and the scrape. At one point they were both in the scrape bowing and bonding quite heavily. I will put together an album for this watch later but for tonight I’m done. Very tired. Good nite! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

As many of you have stated, it gave you an empty feeling to look at the nestbox this morning and see nothing. It was the same for me and as I drove around downtown my first 30 minutes without finding any falcons I started getting a sinking feeling that Beauty and Archer had left the area. I sure am glad I was wrong for when I drove down State St. on my way to Kodak Park to see if anyone was there I spotted Beauty on the 19th floor southeast corner of Kodak Office.

After I took a couple pics to document it I got my binocs out and spotted Archer on the southeast corner of the launchpad.

15 minutes later Beauty flew out and up to the the northeast corner of the launchpad making bookends with Archer.

They stayed this way for a little over half hour, both preening and Archer occasionally bowing to Beauty. Archer flew off circled once high above and landed on the east side of the cupola bowing to Beauty from there.

Archer then walked over a little bit and bowed again.

Beauty seemed to be ignoring him. He then turned around and looked over his shoulder to the north toward Kodak Park.

Archer then turned around and scooted the rest of the way to the northeast corner of the cupola directly above Beauty. He cleaned himself up a bit before flying off to the west.

I didn’t see him again and wondered if he had gone to Kodak Park after being snubbed by Beauty. I also wondered if she watched him fly that way. Soon after my suspicions were confirmed when Dana tweeted that Archer and Unity were copulating over at Kodak Park.  Here we go again.  I drove around to the north side of KO for a better view of Beauty parking on Frankfort St.

I spent the next hour with the Beautyful one who was facing north, watching her look  in the direction of Kodak Park. I silently prayed that she would not go over there and do battle with Unity. She flew off circled above the Kodak Office tower and headed south toward downtown and the Times Square building. I searched for her to no avail and ended my watch to go home and get some breakfast.

I want to say Thank You to all the people yesterday that showed concern for me and offered kind and comforting words  after we suffered the loss of the last egg. I won’t forget it. 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

When I got up this morning I looked out my window to see what the weather was like…FOG! So I decided I would stay home until the fog burned off a bit and then head out. As usual I got online and checked the cams. Beauty was on the eggs looking peaceful and content. The picture advanced and I saw the last of the eggs out on the deck. I immediately went to livestream to see Beauty check out her egg and then fly off. Someone on the chat said the egg had stuck to her when she stretched and then ended up out of the nestbox. It looked like it had collapsed like the last egg and appeared folded over. Next Archer flew in, examined the egg and got in the scrape scootched down in it as if incubating. My eyes were raining down tears of great sadness for our fabulous falcons. He went back out to the egg and  pushed it under the rail and out of the cameras view. That’s when I figure it must have fallen and floated down to the sidewalk below.I started texting Donna and asked if she thought I should go downtown and she said yes. So I whipped outta the house. As I was approaching Times Square coming up Exchange St. from Main I looked to the sidewalk and I could see the egg. My heart sank! I pulled over right in front of the Times Square building put on my emergency flashers and walked over to it crying my eyes out. I called Donna and gave her the news and then I got out my camera and took pics of the egg. First, of how I found it laying there and then I turned it over to see what the inside looked like.

I looked over at the Wilder building through my tears and I saw Archer up on the green strip. He had his back to me but he kept looking over in my direction. It seemed like he was watching me.

I then wrapped the egg up in a kleenex to save in case the DEC or GVAS wanted it for any reason. I then collected myself somewhat and drove across the street to park down on Aqueduct St. where I had a good view of Archer. As I got out of the truck I heard kakking but it wasn’t Archer. I quickly walked to a spot where I could see Mercury and there was Beauty on the railing below the base calling out to Archer.

I barely had a chance to click off a shot of her when Archer flew in landing on top of her and they copulated. I couldn’t believe my eyes!

I started tearing up again and realized that they were just carrying on with their falcon lives as if everything was fine. It was not fine with this sniveling human!  Archer then flew back to the Wilder building landing on top of the fire escape ladder and as Donna reported to me, Beauty was in the scrape seemingly incubating.

These were about the saddest chain of events I could ever imagine. Archer left vanishing into the fog and Beauty flew out of the nestbox over to the top ibeam west corner of OCSR.

I sat there with the Beautyful one for about 20 minutes when she flew off behind OCSR heading east into the thick fog. After watching and waiting for her to return with no luck I decided to take a ride around the city. With no success in finding either Beauty or Archer I ended my watch and went home. In usual fashion I will end my report with a smiley face BUT this does not reflect how I truly feel this morning! Good day to all of Beauty and Archers’ faithful fans around the world. We’ve now been through the good and bad times together! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

This watch report will be more about the weather since it was a major factor in it. When I left home Beauty was on the eggs and it was raining at a good clip. As I made my way through the intersection at Broad and Exchange Streets I looked over to the Wilder building and caught a falcon flying from the nestbox area over to the top ibeam west corner of the OCSR building.

I thought Beauty cuz this is one of her favorite spots recently. After I took a pic and zoomed it I could confirm it was indeed the Beautyful one. So I drove down Aqueduct St. and watched for awhile, not sure how long. She flew off into the fog and I quickly lost sight of her. This would be my one and only look at a falcon on this morning watch.

As I drove around the city looking for her, the fog kept coming down lower and lower until it became almost impossible to see a falcon if they were on a building more than half way up. Here is a sampling of mine and Beautys’ world early this morning.

Needless to say I ended my watch early due to the fog, but  I did record a video of the river if you are interested here’s the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0qF87hlw80

And if you’d like to view more fog filled pics here’s the link for that:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=572253142213%3A270215514&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharer

Enjoy and remember all those who died for our freedom on this Memorial Day weekend! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Archer was on the eggs when I checked before heading out this morning so I knew I’d be looking for Beauty when I got downtown. After checking all the favorite places near Times Square I went over to Kodak Office and I found her atop the cupola northeast corner.

Beauty flew off very soon after I arrived heading in the direction of downtown. Nearly 40 minutes later I located her under the southeast wing on the Times Square building and she was eating breakfast.

With not quite a full crop the Beautyful one flew off Times Square with prey in her talons and the hunt to find her was on once more!

Some 45 minutes later while approaching the Broad St. bridge from the east side of the city I spotted Archer on the base of Mercury.

I guess Beauty had pulled a fast one on me and doubled back after I left to find her. They made a switch on the eggs and now it was Archers’ turn to catch breakfast. He flew off Mercury back behind the Reuters Thomson building where I lost sight of him. As I drove down to Aqueduct St. I saw him fly to the nestbox and back out vocalizing the whole time. When I got down on Aqueduct St. I  found him on top of the fire escape ladder of the Wilder building with his breakfast in his talons. He was vocalizing loudly!

I think he was telling Beauty he had a small package for her not knowing that she had already eaten. Guess he didn’t notice her full crop! Next, Archer flew back over to the nestbox and Beauty came out and flew to the base of Mercury. Dark pics cuz the sun was behind her (yes there was sun for a little while ).

Beauty wasn’t there for long when she flew over to the nestbox with Archers’ gift  and then took off for parts unknown.

It was good to see both Archer and Beauty this morning but I couldn’t help feeling bad for Unity over at Kodak Park all by her lonesome. Archer has been devoting pretty much all his time to Beauty and their eggs lately. I hope one of these days another tiercel comes swooping in to steal her heart away from Archer so she can live a normal Peregrine Falcon life!  That’s all folks! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

When I arrived downtown this morning I caught a glimpse of Beauty on the base of Mercury. She took off as I was turning down Aqueduct St. in the direction of FCT.  I drove over that way and didn’t spot her until after I had checked around Kodak Office first. She was on the west side of the Frontier Communications Tower and this is where the Beautyful one and I hung out together for nearly 2 hours.

When she took off heading toward Times Square I took off right behind her. I arrived just in time to see her up on top of the main camera at the nestbox. I missed her leave and wondered if there had been a switch made when I spotted her on the west corner top ibeam of the OCSR building.

Beauty appeared to be nibbling on a tiny bit of cached food, with a full crop I might add. After 20 minutes there she flew over to the nestbox very briefly and then flew off to the FCT again.

As I ended this cat and mouse watch with Beauty she flew off her spot on that FCT and went straight toward Times Square again! I think she may be a little perplexed over the egg situation or not.  In any case she is still the Beautyful one that graces our Rochester skies!  Perhaps I’ll see Archer and/or Unity on my next  watch.  See ya! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

First of all I apologize for being so late getting this report posted. Let’s just say I’ve had a couple of issues today that got me way behind. I checked near Times Square,Wilder and Mercury with no sightings. I then went to the east side near Xerox,HSBC and Midtown again with no luck. I decided to go over to city hall and check the Frontier Communications Tower once more no falcons to be seen. I then took a look through my binocs at Kodak Office…bingo. I saw a big white chest sticking out from the 16th floor ledge. I raced up State St. as my heart was also racing for I was afraid of another territory battle.  Let me ease your minds right now by saying it was NOT Unity from Kodak Park and there was no battle. Phew!  These 2 pics do not look like any falcon I’ve ever seen.

As I was texting my findings this mystery falcon vanished and the next time I looked up there was a falcon flying above the Kodak tower.

It flew to the cupola and landed on the northeast corner. After taking a pic and zooming it I could positively identify it as Beauty.

She was looking around for something so I assumed she saw this intruder, flew over and it either was hiding somewhere that I couldn’t see it or it just left the area. While all this took place a man walked down the street toward me on the other side of the road and crossing as he got closer to the truck giving me a murderous look and walked by the passenger side real close. Kinda scary at the time. Anyway back to the Beautyful one. She moved over farther on the cupola to the east side still looking around and down.

Once again while I was tweeting I missed Beauty fly off and so I frantically left and started driving the perimeter of Kodak Office when I got a message from Donna that Beauty had gone to the nestbox and Archer was now out. I never saw that mystery falcon again and so I went to city hall once again after not finding Archer near the Broad St. bridge area. He wasn’t on the Frontier Communications Tower either but suddenly I saw that guy again, the one that gave me the look and he was staring at me and walking toward the truck again. As if my heart wasn’t pounding enough already he came up to my passenger side window as I was trying to ignore him and said I want to talk to you. With that I hit the lock button and put the window down about 2 inches and asked what he wanted. He said are you following me and I said no,then he asked if I was taking pics of him and I said no I’m taking pics of Peregrine falcons. He said what are those I told him and then he didn’t believe me so I showed him the pics of Beauty on Kodak he still didn’t believe me. He said he could be from the CIA or FBI and that I should be careful of what I take pics of. I showed him all the pics in my camera from the morning and he said you could have it in another file. Trust me if I can do that I don’t know how, I told him it was all good and that I wasn’t taking pics of him. He still wouldn’t believe me and so I said I gotta go and I peeled outta there. Good grief! I did a quick drive around the city looking for Archer with no sign of him I decided to go to KP. At first I didn’t see anything but I eventually spotted a figure on the northeast side of the tall still railing.

I wasn’t sure it was Unity from this vantage point so I went to the east end of the parking lot for a better view and I was quite sure I was looking at Unity.

I watched her for awhile and then she flew off to the north and out of sight. I surveyed the entire power plant for about half hour with no more sightings and left to end my adrenalin rushing watch. 🙂

For more pics of my watch go here: http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=300047832213%3A382681729&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharer

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Archer was on the eggs when I checked the cams before going on my watch today.  When I got downtown Archer was on top of the fire escape ladder on the Wilder building.

Obviously he and Beauty switched on the eggs while I was in commute. i watched him for about 15 minutes preening and looking over his territory. Well, this one anyway. He flew off heading directly north.

I knew where I had to go…Kodak park. When I arrived I found Unity on the tall still tucked in and Archer was on the east stack lower catwalk.

As I checked my tweets I found that I had wrongly reported Archer on the tall still and Unity on the stack, sorry. After about 40 minutes Archer took off heading west and Unity followed him to the end of the complex we can’t see from lot 77.  10 minutes later I spotted one of them flying from behind the stills and landing on the north side of the west stack lower catwalk where again I couldn’t see it but I knew it was there cuz it didn’t fly back into view. A few minutes later I spotted Archer up on the blue cage-like structure that sits atop the duct that goes from the plant to the east stack.

I could hear alot of vocalizing going at this time tho I wasn’t sure who was talking since I could only see Archer. He flew down in front of the ORB and I never saw him re-surface. I found Unity on the lower catwalk of the east stack momentarily and then she flew to the southwest corner of the blue building.

Unity flew off while I wasn’t looking and I spotted a falcon flying south and then I found Unity back on the east stack so I assumed Archer was the one I saw flying south and had left to go back downtown. I lost track of her and after 25 minutes of no falcon sightings I thought I better get back downtown in case she had followed Archer. As I was coming down State St. I could see that there was a falcon on the Frontier Communications Tower. I drove over to Church street and upon closer inspection I could see that it was Beauty.

The Beautyful one flew off without me seeing and just then LarryO stopped by to get the scoop. Beauty didn’t come right back so I went over to Broad St. and so did Larry. She wasn’t around Times Square or Mercury so I decided to go speak to Larry before heading home. We discussed the egg hatch situation and he seemed to think that if the eggs were no good then Beauty would know and would stop incubating. Let’s keep our fingers crossed on that one. As I crossed N.Plymouth on Broad St. I looked to the west/back side of FCT to see that Beauty had faked me out and returned to it after I went looking for her. I continued on my way home with a smile on my face. 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

I checked the cam before I left for my watch and Beauty was still on the eggs. When I arrived on the Broad St. bridge at 5:40am Dan was already there. We spoke about the eggs and Beauty,Unity and Archer. We feel really bad that there may not be any hatches this year due to the stress our resident females have endured. We have all been quietly fearful of this happening for awhile keeping it to ourselves. Because of the double duty on Archers part the natural cycles of our females has no doubt been compromised. Anyway, as bummed out as we are we continue to hope for a hatch and so I will get on with my report now. Here is a pic of Beauty on HSBC from yesterdays watch which I didn’t have much to report on nor the time to write it.

Dan said he saw a falcon fly to the nestbox at 5:35am but didn’t see one fly out. He decided to leave early after over an hour of not seeing any more falcons. Donna had let me know that Archer snuck into the nestbox at 6:35am and so I knew I would be searching for Beauty. After a few trips around the city without successI drove up to High Falls to enjoy the natural beauty that is there.

I will put the link at the end of this report of video I took of the falls that is still uploading. I needed to be getting home so I left there and had every intention of going straight home until I spotted the Beautyful one on the Frontier Communications Tower on my way through the intersection of N.Plymouth and Broad St.. She was up there on the west side railing of the platform looking big as life and gorgeous in the morning sun.

I watched her perch there for a few minutes with a full crop preening and relaxing and then I continued on my way home. 🙂

For more pics go here: http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=492851732213%3A927340641&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharer

To view my video of the High Falls go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcFWaSluQF8