By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

A gorgeous morning for a falcon watch with sunshine, blue skies and starting temperature of 59 (F) 15 (C)

My day started with the Seneca Towers pair on their early morning roosting spot-the top window ledge at the north end of the building. Billie was preening and Seth was looking around the vicinity.

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I thought about hanging with them for a while but changed my mind and I’m glad I did for I would have missed Genesee as he paid yet another visit to his home this morning.

As I was scoping out downtown from the Andrews St. bridge (ASB) with my binoculars I spotted a falcon on the base of Mercury so I left for the Broad St. bridge. When I got there it was gone so I drove over to the east side and checked around from Woodbury Blvd. On one of the southwest corners of Legacy Tower (formerly Bausch&Lomb) I noticed a little movement like a falcon that was eating. Then it stood up and walked to the back of the ledge and feaked before flying off around 7:30am. It was Genesee!

He circled the top of the building a few times attempting to land on different spots. Genesee did come to rest on the red lights south side of the glass roof for a  nano second then flew off again circling  a couple more times before disappearing behind the building. I didn’t see him again.

I believe Genesee came home looking for cached food and found some up there on Legacy Tower then left town again. I have to wonder how many more times he’ll show up. As I’ve said before-he can come back as much as he wants as far as I’m concerned. After checking the east side I went back thru downtown and ended up on the Andrews St. bridge again where I could see Dot.ca (DC) in the Powers building nest box and Beauty on her northeast cube on the Frontier Communications tower (FCT).

I drove over to check and make sure it was Beauty since she had her back to me but when I got there she was gone and so was DC. 5 minutes later as I was pulled over on the ASB again I spotted the Beautyful one back on the FCT cube and DC was right behind her on a cross beam in the red section below the platform. You couldn’t miss his whiteness!

I left for the City Hall parking lot for a closer view of them. DC preened a bit as Beauty just stand there perched and gazing at him.

I left to go down to Fitzhugh St. out in front of the Sister Cities parking garage so I could see the front of Beauty. From there I could barely see part of DC. Beauty started napping and they both had food in their crops so I decided to leave downtown around 8:30am.

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Next stop was the Medley Centre mall in Irondequoit where Big Frank was waiting for me on the pointed glass peak roof. She was looking especially big to me this morning as she stretched out her wings and picked at her talons from time to time.

I spent about an hour with her before calling it a watch at 9:30am. I saw 6 Peregrine Falcons this morning and of course that makes me smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

https://youtu.be/x_a8_bvbbNI

https://youtu.be/TVqAH48PZho

https://youtu.be/tilC_g3E6FY

https://youtu.be/nfT8ye3Jz6Y

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

A chilly start with a temperature of 58 (F) 14 (C) but a gorgeous morning with bright blue skies and sunshine

I started my day with Seth who was at the north end of Seneca Towers on the top window ledge where both he and I were looking up.

I left him for downtown and arrived on the Andrews St. bridge at 7am where I spotted both Beauty and Dot.ca (DC). She was at the Powers nest box and he was on the northeast corner of the Frontier Communications tower (FCT platform railing. Now when I say things happen fast in the Peregrine world I mean things happen fast because while I tweeted out my findings they both left. Beauty ended up on the northeast cue of FCT and I wasn’t sure where DC was at that time.

Now I will post the uncropped version and you will see DC on top of the dish at the lower left part of pic, which I totally missed until I started looking thru my pics on the computer.

So I went over to Fitzhugh St. in front of the Sister Cities parking garage which is on the south side of FCT to watch Beauty. DC was not on that dish when I got over there and for all I knew he had left the vicinity.

Well after a few minutes I decided to get my binocs out and give the tower a once over look. To my surprise there was the back of a PEFA on the cross bar near the dish below the Beautyful one. Guess who? The little sneaky guy DC.

I drove down to the City Hall parking lot to see the front of Mr. White to find that he blended in pretty good from the north side of the tower as well.

DC turned around a couple times then settled on facing the sun so I went back to my spot on Fitzhugh St. where I had a front view of both Beauty and DC.

Every once in a while Beauty would look down to check on DC. They both stretched and eventually closed their eyes for a nap. It was nice to see them hanging out together.

I left them to it and headed to the Medley Centre to see if Big Frank was around but he was not. I checked St. Ann’s Home on the way home to Seneca Towers but only saw a few pigeons. Arriving on East Ridge Rd. near St. Paul St. I could see that Seth was still on the north end of the building on the top window ledge where I left him earlier and it looked like he had food in his crop.

He seemed fixated on something over near the Veteran’s Memorial bridge so I left him to check it out. From the west side balcony on my 16th floor at Seneca Towers I found out just what Seth had been so interested in-his mate Buffalo Billie was on the south side bridge ledge with her back to me.

I figured while I was out there I might as well take a pic of the west side of the river gorge so y’all could see how much the leaves on the trees have changed colors so far.

And that’s all she wrote-a nice falcon watch that ended at 9am as I saw all 4 of our resident PEFA’s, which as you know, always produces a smile on this watchers face! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

https://youtu.be/vMPdJ48_pNw

https://youtu.be/6mC82gz5Wpk

https://youtu.be/CmyoV-mBi-Y

https://youtu.be/XZEzYDOhu8Y

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was 52 (F) 11 (C) with bright blue skies and sunshine after the sun came up

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I found Seth on the north end top window ledge as Billie flew from the northwest corner. I went around to my spot on Seth Green Dr. to find Billie on the south end antenna just before she flew off to the southeast.

I then spotted an unbanded male falcon on the Hawkeye railing in hunt mode. He pooped and stretched then flew off to the south out of view at 7:46am.

As I stopped on the Andrews St. bridge downtown I spotted Dot.ca (DC) on the top I-beam north corner of OCSR with his back to me at first and Beauty over on the northeast cube of the Frontier Communications Tower. DC moved to face me before I left to check out the Beautyful one but she was gone when I got over there.

I failed to find Beauty again and as I left downtown I saw that DC was still on OCSR. I checked the Medley Centre but no Big Frank today. I couldn’t stick around as I am shuffling off to Buffalo with Joyce this morning. I ended my watch at 9am smiling after seeing all 4 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons and a bonus unbanded tiercel! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

https://youtu.be/NFOQURxyUkw

https://youtu.be/p-aCCMnj8Ho

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Yay the rain has gone and the sun came out this morning with a temperature of 54 (F) 12 (C)

As I started my watch at the north end of the resident parking at Seneca Towers Seth was on the north side railing. Struggling to keep his footing with the busy breeze that was blowing.

A couple minutes passed then Billie floated in for a landing on the north side below the railing near the northwest corner.

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Half a minute after Billie joined him Seth flew off assisted by the wind like Billie was when she came in for her landing.

I left around 7am for downtown. I made one trip around and ended up on State St. watching Dot.ca (DC) who was perched on the southeast corner of the Kodak Office launchpad.

He turned around a couple times did some stretching and pooped.

DC flew off in a big hurry to the northeast at 7:26am and didn’t come back so I left to do a search .

I never found Beauty but from the Andrews St. bridge I spotted DC up in front of the Powers building nest box.

Pat tweeted that she had seen 2 falcons fly out from the elevator shaft of OCSR and were chasing each other with one screaming, possibly a third one was seen as well. I was already running late for an 8am appointment so I couldn’t go check things out. However, I ended my watch smiling after seeing 3 out of our 4 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons! 🙂

Click on the links below to view today’s videos

https://youtu.be/jqI_32NAXhY

https://youtu.be/NEdgLR-EP4Y

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

9:30 am – 3:00 pm

Dark, overcast, rainy and downright chilly!  I believe Joyce said it was 55 degrees (F) during our watch.

After receiving MAK’s tweet at 8:53 am that Big Frank(ie) (BF) had caught an adult duck for breakfast, I got ready as quickly as I could to join her.  I’ve seen pics of Peregrine Falcons with ducks, but have never seen it in person.  By the time arrived at the Medley Ctr Mall at 9:30 pm, MAK had reported that BF finished eating and left.  MAK was gone too.  Oh, well.

I drove around the mall and found Big Frank on the east end of the mall on the “E” on the Sears sign.

There was a small hole to the left of the sign with a pigeon in it.  A pigeon hole!  Big Frank was very interested in this little hole and the pigeon.  🙂

Joyce joined me as it started to rain even harder.  At 10:55 am, BF took off and flew over the mall roof.  We found her on the glass peaked roof.

I found the duck where MAK said it would be.  It was in the parking lot directly in front of the entrance leading into the carousel bldg.  There isn’t much traffic at this mall, but there are quite a few people that still use it.  So Joyce and I decided to move the duck to a safer spot.  This is why I carry disposable gloves with me at all times.  I put the duck on a grass median at the center of the south side parking lot.  It is in a spot where BF could retrieve it if she wants to.

Dana joined us on the watch.  Big Frank took off and flew low over the mall roof heading west.  We found her on a light pole between the old Macy’s store and Target. (11:35 am)

She took off again, heading east, back towards the mall.  She was chasing a pigeon.  We found her back on the glass peaked roof.  At 11:58 am she took off again, flying low over the mall roof.  This time she made contact with a pigeon and it flew down to the roof.  She followed.  Dana and I both drove around the mall trying to find her.

While I was looking for Big Frank, Larry O pulled up next to me.  We chatted for a few moments before he had to leave.

Dana found Big Frank on a security camera on the south side of the mall at 12:10 pm.  Joyce rejoined us.

From here, BF was looking down at the trees below.  There were a lot of small birds flitting about in them.

At 12:55 pm, Big Frank flew down and through the trees.  She then zipped up to the roof just above them.

The whole time I was on watch at the Medley Ctr, Big Frank was in hunt mode.  I find that very interesting since she caught and ate part of a duck just before I arrived.

She took off again and at approximately 1:40 pm, we found her eating on the corner just east of the carousel building.  I don’t believe whatever she had was a pigeon.  It was smaller.

It had been raining off and on most of the time we were there.  We watched Big Frank as she ate her meal.  She finished at 2:50 pm and took off heading east.  We lost sight of her as she passed over the tree line.

We waited to see if she would return.  She didn’t, so I ended my watch at 3:00 pm.  What a wonderful way to spend a cold, rainy day!

Joyce did check downtown on her way home and found both Beauty and Dot.ca.  Beauty was on the Kodak Tower and Dot.ca was in the OCSR elevator shaft.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Another chilly start with fog and a misty rain falling and a temperature of 56 (F) 13 (C)

I started my morning with Billie and Seth whom I found on the south end of the building on the top window ledge. Seth started out a couple feet away from Billie and then he walked over to the opposite corner.

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It seemed to be too breezy for Seth so he flew off and Billie followed right behind him. They initially went west but then made a U-turn and headed east out of view.

I headed downtown and found Dot.ca (DC) on the south side of the OCSR elevator shaft. Good thing is super white or I wouldn’t have been able to see him up there in his dark man cave with a misty rain falling.

I left him after a brief stay to look for Beauty. I found her on the east side of HSBC with her back to the world. She flew off to the south after 15-20 minutes at 7:38am.

When the Beautyful one didn’t return I went to the Strong Museum of Play parking lot to check buildings to the south but never found her again. I then returned to check on DC but he was gone from the elevator shaft. As I was leaving downtown I came across DC on the south side arch of Kodak Office-soon after he flew southwest and didn’t come back.

I headed over to the Medley Center a little after 8am and found Big Frank (BF) on one of the glass peaked roofs from the north side parking lot. I started to tape her when she flew off to the west out of sight.

I then drove around to the south side of the mall where, to my surprise, I found her on the ground in the parking lot near the entrance to the mall where the carousel is located mantling prey. At first I thought it was a pigeon but then she revealed it to me-a female Mallard Duck and it was still alive!!!

The poor duck put up quite a fight but BF eventually delivered the killing blow and started plucking feathers. She moved it a couple times, dragging it across the pavement like she wanted to fly off with it but decided it was too heavy for that and started eating again.

BF spent about 40 minutes eating and when she had her fill she flew off to the west at 9:08am.

It was misting pretty hard at this time so perhaps that’s why Big Frank left when she did and landed on the roof just west of where she had been. A very nice gentleman, Dick Colt, joined me at this point to watch. BF cleaned up a bit then flew off at 9:12am heading north.

Dick and I chatted for a few minutes then he left and I made a quick trip around the mall but didn’t find our duck hawk as they are also called. I ended my watch at 9:25am as my blood sugar was low and I had to get home to eat something. I must say that our newest addition from Canada to the Rochester falcon scene surely is giving us watchers a lot to see and putting a great big smile on this watchers face! 🙂

As always click on the links below to see today’s videos. I must warn those of you who have a weak stomach that the videos of Big Frank are graphic

https://youtu.be/AsmLQM5YPm0

https://youtu.be/av_NnDJWAWU

https://youtu.be/AhhIKzLUmMk

https://youtu.be/Y3gLyJIJilw

https://youtu.be/449SCG1-OKg

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a dark, rainy morning with a temperature 0f 53 (F)  12 (C)

I wasn’t surprised when I checked the north end of Seneca Towers top window ledge and found nobody on it as I figured Billie and Seth were taking cover from the rain somewhere. However, I did find Seth on the south end top window ledge as I was about to exit my parking lot.

About a minute later he crouched down as they do when another falcon is approaching and started chirping just like Dot.ca (DC) as Billie flew in to join him.

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I wasn’t going to stay out too long because of the rain as the falcons don’t do much in wet conditions so I moved along to check downtown. When I didn’t see anyone from the Andrews St. bridge I went straight over to the Radisson Hotel to check the OCSR elevator shaft-DC was on the north side ledge eating.

The rain was coming down pretty good at that point so I put my window up and left to search for Beauty. From Woodbury Blvd. I spotted her on the south side of HSBC near the southeast corner with her back to me.

I went over to Chestnut St. by the Martin Luther King Jr. park for a closer look but the rain was blowing at me thru the window getting my camera much too wet for my liking.

So I left there and went to the Strong Museum of Play parking lot where I could position my car to better block the sideways rain from coming right at me.

In my travels I didn’t see any prey birds out and about so I figured the Beautyful one would be up there for a while until an opportunity to catch something presented itself. I left for Irondequoit to look for Big Frank at the Medley Centre-no luck there so I went home where I found Buffalo Billie and Seth still on the top south window ledge. I bid them farewell and ended my watch at 8:30am smiling after a wet but successful watch in which I saw all 4 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons! 🙂

Click on the link below to see my short snippet movie from this mornings watch

https://youtu.be/PwXkx7-qRWw

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a cool start with a temperature of 53 (F) 12 (C) but once the sun rose it warmed up quickly

I dedicate this watch report to the victims of the World Trade Center attack 14 years ago and their loved ones

Billie and Seth were on the top north window ledge as I started the day with their backs to me. I couldn’t tell who was who this morning.

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Arriving on the Andrews St. bridge at 7am I found Beauty on the bottom arm of the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) and Dot.ca (DC) on the base of Mercury eating.

First I went over to the City Hall parking lot to see Beauty then I drove to the Broad St. bridge to join DC as he ate his breakfast.

It took DC about 10 minutes to finish up and then he turned around and went to the other side of the green base to start cleaning up.

DC made the preys’ feathers fly when he flew down to the northeast corner of the base to finish feaking before he flew off to the north at around 7:25am.

I found Beauty to still be on the FCT arm so I stayed with her as I parked in the City Hall lot again. She napped a little, preened and stretched.

She turned around to face the south so I went down Fitzhugh St. near Church St. to continue observing her. The Beautyful one didn’t stay facing me for long, so when she turned her back to me I left to look for DC in the OCSR elevator shaft.

He wasn’t there or anywhere else that I could find him. While I was on the Andrews St. bridge I saw Beauty fly from FCT heading southeast in a hurry. I lost track of her as a big truck passed me blocking my view momentarily. I wasn’t able to find another falcon either downtown , at the Medley Centre or Seneca Towers thus ending my watch at 9:10am. It was a successful watch as I saw our 4 resident Peregrine Falcons and that’s always good enough to make me smile! 🙂

As always click on the links below to see today’s videos

https://youtu.be/n-DFPDxkAi0

https://youtu.be/yWF74PrOoN0

https://youtu.be/qOHdX4S0HMA

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

What a difference a day makes.  From 90+ degrees, hot, hazy and humid, to 70 degrees and no humidity at all.  Such a welcome change.

This morning I was meeting an old friend for breakfast near the Medley Ctr.  So, I made sure that I got there a little early so I could hopefully find a falcon at the mall.  Not only did I find a falcon there, but I found fellow watcher Dana already on the scene.  I joined her watching Big Frank on the white vent cap on the carousel roof for about 15 minute before I had to leave. (8:10 am)

After breakfast, at 10:45 am, I went back to the mall and found Big Frank on the same spot, but no Dana.

Big Frank (BF) took off, heading east, low over the mall roof.  I drove around to the north side and found Dana there.  She had seen BF fly low over the roof and down towards the east end.  We drove around and Dana was the first to find her over a doorway on the east end of the mall.  Larry joined us and was happy to meet Big Frank for the first time.  🙂

While we were watching Big Frank, she was watching the sparrows in the bushes and trees below her.  Finally, she spread her wings and took off at 12:08 pm, flying low over us heading east.  Dana and I drove around attempting to find Big Frank, but we never did.

I decided to head downtown and found Dot.ca up inside the OCSR elevator shaft on the south side ledge. (1:20 pm)

I drove around looking for Beauty.  From the Andrews St Bridge, I spotted a falcon on the Frontier Communication Tower, 2nd arm.

I was just getting ready to head over to get a closer look at this falcon when I heard a juvie vocalizing.  The falcon on FCT took off heading south, then a falcon came back and landed on FCT below the platform.  A 2nd one flew by and the FCT falcon took off after it.  They were talon tagging and flying off to the west.  I did drive over to the west side of the city to look, but could not find them.  The talon tagging did not look very aggressive.

A quick check of the OCSR elevator shaft, Dot.ca was gone.  Back to the Andrews St Bridge.  From there, I could see Dot.ca at the Powers Bldg nest box.

He only stayed there for a few moments.  I kept watch for another 1/2 hour, but did not see any more falcons.  All was quiet.

Here are some pictures from my Monday, September 7th watch.

It was a very warm day, near 90 degrees (F).  I found Beauty on the gorge wall cooling down in the spray from the High Falls.

At the Medley Center, Big Frank was hunkered down on the white vent cap on top of the carousel roof.  There were a lot of pigeons flying around and landing on the building and light poles.  It was like watching a cat ready to pounce on all the pigeons that flew by.  You can see why a Peregrine Falcon would choose this area for its’ hunting ground.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a much more comfortable morning with way less humidity, mostly cloudy overcast skies and a temperature of  62 (F) 17 (C)

Seth was all by himself on the north end top window at Seneca Towers when I started my watch this morning.

When I arrived on the Andrews St. bridge(ASB))at705am Beauty was on the middle arm of the Frontier Communications tower (FCT). I drove over to the City Hall parking lot for a closer view as she preened and looked around her surroundings.

At 7:33am I heard chirping as Beauty flew off to the south side of FCT. Dot.ca (DC)came in with prey and as I went down to Fitzhugh St. in front of the Sister Cities parking garage I could see Beauty on the southwest cube and DC on the beam with prey. He soon walked over to the southeast cube with it.

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DC seemed to be having trouble handling the prey.  He fiddled around with it, pooped, then turned around and flew off to the southeast. Less than a minute later Beauty flew the same direction around 7:40am.

I followed suit and found Beauty on the base of Mercury. She took off soon after I arrived on Bank Place where it meets Aqueduct St. in the hole. I watched her go after a gull above the Phillipone building then fly north above State St.

Next I spotted DC on the east side top railing of the Powers building from the ASB. I went to Corinthian St. across from the Powers building for a closer look.

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After a minute or so DC flew off behind the railing out of view. I don’t know if he went to the nest box or not from my vantage point but when I went back to the City Hall parking lot where I could see the nest box it looked like Beauty was out in front of it and then she disappeared.

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I decided to go over to the ASB for a better view in the nest box and while I was stuck in traffic I watched DC fly from near Powers to the south corner top I-beam of OCSR. I bypassed the ASB and went to the hole where I could be somewhat closer to DC.

After a couple minutes DC walked a few feet down the west side of the I-beam. Around this time Carol tweeted that she and Dana had an adult falcon on the carousel roof vent cap at the Medley Centre.

It was around 8:20am as I got a message from Donna that Beauty was back on the southwest cube of FCT so I left DC to confirm. Thanks! Sure enough she was there when I got over to Fitzhugh St.

I left her after a brief stay to head for home. As I was crossing the Veteran’s Memorial bridge I spotted Billie on the west side railing and Seth on the top north end window ledge of Seneca Towers. I went to my spot on East Ridge Rd. to take a couple pics of Seth before heading over to my spot on Seth Green Dr. to check out Billie real quick.

I ended my watch at 9am with a smile after seeing our 4 Rochester Peregrine Falcons! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

https://youtu.be/KsvMrCxSIH8

https://youtu.be/c9fnC4Uqwk4

https://youtu.be/tJu2HNUmr30

https://youtu.be/J-VfkOBG5KQ