By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

I’m ready for warmer temps as it was -4 (F) -20 (C) when I stepped out for my watch this morning with overcast skies

Click on the pics to see the full version

I found Dot.ca on the top I-beam southeast side of OCSR when I first arrived downtown this morning at 6:45am as I was checking the elevator shaft.

I left him to it as I left to look for his Beautyful mate, driving straight down Main St. to get to Elm St. where I can check the north and east side of Legacy Tower (LT) formerly known as Bausch & Lomb. Beauty was right up there on one of the northeast corners eating her breakfast.

Beauty finished up soon after I arrived, did a little feaking then flew west. I tweeted it out then left to find out where she went.

I went to the Radisson Hotel by Main St. to check the north side of the OCSR elevator shaft-Beauty was already there and just as I turned the car off DC I spotted DC flying up to the south side ledge, thus joining her. I went down farther in the hotel driveway to where I could see both Beauty and DC. At first they were feaking and cleaning up, then Beauty turned her back to me

<Click it> <DC

I stayed for a few minutes and once they seemed settled I left for home to check Seneca Towers for Billie and 99. I was not disappointed as I stopped in the Northridge Church parking lot for a look/see at the north end of the building. Billie was on the top window ledge and 99 was on his way up there to join her landing with his back to me.

Just a few minutes later as I finished tweeting it out they both took off fast to the north with 99 leading the way over the river past the trees at Seneca Park Zoo and out of view. When they didn’t return I went over to the zoo road to check the Kodak buildings across the river on Lake Ave.  I didn’t find them so I continued on down back behind the zoo to Seneca Park to check on the water birds in the mostly frozen pond. The gang was all there and then some. I was lucky enough to see for the first time ,a Great Black-billed Gull who had caught itself a nice sized fish.

<Click on all these pics to see the full version

First thing I noticed were the black wings and the size of this gull-it is the largest gull in the world. Not until another regular sized gull came into the picture did I realize just how huge the black-winged one was! He ate at the belly of the fish then picked it up and swallowed the rest right down. He turned around, flew off to the south and never looked back!

What a great way to end my watch at 9am-as if seeing all 4 Rochester Peregrine Falcons wasn’t already enough to make me smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/Q4l6EeRD3S0

http://youtu.be/UJkQ7-f3LH4

http://youtu.be/cXS5CCMD7Po

http://youtu.be/1bVfyYQOTio

http://youtu.be/lCifChMRvX0

There is one more video of Beauty and DC that I’m having issues with-if I can get it to upload I will add that link to this report later

http://youtu.be/wLKwOEmhTsU

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was 5 (F) -15 (C) with overcast skies – the sun did peak out for a few minutes but it was short-lived. I saw a sun dog as I was crossing the Driving Park Bridge

So I checked everywhere for our downtown dynamic duo. Last place to look – Kodak Office. They were both on the south side arch. I tweeted it out and when I looked back up they were gone but not for long as they flew in from the east. Dot.ca (DC) landed on the west side of the arch (he had been on the east side originally) and Beauty landed below him on the playpen floor.

Beauty stayed there for a couple minutes then flew up to join DC on the arch at which point I heard echupping.

The Beautyful one foofed up her feathers to keep warm and started closing her eyelids while DC was preening and looking around the area.

Soon after Beauty tucked her head over her shoulder into her wing for a nice nap. DC did some extensive preening then he started closing his eyes to nap.

This is how I left them after a short watch as I had some things to attend to this morning. I drove past Seneca Towers to check for Billie and 99 but they weren’t there. I ended my watch around 8:15am. Keep smiling people I just know that spring is going to break out one of these days! 🙂

Click on the links below to view today’s videos

http://youtu.be/82Qiksz6zLI

http://youtu.be/sC7Tu-dV4iY

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

9:45 am to 1:00 pm

*Be sure to click on any pics you would like to see larger.*

It was cold, but much warmer than it has been recently.  Temps in the teens, the sun was shining and I was free to go downtown for a falcon watch!

I first checked out the Kodak Tower.  Beauty was up on the south east corner of the launch pad, soaking up the sun.

I checked out the other sides of the tower, but could not find Dot.ca there.  So, I headed downtown, where I first checked out the OCSR elevator shaft.  It was hard to see, but I do believe Dot.ca was on the south side ledge.  I left the Radisson and drove over to the Broad St Bridge.  I wanted to check out the river.  It was mostly ice, but there were a few small areas of open water which were being used by a few different types of ducks, a bunch of Ring-billed Gulls and one Canada Goose.

After checking out the river on both sides of the Broad St Bridge, I headed back to Kodak Office where I found both Beauty and Dot.ca.  Beauty was still on the SE corner of the launchpad and Dot.ca was just below her on the SE corner of the netting that covered the old Mariah and Kaver Playpen.

First Beauty and then Dot.ca took off heading north east.  Eventually they both returned.  Dot.ca landed on the SE corner of the launch pad and Beauty was now below him on the SE corner of the playpen.

While Beauty and Dot.ca were settled on the Kodak Tower, I decided to head out to the pedestrian bridge to check out the gorge. It was an icy, winter wonderland.  The views were spectacular.  This was my view of the Beauty and Dot.ca on the Kodak Tower.

Here are some pictures of what I saw in the icy Genesee River Gorge, while I continued my falcon watch from there.

The Smith St Bridge, just north of the pedestrian bridge, was closed.  The city was clearing the snow from the city streets and dumping it from this bridge onto the ice covered river below.  There were two HUGE piles of snow below the bridge on top of the river ice.

Beauty and Dot.ca remained on the Kodak Tower.  All was peaceful in their world on this sunny, winter day.  Before leaving the pedestrian bridge, I stopped at the east end and looked once more at the beautiful High Falls.  I glanced down at the bowed tree that jutted out from the east side gorge wall.  This old tree, that has been a resting spot for most of the Rochester falcons, adults and fledglings, continues to survive.  I was daydreaming, thinking about all the young falcons that had landed there.  That’s when I spotted a Red-tailed Hawk flying towards me along the east side gorge wall.  It swooped up and landed on the bowed tree just in front of me.  It was a juvenile RTH.  Wow!  So beautiful!  I took a few pictures before it took off and flew back to the south.  What a wonderful way to end my downtown falcon watch!

On my way home, I did check out Hawkeye and the Seneca Tower Apartments.  I had no luck finding Billie or 99.

I will leave you with a few pictures of the young Red-tailed Hawk that visited me on the bowed tree.  Enjoy!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

The temperature was 14(F) -10(C) when I ventured out this morning. It was somewhat overcast to start but the sun managed to break thru a bit-the wind was calm

Click on pics to see the full version

I first checked the south side of the OCSR elevator shaft from Bragdon Place and found it empty and when I drove to the other end of the Radisson Hotel by Main St. to check the north side I didn’t have to look for both Beauty and Dot.ca (DC) were on the 2nd I-beam of OCSR. DC was eating and had a full crop while Beauty was further down toward the south corner watching him.

<Click it

This lasted a few minutes then Beauty decided she wanted some of DC’s meal and flew down to join him.

There wasn’t much left and DC didn’t seem to want to share at first as he grabbed the biggest chunk and backed up. Beauty started eating little bits that were on the I-beam. DC finished then turned around and ran/walked away from Beauty toward the elevator shaft to do some feaking while she finished off his leftovers.

When she was done, Beauty flew down to the end of the 2nd I-beam by the elevator shaft, then up to the ledge between the building and the elevator shaft.

<Click it

This lasted about half a minute as they both flew south rather quickly. When I got turned around to look Beauty was on one side of the base of Mercury and DC on the opposite side. I drove around to the Broad St. bridge but when I got there DC had left and gone up under the northeast wing of Times Square (TSB).

<Click it

Beauty then flew to cam 1 (pan cam) and while I was driving down to the hole she visited the nest box as reported by cam watcher Donna. Thanks-I didn’t see where she went from cam 1 and when I got to the hole I only saw DC under the northeast wing at 7:35am.

Perhaps Beauty thought DC would join her at their snowy nest box for some bowing. While I was tweeting, the Beautyful one flew up to join DC under the wing-they were face to face and I think she was wanting to do some bonding with him but he kept looking away toward OCSR and his man cave.

Beauty and DC snuck off Times Square while I was tweeting. I found Beauty on Kodak Office on the southeast corner of the launchpad. She had her back to me from State St. so I ended up on Verona St. where I had a better angle on her.

I left her to find DC and headed straight over to Bragdon St. to check the south side ledge of the OCSR elevator shaft and there he was in his man cave ready to sleep off his breakfast.

I had to smile about that as I left him to it-Beauty was still on KO as I passed by on my way home to Seneca Towers, where I saw no falcons today thus ending my watch at 8:35am. 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/Qd_XzPOP1jM

http://youtu.be/m10lqCLkvXg

http://youtu.be/0leziUKBfRU

http://youtu.be/AZof7vIoh6s

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a dreary, overcast morning with a starting temperature of 8(F) -13(C). By the end of my watch it was snowing and the temperature had risen a few degrees

Click on the pics to see the full version

After checking the OCSR elevator shaft (nobody there) I went over to Elm St. to check Legacy Tower (LT) formerly known as Bausch & Lomb. I found Beauty on a northwest corner eating. I chose to get closer to her by going up to the roof (8th floor) of the South Ave. garage. She finished up soon after, cleaned up a bit then took off toward OCSR disappearing behind it to the north as I was taping her.

I left to check things out from the Andrews St. bridge and spotted the Beautyful one on the top I-beam northwest side of OCSR. I drove down State St. parking across from the Rochester Plaza Hotel to observe our downtown queen. She was sleepy and after dozing and doing a little preening she turned her back to me and stayed that way for the remainder of the time I was downtown.

I left her to it as I set out to look for Dot.ca (DC) who gave me a hard time finding him today. I found pigeons all lined up on window ledges huddled together trying to stay warm and a gull laying on top of a light post.

On my 4th trip around the city I stopped for coffee and decided to go to the hole to check the Wilder green strip which I hadn’t checked and as I pulled down Bank Place I spotted DC up on the base of Mercury eating around 8:30am. I went up on the Broad St. bridge to watch him as he was facing that way.

I didn’t see him pluck any feathers so I think he must have started elsewhere or he had cached food. Nevertheless,DC ate both legs/feet filling his crop up nicely.

DC finished off his meal, cleaned himself up and flew southeast over the river making a big semi-circle over the east side, turning by the Radisson Hotel to head over and up into the OCSR elevator shaft at 9am.

I had a couple stops to make before going home but when I got there I spotted Billie on the northwest corner of Seneca Towers. She flew off toward the river gorge just as I was about to tape her.

On a hunch I decided to go back out and check the north end of the building from the Northridge Church at St. Paul St. and East Ridge Road. It worked out great as I found both Billie and 99-she was back on the northwest corner and he was on the top window ledge across from her.

<Click on pics>

99 was doing some preening along with a couple leg stretches while Buffalo Billie watched down in the gorge. Neither one looked to have food in their crop.

This is how I left them at 10:30am, as I ended an enjoyable falcon watch in which I saw all 4 Rochester Peregrine Falcons that made me smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/dqw84yKrRxw

http://youtu.be/fzFu57YLwIc

http://youtu.be/F2JkV2kSL9w

http://youtu.be/E_IhPk52a9I

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a bone chilling -6 (F) -21 (C) degrees when I left this morning with a bit of a breeze. The sun was shining throughout but it didn’t really make much of a difference-sub zero temps are COLD!!

Click on the pics to see the full version

Well let me just say that I had quite the eventful watch this morning starting with my car getting stuck in the parking lot while backing out of my spot. After half dozen tries I got out thankfully. I first stopped to check the OCSR elevator shaft-no falcons seen on either side. I then went over to the east side on Elm St. where I spotted Beauty eating on one of the northeast corners of Bausch & Lomb which has changed owners and is now called Legacy Tower (LT).

Beauty spent about 10 more minutes on her meal then flew off to the northwest at 7:31am.

I left to check the elevator shaft of OCSR as that’s where the Beautyful one had gone after the last time I watched her eat on Legacy Tower. There was a falcon on the north side ledge with its back to me that I thought was Beauty. I left to look for Dot.ca (DC) and found Beauty on the south side arch of Kodak Office (KO). She was sleeping on and off as she watched over her territory. I then drove back to check the elevator shaft and found out it had been DC in the elevator shaft.

Satisfied that I saw both Beauty and DC I left for home to check Seneca Towers (ST). I ended up in the driveway of the Northridge Church at East Ridge Rd. and St. Paul St. after I didn’t see anybody on the west or south side. I was ready to call it a watch when I spotted 99 on a top window ledge on the east side of ST. Less than a minute later he stooped to the south, 99 came back and landed on the 17th floor east side balcony railing 1 floor above mine.

In my excitement I had tweeted that 99 was on my east side balcony-this was the first time I had seen a falcon on a balcony railing at ST. Anyway, 99 didn’t stay there for long, as he flew off to the south end of ST before going into a stoop leaving my view as there was a big snow pile in front of me blocking the view. He didn’t come right back so I left the church to check the other side of ST. He then appeared and flew back around to land on the 18th floor east side balcony this time. I made a U-turn and parked on St. Paul St. to observe.

99 had his back to me at first then he turned around to face me-I thought perhaps someone in the building had spooked him. There was a fascinator on his beak.

99 flew off the balcony up to an air conditioner on the 19th floor at 9am with his back to me.

My feet and hands were really cold at this point so after taking a couple more pics of 99 I decided to go and try to get a look at him from my 16th floor balcony.

There was a road block on the way (literally) as a car was blocking the driveway in my parking lot. It wouldn’t start because of the cold temperatures and another guy in a van was trying to give him a jump. I ended up helping them push the car back into the parking spot so we could all get through. I finally got up to my balcony and looked at the wrong air conditioner at first. Then, just before he flew off I found the right air conditioner and got a snippet of 99. I watched him fly northeast into the trees behind the church I had been parked at and disappear. I ended my watch at 10 am and yes, I was definitely smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos (especially the very last snippet for a close look at 99)

http://youtu.be/SNssvxoGhKQ

http://youtu.be/yvgDICx4m-M

http://youtu.be/8ivYPsHfWh8

http://youtu.be/bYX9WjsHr1c

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

The air temperature was a repeat of yesterday at 7 (F) -14 (C) but the wind chill was well below zero once it whipped in. Overcast with snow falling throughout my watch-just a miserable morning.

I don’t have much to report from this mornings watch as I didn’t see much point in having the wind blow snow in my face and on my camera for very long. That’s because both Beauty and Dot.ca (DC) were in the OCSR elevator shaft with their backs to me for most of the time I watched them.

I arrived downtown just in the nick of time to see DC fly from the north side of the shaft where the Beautyful one was perched. I knew it was him because he flew across the river toward me showing his bright white chest. He made a U-turn and flew back to the elevator shaft landing on the south side ledge and then I heard echupping.

Even with all the snow between DC and I, his whiteness shown through. On the video I made of him it looks like he was feaking and had a full crop but after a few minutes of that he pooped, moved to the back of the ledge and disappeared into the darkness of his man cave. Beauty never came out and showed herself. Only one pic that I took barely shows the form of her back tucked way in on the north ledge.

That’s all she wrote-I left, stopping for coffee and never looked back. Unfortunately no falcons were at Seneca Towers when I got home at 8:45am. Keep smiling and keep telling yourself that spring will be here soon! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/MtNjck0fTgw

http://youtu.be/HNIin0k8EtY

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

At 7 (F) -14 (C)  it was 16 degrees warmer than yesterday morning and the sun was shining throughout my watch. Small victories…

Click on my pics to see the full version

I had to park quite a ways down on Seth Green Dr. as the cars were backed up but when I completed my u-turn and looked to Seneca Towers I spotted a falcon flying up to the northwest corner and landing on the railing. I’m not sure who it was but I suspect 99, .as it looked very white to me. I had to shoot through tree branches making for some not so focused pics.

At 7:12am the falcon flew off down into the gorge prompting me to leave for downtown.

My first stop when I arrived downtown was to check the OCSR elevator shaft. From Bragdon Place I found Dot.ca (DC) on the south side ledge with his head behind the bottom of the elevator and his back to me. It sure is tough to identify them when they’re up in there sometimes.

I left to look for Beauty-after a couple trips I failed to find her and I returned to watch DC. Leaving again, I spotted a falcon under the northeast wing of Times Square (TSB) as I was coming back from the east side. I went down in the hole on Basin St. for the best angle to find that it was DC. He had his back to me at the start and after a few minutes he spotted something, turned around, pooped then flew off toward OCSR at 8:35am.

After checking the north side ledge of the elevator shaft I then went over to Bragdon Place to check the south side. Not only had DC returned to his man cave but he led me to Beauty, who was perched on the top ibeam north corner of OCSR with a big fat crop. Undoubtedly, she is what DC spotted which prompted him to leave TSB. It didn’t appear that he had anything in his crop.

While I was tweeting (once again most of my tweets didn’t send until after I got home) the Beautyful one left the building. I chose to leave DC and check out the High Falls on my way home. I was surprised to see how much open water was flowing down amongst the ice. The trees, roots coming out from gorge wall and the area near the observation deck were frozen from the mist of the falls settling on them. I played around with a couple of the pics in Picassa.

I ended my watch around 9:30am with a smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/pbimtvHgOd0

http://youtu.be/SCBeuJlJZSM

http://youtu.be/uSxykPIf63U

http://youtu.be/YLKwHh98qdw

http://youtu.be/wseCGbYQjro

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

I didn’t think there would be a colder morning than yesterday but I was wrong-when I stepped out from Seneca Towers it was -9 (F) -23 (C). Luckily the wind was calm and it was overcast. I thought at some point the sun was going to make an appearance but that didn’t happen

Click on my pics to see the full version

I went to Bragdon Place first thing to check the south side ledge of the OCSR elevator shaft but nobody was there. I decided to bypass checking the north side until later after going over to the east side to look for Beauty as she has been on one of the northeast corners of Bausch & Lomb (B&L) eating lately first thing. And she didn’t disappoint as I pulled over on Elm St. I could see her up there filling her crop.

Beauty took her time with a nice red chunk that she had to finish up with then she had a poop for herself and started cleaning her talons and feaking.

At 7:37am the Beautyful one flew off B&L and headed northwest-I was more than ready to start the car and get some heat going as I left to see where she went.

I thought I would be going down to Kodak Office to find Beauty on her arch but she tricked me as I stopped to check the elevator shaft for Dot.ca (DC). To my surprise I found them both on the top ibeam northeast side of OCSR. DC was on the north corner facing me with all his whiteness and Beauty was toward the middle of the ibeam with her back to me.

I was delighted to see that DC had a full crop. They stayed this way until DC decided it was time to go to his man cave. He flew up onto the south side ledge of the elevator shaft at 8am while Beauty stayed on the ibeam.

I left them after a while when I decided they were settled for naps. When I arrived home at Seneca Towers there were no falcons to be found again this morning. I’m sure Billie and 99 are just fine-I saw who I thought was 99 flying past my window yesterday afternoon, so they are around, just not when I’m looking for them. I ended my watch at just about 9am smiling and content, knowing that our downtown duo had breakfast on such a cold morning! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/dvUDyHxeLUU

http://youtu.be/Xn7Ppa_x-Bk

http://youtu.be/Ghw7xdlvJIs

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

At -6 (F) -21 (C) we missed tying the record for the lowest temperature in history on this date. That’s fine by me and also fine by me was calm wind which can make a world of difference with these sub-zero temps. It was overcast until after my watch when the sun was able to break out

Not much to report today other than my phone had more problems sending out my tweets but they eventually made it after I was home at Seneca Towers. lol I’m sorry to report I didn’t see Billie or 99 either before or after my downtown watch. I found Dot.ca (DC) right off the bat when I checked the north side ledge of the OCSR elevator shaft from the Radisson Hotel near Main St. DC was moving his head up and down leading me to believe he was eating but after seeing my video of him on the bigger computer screen it appeared he was preening.

I left DC after 10 minutes or so to look for Beauty-I checked downtown and Kodak Office (KO) a couple times with no luck but as they say: third time’s the charm. While parked on the Andrews St bridge I spotted her on the south side arch of KO so I went down to my spot on State St. just north of Platt St. to observe her.

The Beautyful one had a full crop so wherever she was when I was looking for her she was eating.  I shared space with her for maybe 20 minutes then I was ready to get home to see if Billie and/or 99 was there. As I said no luck in that department. I ended my watch around 8:30am. Keep smiling everyone! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/wn0H0M-c-AE

http://youtu.be/EZuZrC2HCEA

http://youtu.be/tLBMCEwed5k