From Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Lots of Watchers were out this weekend looking for Mariah, Archer and Beauty.  I had no luck finding Mariah, but Archer and Beauty were hanging out near the Times Square nest box.  I’ve put tother a KGallery album to share.  The first few pictures are of Archer and Beauty from this morning (Sunday, 8/23).  The rest of the pictures are of things I’ve seen over the past week.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=171aim5l.8j05m0vp&x=0&y=9eja2o&localeid=en_US

Enjoy!

Carol P.

From Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

It was a really hot, humid day today, so Dan and I planned on getting out to Kodak Park early this morning to hopefully see Mariah or the unbanded Juvie.

Dan and I were sitting on the street on the gorge side (east) of KP. At 7:15 am, Mariah flew in from the south, low over us and then up to the Research Lab Bldg. where she circled the building and landed on the antenna.

For 45 minutes we were able to get really close looks at her through the scope.   Her left leg was bandless, but I was unable to see the right leg to verify the blue/yellow band.

I am 99.9% sure this was Mariah. It looked like Mariah.

Kathy O joined me near the building and took a look through the scope. She agreed that it was Mariah.

At 8:00 am, she flew off of the building and headed towards the gorge. We
didn’t see her again after that.

It was wonderful seeing her looking so well.  She was beautiful in the early morning light.  

Needless to say, Dan, Kathy and I will be out again tomorrow morning.

Afterwards, I picked up Brian H, and we drove around downtown. We found Archer on the Widows Peak building. No Beauty sightings.

Carol P

From Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Tonite, Lynda and I kept Watch on the west side of Kodak Park, with the sun behind us.  It was a gorgeous evening.

We kept a close eye on all the birds flying through the area.  Pigeons, Gulls, Geese, Startlings, etc, etc.

At 7:30 pm, Lynda told me that she saw a bird flying on the far side (east) of Kodak Park.  The bird was flying over the gorge, circling higher and higher.  It was definitely a Peregrine Falcon (good eye Lynda!) and it was definitely on a hunt.  I’m fairly certain that it was an adult, but because the bird was so far from us, I never saw a split wing tip.

For about 10 minutes we watched as the Peregrine circled above the river gorge.  The Falcon then headed north, following the gorge.

We waited for awhile to see if the Falcon would return.  No such luck.

Lynda was going to head downtown and I headed north down Lake Ave, towards the lake.  I had hoped to find the Falcon, but again, no such luck.

We’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this area.  I hope to see Mariah and the unbanded juvenile again soon.

From Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Well, after a Mariah-less weekend (and believe me I tried!), on my way into work today, I spotted a Falcon (which I believe was Mariah) up on the same antenna (Research Lab Bldg, Kodak Park) this morning at 6:40 am.

I only had a moment before I had to be on my way. As I was taking a look at her in the beautiful morning sun, she spread her wings and stooped off of the building, low. She zipped around the building and headed in my direction, quickly veering off and heading low to the south.

I never saw her come back up, but pigeons scattered everywhere! I wished her good hunting and went on my way.

What a wonderful way to start my day!

Carol P.

From Rochester Falcon Watcher ~Joyce

Saturday was a quiet day for peregrine falcons.  Watchers Carol P and Brian were up at Kodak Park in the morning – no sighting of Mariah.  I met Dawn, Carol P, Brian, Suzanne & Don (from Ithaca), & Jeannetta on the Pedestrian bridge by the gorge.  It was hot in the sun, an no one had see any falcons.  Around 4:00 pm, Carol P spotted a falcon flying around Old Changing Scenes (OCS).

It was all quiet again, we all left the bridge and Dawn, Brian and I took Casey & Bullet for some doggie playtime at the fountain near HSBC.  Brian and I headed back to Kodak Park, still no sign of Maraih.  On my way home, I decided to check out Kodak Tower.  From 8-9 pm, there sat Beauty on the NE corner of the launch pad. 

(Click on pictures for separate view, then click again to enlarge.)

Back at the bridge I ran into Kristen, Scott & Nico out for a family watch with their scope.  We saw Archer fly around the High Falls stack and try to land twice on the ladder that goes up the side.  He reminded me of the juvies that would try to land there.  Then Archer flew south, flapping all the way to OCS, and disappeared up the elevator shaft.

From Rochester Falcon Watcher ~ Joyce

http://picasaweb.google.com/wnyfalconwatcher/72809MariahAfterSunset#

Finally!  All three Falcons seen today.  This is the first time in awhile that I am able to post an M and A/B Falcon Watch report.  Yay!

It was a beautiful warm evening, so I decided to head downtown for an evening Falcon Watch.  I arrived at the east end of the pedestrian bridge around 6:30 pm.  No Watchers were there at first, but Kathy O soon joined me.  She had already checked the downtown area and found Beauty on the south side of the old Changing Scenes Restaurant.

At 7:30 pm, we decided to see if we could find Archer and Beauty.  Beauty was on the south side of the Wilder Bldg and just as I parked my car, she took off heading north west.  We followed and found both Archer and Beauty on the Communication Tower.  Beauty and Archer took off.  We found Archer on the NW corner of the Kodak Tower Launch pad. He went off on a hunt, heading west and soon returned empty taloned.  We followed him back out to the Communication Tower.

It was after 8:00 pm and time for me to head home.  Kathy O called to say that Joyce and Casey were out on the bridge.  She was going to let Joyce know where Archer was (on the platform of the Comm Twr) and then head home herself.

As you all know, the Watchers have all been checking out the areas north of Kodak Office, looking for Mariah.  Tonite was no exception.

On my way home, I headed down State St, to Lake Ave, heading north.  I always check out the taller buildings of Kodak Park and tonite I saw something suspicious on the Research Lab Bldg.  I turned left onto the next street and parked my car.

At 8:15 pm, the light was fading.  I took a quick look at the building and the object I thought was a bird was structure on the building.  Well, darn.  But, what was that on the antenna?  A Crow, a Red-tail Hawk?  Did I dare hope that it was a Peregrine?  My binoculars gave me a view of a dark bird.  Hmmmmm.  I quickly took a few pictures and pulled my car further down the street to get a better look.

I parked in front of a house where the owner checked me out from the front door.  I told him I was checking out a bird on the Kodak bldg and did he mind if I set-up my scope?  Nope, that was fine.

So with shaking hands, I excitedly set up the new Watcher scope (thanks everyone!) and got my first good look at an adult Peregrine Falcon!  Yes!  I first called Kathy O and then Joyce.  They soon joined me, along with the owner of the house, Tom, who was thoroughly enjoying all the excitement.

From 8:15 until 9:00 pm, Mariah preened, stretched, pooped and looked all around her.  I was able to see her one band and the darker coloring on her upper chest where the wound was located.  I couldn’t see the colored tape on her band due to the low light, but I am quite sure that this was Mariah.  Kathy and Joyce agreed.

At 9:00 pm Mariah stretched her wings and flew off of the antenna, flying low between the buildings heading west.  We did not see her reappear, but I assume she was probably off on a hunt.  There are a lot of pigeons around Kodak Park.

It wasn’t long before we were being bitten up by mosquitoes.  After all the rain we’ve had, they’re out in full force.  Darn pesky critters.

We all said our goodbyes.  We were so excited seeing Mariah looking so good.  Although she isn’t currently in her territory, she’s chosen a wonderful spot, with a view of the gorge on the east side and probably a view of Kodak Office off to the south.  🙂

Carol P.

From Rochester Falcon Watch Carol P:

Noon – Watchers Lisa McK, Larry O, Dan S, Kristen, her son Nico, and Carol P. One Falcon on the communication tower below the platform. Juvenile Red-tail Hawk in a tree in the gorge and 2 adult RTH’s soaring above.

6:30 – 8:30 pm – Watchers Kathy O, Joyce and Carol P. Falcon on the Kodak Tower, launch pad, NW corner. We believe it was Archer. He walked around to the SE corner and we followed (by car ;-). Now parked on the east side of the Kodak Tower, we had a good view of him. He was being harassed by a Robin way up there. Brave little guy. The Robin I mean. 🙂

I looked down for a moment and when I looked back up, Archer was gone.  Joyce did see him leave. He stooped into the gorge, heading north east. We waited to see if he would return, but he didn’t and it was time to head home.

No sign of Beauty or Mariah.

Carol P.

From Rochester Falcon Watcher ~ Joyce

Sunday’s watchers were Brian, Lynda, Carol P, Kathy O, Joyce, Dan, Dawn, Shaky, Carrie, Jeanne, Carla, and Marcia.

12:30-2:00 pm – SE Corners of Kodak Tower:  Archer on 16th floor, Beauty on 17th floor – Watchers were on Platt and State Street.

Archer took off heading northwest and the watchers decided to drive around to the east end of the bridge.  We speculated that Archer saw Mariah coming in.  Carol P. and Kathy O saw A&B flying around the gorge in a manner just like the juvies used to, even buzzing gulls.  Brian & Joyce spotted Mariah on the east side launch pad.

At 2:50 – all was quiet.  Mariah was laying flat on the launch pad, only her tail was visible through Carol’s scope.  Archer was on the gorge wall below the observation deck, and Beauty was in the Shady Tree with her back towards Archer.  Because of the foliage it was difficult to see her from the bridge.

About 5:10 – Archer decided to fly the gorge.  He landed on the “beach” (the rocks on the island next to the building).  He was off again, showing off to Beauty, and at 5:23 pm landed on the Gorsline Building (the red one across the gorge).  He continued flying along the tops of the trees on the east side and then landed on Skye’s building (Genesee Brewery).

Close to 5:30 pm the skies got busy.  I was taking pictures of Archer on Skye’s building when he flew off heading north.  At the same time – Brian’s take was that Beauty got too close to the Tower, and Mariah came off after her.  According to Dan, aggression was shown, and talons up.  He wasn’t sure who was chasing who.  Archer joined Mariah and Beauty and all three were seen flying around the large apartment building seen to the north from the bridge.  At 5:33 pm one falcon (looked large) landed on the apartment building and two were still flying around.  Even though there were a number of watchers on the bridge, no one could tell who was who in the distance. 

At 5:50 pm Beauty came back and and circled Kodak Tower eventually landing on the launch pad.  Mariah was not seen again, and we all suspect Mariah flew north, as she does so often.  All was quiet again.  A&B went back to Times Square nestbox together. 

At 7:30 pm Archer was on the communication tower, and the watch ended.

From Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P:

After the noon hour Watch with Lisa McK, Shaky, Sue(Bess) and I, with only one Falcon sighting on the old Changing Scenes Restaurant, I decided to head downtown for an evening Watch. It seems that Mariah is much more active at this time.

When I arrived around 7:00 pm, I drove around the Kodak Tower and finally spotted Mariah on the North side of the catwalk on the High Falls Smoke Stack. I parked near the BeeBee Plant where I had a good view of Mariah. The RG&E guard approached me from the other side of the fence. He told me that I couldn’t take pictures there. I pointed out Mariah’s position and told him I would only take pictures of her.

A Robin landed about a foot away from Mariah on the catwalk railing and started “chatting”. Over and over and over and over again, it went on for a long time.  Finally, Mariah had enough.  She spread her wings and moved towards the Robin. It flew off and Mariah remained on the catwalk. There was quiet for a few moments and then the Robin returned.

Around 8 pm, Mariah spread her wings and took off, heading east over the river.  I quickly jumped into my car and drove to the east end of the pedestrian bridge.

Just as I was parking my car, a pigeon fell to the ground and fluttered towards the end of the pedestrian bridge. Hmmmm, what was that all about?

I looked up at the older section of the old Cataract brewery building that we now call Skye’s Bldg and saw that Mariah had successfully hunted.  She was standing on another pigeon. After a few moments, Mariah took off with her catch and landed on the Genessee Brewery roof, just out of sight.

I quickly checked on the downed pigeon and found a very frightened, youngster.  Puffs of fuzzy down still stuck to his/her head. Definitely a nestling that was very near to taking it’s first flight. Mariah’s hunt scared the little one into an early fledge. I found a rehabber that would take it and gently picked it up in a towel and put it into a box I carried in my car for this purpose. I hope s/he’ll be ok.  (7/18 update – the young Pigeon is doing well.  🙂

Back to Mariah. Just before I left, I noticed that about 7 Crows had gathered around where I knew Mariah had taken the pigeon. They cawed over and over, very loudly. I left Mariah with her meal and her gang of Crows to take the pigeon to the rehabber.

I made a quick trip around the Kodak Tower on my way home and found Mariah back on the north side of the High Falls smoke stack Catwalk with her little bird friend chattering away. LOL That was a little after 9 pm.

Another enjoyable Watch!

Carol P.