By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was 0 (F) -18 (C) degrees with a wind chill factor of -21 (F) when I ventured out in the frozen tundra this morning. We got around 5 inches of snow over nite with winds of 15-20 miles per hour which created drifts all around my car. When I left downtown the temp had dropped below 0 and it was hard to tell if it was snowing or just blowing the snow around

I left early today-before 7am and once I got the lock de-icer to free my car door from its frozen state and got the snow and ice removed I was in business and ready to head downtown to check on our beloved falcons. The main roads were clear but snow packed as salt doesn’t work too good in these temperatures. Arriving around 7:15am I checked the OCSR elevator shaft and thought I could see the form of a falcon on the north side ledge. There was nowhere to park near the Radisson Hotel so I had to stop on Main St. momentarily for a quick look then I moved on to the east side. I finally found Beauty on Kodak Office on her south side arch spot.

The light kept turning on and off as the wind blew the snow on and off like a light switch in front of the Beautyful one. Amazingly, I caught her sleeping in the arctic conditions-nature is such a wonderment isn’t it?

One of the snippets on my snippet video this morning catches me saying idiot-that was for a car that almost side swiped me with no snow brushed off his car or with his lights on. A little common sense goes a long way!! Sorry, had to say that! Anyway, I don’t know if the wind blew Beauty off or what but suddenly she flew out about 10 feet and back to her arch and once back she lost her footing and had to repeat the process.

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She got settled back down and started dozing off again so I left her to check for Dot.ca (DC). I ended up finding him right where I thought he was-on the north side ledge of the elevator shaft. I stayed only long enough to get a somewhat clear enough pic of him since I had stopped in the middle of the Radisson Hotel’s driveway-there were trucks, vans and busses parked on both sides.

Once again my phone was not sending out my tweets-my first one didn’t post until after 8am and the rest didn’t go until I got home at 8:45am. When I got home to Seneca Towers I did find 99 on the top window ledge south side. He was looking around for breakfast and Billie I think as the wind whipped up the snow from the roof around him when it gusted.

Needless to say I didn’t stay out there on St. Paul St. observing 99 but just a few minutes before ending my watch. It was a bit frustrating this morning but falcons once again made me smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/DNgVaLkcWBk

http://youtu.be/-H4pjHzVGaU

http://youtu.be/ju-jXfrdU94

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Happy Valentine’s Day from the Beauty, DC, Billie, 99 and MAK

Snow was falling throughout the watch in varying degrees with light winds and a temperature of 19 (F) -7 (C)

At first check there was nobody on either side of the OCSR elevator shaft so I moved on to the Broad St. Bridge where I thought I could see a falcon on a northeast corner. Drove over to Elm St. behind Midtown to find Beauty having some breakfast.

Beauty finished eating around 7:30am and started feaking and cleaning up before flying off to the northwest soon after that.

I went to check Kodak Office since her routine of late has been to go there after breakfast for a nap but she fooled me today and wasn’t there. I didn’t see anybody on the way over so my next check of the OCSR elevator shaft was in order. It was snowing hard enough to make it impossible for my camera to focus on anything but the flakes between it and the elevator shaft but I could see falcons on both sides with my binoculars. After a while the snow let up enough for me to get a clear pic of the Beautyful one on the north ledge and Dot.ca on the south side. I left my car and walked down the Radisson Hotel sidewalk to get the pic and shoot a video as there was nowhere to park in their driveway.

<Click it to see our downtown love birds

I left them to it as I figured they’d be up in there for some time to come. I had to pick up a few things but wanted to check Seneca Towers first and I was glad I did for I found Billie and 99 on the north side top window ledge. It was snowing much harder there and I was having trouble getting a pic of them-the video I shot shows them much better.

I saw all 4 of our Rochester Peregrine Falcons who were spending Valentine’s Day morning with their mates and putting a great big smile on this watcher’s face as I ended my watch at 9am! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/zl_As6A4Pdo

http://youtu.be/ZbwBUgmPxlk

http://youtu.be/aFj80uATUEw

http://youtu.be/QJgcz9egD2M

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Holy polar vortex! We’re in its grips and boy, was it ccccold outside today. Starting with a temperature of 2 (F) -17 (C) and a busy breeze that made it feel like -11 (F) there was a bit of lake effect snow in the air as well

I carry a light fleece blanket in my car for rescuing falcons if need be, but it also serves to cover my legs in the winter when I’m sitting in my car watching falcons. I wear a pair of gloves with mittens over them while I hold my camera by the open window-today it was so cold that I couldn’t feel my fingers for most of my watch. Even my camera wasn’t working properly because of the cold. I don’t know how wildlife survives. That being said, I’m happy to report that I saw 3 of our 4 Rochester Peregrine Falcons today and they’re all doing fine.

After checking all of downtown including the OCSR elevator shaft with no falcon sightings I drove down State St. to find both Beauty and Dot.ca (DC) on the south side arch of Kodak Office. I tweeted out my findings and when I looked back up DC was gone!

A couple minutes later DC returned and landed on the southeast corner of the Launchpad. It was plain to see that the Beautyful one had eaten since her crop overfloweth, but DC was in hunt mode as he had a depleted crop.

DC flew off to the west in a hurry and returned without prey to his spot on the launchpad where he did some preening and rousing.

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At 8:32am DC flew off into a long stoop to the east toward the High Falls and out of sight while Beauty and I watched-he didn’t return this time.

I left Beauty after a few minutes as she was sleeping. I wasn’t going straight home but I did go past Seneca Towers just in case a falcon or two were there and to my delight I spotted 99 from St. Paul St. He was on the top window ledge on the south side.

99 also had an empty crop and was in hunt mode, watching everything in the immediate area. I shared space with him for about 10 minutes-I was hoping Billie would come along and join him but that didn’t occur while I was on watch.

I ended my watch at 9am smiling after a cold but productive morning that produced blue sky and sunshine after a dark start! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/uT3kkxNMOcI

http://youtu.be/jqvxvcFk5b8

http://youtu.be/30gxrymfi24

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

We got a couple inches of fresh fluff (snow) overnite. It was overcast and blustery with occasional lake effect snow squalls and a temperature of  25 (F) -4 (C)

My first stop was Bragdon Place to check the south side ledge of the OCSR elevator shaft-nobody there but I spotted Beauty on the top ibeam southeast side near the elevator shaft. I left for the hole, stopping on Bank Place where it meets Aqueduct St. where I could see that the Beautyful one was not alone on OCSR-Dot.ca (DC) was just finishing up a meal down a ways from her.

Beauty had quite the full crop as I left to get closer over by the Radisson Hotel near Main St. Just as I got there around 7:30am she flew off to the west out of sight behind OCSR while DC was cleaning himself up. A minute or two after Beauty left DC took off for the north side ledge of the elevator shaft. You can see him fly up in there on today’s snippet video.

I stayed with DC for a few moments then set out to find Beauty. I didn’t have to go far as she went to Kodak Office (KO) south side arch-her latest routine. Once I pulled over on State St. and got a look at her I could see how huge her crop was-I could barely see her head over top of it and she was snoozing with her head off to the side of that fantastically full crop.

She and DC need to stuff themselves to keep warm as some brutally cold arctic air moves down from the north today called the “Polar Vortex”.  Temperatures will continue to drop as the day progresses leaving us in the deep freeze. I left  sleeping Beauty at 8:15am to rest and checked on DC in the elevator shaft of OCSR. He was still on the north ledge but he had moved to the back of it with his back to the world.

I left our downtown Peregrine pair in their food comas and when I got home to Seneca Towers there were no falcons anywhere on the building. At 8:45am another falcon watch was in the books and another smile produced by seeing falcons! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/VtXSy-o8XAg

http://youtu.be/MjL5TDnpBFY

http://youtu.be/DpmS3tFbDIU

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was 12 (F) -11 (C) with calm conditions and sunny to start the day

After finding no falcons at Kodak Office (KO) or the OCSR elevator shaft I made my way up South Ave. toward the Broad St. bridge and spotted Beauty on a northeast corner of Bausch & Lomb eating. I drove to Elm St. behind Midtown for the best view and just as I pulled over she finished eating and started feaking.

I had just started to tape the Beautyful one when she flew off to the northwest. I checked the Times Square area, elevator shaft and all the usual downtown spots-no sign of Dot.ca (DC). I did find a healthy supply of food all huddled together on the Thomson Reuters building. I then went down State St. to check KO and found Beauty there on the south side arch cleaning up some more from her meal.

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After she was done she turned away from me giving me a side view. She was keeping track of some pigeons that were chasing each other around on the roof of a lower building roof to the south of the tower.

I left Beauty to look for DC but never found him. When I got home to Seneca Towers there were no falcons present and after checking the north side of the building I drove down St. Paul St. about a quarter of a mile to Seneca Park to check on the birds that reside in the pond there. There was open water  on the northwest side where they were all congregated.

I ended my watch at 9:30am with a sunny smile draped across my lips! 🙂

When I came home from walking Bella this afternoon I spotted Billie and 99 on the northwest corner of Seneca Towers. Can’t say who was who since I didn’t have my camera or binoculars but one of them was on the railing and one on the roof. Watcher Pat saw DC in the elevator shaft this afternoon also, so all 4 Rochester Peregrine Falcons were seen today.

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/1MKpgnYM6bk

http://youtu.be/Q6SWoIXCu9Q

http://youtu.be/VUMrJlkn9Ro

http://youtu.be/kUuHbcRFKKo

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Overcast, dark with a hint of snow in the air and a temperature of 16 (F) -9 (C) and calm winds

When I first arrived downtown for my watch I checked Kodak Office (KO) first since Beauty and Dot.ca (DC) had been there yesterday on the south side arch. I made my rounds to check the OCSR elevator shaft, the east side of the river and all points in between with no sightings. Half hour later I made my way down State. St. to check KO again and this time they were there in the same spots as when I left them yesterday.

It soon became apparent to me that since both Beauty and DC had full crops that they had been somewhere finishing up their breakfast while I was looking for them, then sneaking over to KO without me seeing them..

Beauty was preening in between napping with her head tucked over her shoulder into her wing and DC had a poop for himself before moving to the back of the arch for his own nap.

I shared space with the Beautyful one and Whitey aka DC for an hour and then decided they would probably be there for a while so I called it quits right around 9am.

I didn’t see Billie or 99 today but seeing our downtown pair was enough to keep me smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/_3PA26lHWPo

http://youtu.be/-YwKqI2XZoM

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

I’d say there was 8 inches of snow from the storm since yesterday with a few more to come today before it’s all over. It was snowing and blowing with a temperature of 18 (F) -8 (C) when I left this morning

I expected more snow than what we got here at Seneca Towers when I got to my car-it still made for a slip, sliding drive on area roads. I made my way around downtown slow but steady but could find no falcons until about 40 minutes into my watch. Stopping on State St. below Kodak Office I spotted Beauty up on the south side arch.

I shared space with the Beautyful one for half hour or so before Dot.ca (DC) joined her at around 8:35am. DC flew in from the south and landed on the opposite side of the arch from her.

I left them there around 9am and headed for Seneca Towers where I found both Billie and 99 in the same spots as yesterday on the south end of the building on the top window ledge.

<Billie> <99

I didn’t watch them for long as I had some business to attend to. I left Buffalo Billie and 99 at 9:40am smiling after seeing all 4 Rochester Peregrine Falcons! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/8sU4FjGmVIY

http://youtu.be/tarzfdxzMRs

http://youtu.be/flYl0vj1VMo

http://youtu.be/kLYZ9YlFixo

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Just a quick watch report today.  By the time I made my way downtown, it was still very foggy, but I could just see up into the elevator shaft on OCSR.  Two falcons were up there, one on each ledge.  The falcon on the north ledge took off and zipped around the south side of OCSR, landing on the top IBeam.  When I ended my watch an hour later, they hadn’t moved.

Since MAK had both Billie and 99 at Seneca Towers this morning and I had both Beauty and Dot.ca downtown, all 4 Rochester Falcons were seen today.

Here are some pics from my downtown falcon watch.

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Rochester is under a Winter Storm Warning until early Tuesday morning.  Be careful if you have to go out during the storm!

• … WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EST TUESDAY…
• * LOCATIONS… MONROE… WAYNE… ONTARIO… AND NORTHERN CAYUGA COUNTIES.
• * TIMING… FROM LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT.
• * HAZARDS… SNOW… WHICH MAY MIX WITH SOME FREEZING DRIZZLE MONDAY NIGHT.
• * ACCUMULATIONS… 1 TO 3 INCHES TODAY… 2 TO 4 INCHES TONIGHT… 2 TO 4 INCHES MONDAY… AND AROUND AN INCH MONDAY NIGHT… LEADING TO STORM TOTALS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES.
• * WINDS… NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH.
• * VISIBILITIES… AS LOW AS A HALF MILE AT TIMES.
• * IMPACTS… A LONG LASTING ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL PRODUCE DIFFICULT TRAVEL WITH SNOW COVERED ROADS AND REDUCED VISIBILITY.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was very foggy this morning with a temperature of 25 (F) -4 (C)

Click on the pics to see the full version

When I left Seneca Towers for downtown I wondered if I’d be able to see any falcons-I wondered no longer once I got there. At the surface it was clear but the top of the taller buildings where Beauty and Dot.ca hang out were enveloped in thick fog.

I couldn’t see up in the OCSR elevator shaft either so I thought I’d hang out a while to see if it would clear up.  I got out the car to tape the river and the ducks who were happy to have open water in which to do their thing in. I decided to call it quits and go home at 8:45am. I would arrive at Seneca Towers to a greeting committee on the top window ledge of the south side-Billie and 99. They were facing each other at each end of it.

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Billie spent her time preening and watching her mate. 99 got busy trying to catch breakfast as he flew off many times trying to catch sparrows.

After his first failed attempt he flew up above Buffalo Billie on the southeast corner. He didn’t stay there for long and returned to his spot on the window ledge.

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These two love to watch each other and this falcon watcher loves to watch them watch each other. Billie cranked her neck more than once to keep an eye on handsome 99 as he tried over and over again to catch a meal and return to window ledge.

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I had a hard time keeping up with 99 for it seemed every time I looked over to Billie he would take off again but I did manage to get a couple shots of him flying off.

I got some pics of 99’s yellow tape covered leg band as well so there’s no doubt that it’s him.

99 flew up to the southeast corner of the roof railing and off 5 seconds later and back to the window. The last time he took off it was a stoop down into the river gorge and Billie followed right behind this time.

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They didn’t return and I was thinking and hoping that the reason Billie joined him was that she saw 99 catch something and they went somewhere to share a meal. So a disappointing downtown watch turned into a nice little watch where I live, at Seneca Towers, ending with me smiling at a little after 9am! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/Y6V1kMxAAWc

http://youtu.be/9Ks-YzRC6Tg

http://youtu.be/dH9I90X4nc4

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

My watch started at 11:00 am and ended at 1:00 pm.

It was cold and snowy and just another wonderful winter day in Rochester, NY.

I first checked out Kodak Park West, where I found no falcons.

Downtown I found Beauty on the south side of OCSR on the top IBeam.  Dot.ca was tucked into the elevator shaft on the south ledge.

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At noon Beauty took off, while Dot.ca remained in the elevator shaft.  I looked around for her, but could not find her. Downtown was very busy again, this time due to Disney on Ice: Frozen being in town.  Perfect weather for them!  lol

I ended my downtown watch and stopped at the pedestrian bridge to check out the High Falls gorge.  I’ll post a few pics at the end of my report.

Fellow falcon watcher Pat had tweeted out earlier that both Billie and 99 were at the north end of Seneca Towers.  When I got there a little before 1:00 pm, they were still there, sitting very close together on the ledge about the windows on the north side.

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I was very happy to have seen all 4 Rochester Falcons today safe and sound.

Now, I will leave you with some images from my visit to the pedestrian bridge at High Falls.  It was very cold and the snow was deep, but it was worth venturing out for a look at this beautiful icy wonderland.  It was almost as if Elsa had been there.  🙂

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A view of the High Falls from my favorite bench.  Waiting for Spring!