By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

When I left for my watch this morning it was a balmy, breezy 59 (F) 15 (C) degrees the sun made its way up to shine and blue skies prevailed

Click on my pics to see the full version

There were no falcons at Seneca Towers as I began my morning watch-as a matter of fact, there were no falcons downtown either until nearly 8:30am. I searched the city many times until finally Dot.Ca (DC) appeared under the northeast wing of Times Square (TSB). He didn’t exactly greet me with a smile as he lifted his tail feathers to poop! lol The wind was blowing his feathers pretty good and I thought it might blow him to the next county after a couple gusts.

Sometimes it looks like DC is posing for my camera and when the sun shines on his whiteness it can almost be blinding.

I got to share space with DC for about 40 minutes when he decided to fly west at exactly 9am.

10 minutes later I found DC on the northeast corner of the Kodak Office launchpad.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find Beauty this morning.

I left DC basking in the sun and headed home. Now that the trees are bare I can check the south and west side of Seneca Towers (ST) from St. Paul St.-nothing seen so I drove further down to the Northridge Church parking lot where I check the east and north sides of ST. Just as I got there I spotted a falcon flying in from the north-it looped around and back to the northwest corner where it landed. A shot of its leg bands showed yellow tape on the right leg so I knew I had 99 in my sights.

99 moved to his left a bit getting off the corner-I imagine because the wind was so strong. He then went back out to the corner and flew off going into a stoop down toward the river gorge.

I called it quits at 9:45am after an all boy morning watch which left me smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to see todays videos
http://youtu.be/JRfh_a0pZKc

http://youtu.be/ofNpwZDd90M

http://youtu.be/Il5SshFCtR0

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Another cloudy day, but the temps were a little more tolerable than past days.  Tomorrow, Rochester is under a high wind warning from 1 pm (Monday) to 4:00 am (Tuesday) with southwest winds at 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph, with a high temperature of 65 degrees (F).  Hold onto your hats!

I arrived downtown and parked on the Broad St Bridge.  Beauty was on top of the Mercury statue and Dot.ca was on top of the Times Square Bldg on the ledge under the southeast wing.

*

*

*

*

*

I could also see the two Black Crowned Night Herons that are still hanging out here in Rochester, in a tree in Aqueduct Park.

*

*

*

*

*

As it started to lightly rain, first Dot.ca, then Beauty took off and flew east.  I watched Beauty as she circled the Xerox bldg and did not return.

*

*

*

*

*

I drove over to the south side of Xerox and found Dot.ca on the southeast corner of HSBC.  Since these two have been inseparable lately, I had a suspicion that Beauty was somewhere nearby.  I was right.  From the Strong Museum parking lot, I was far enough away to see that Beauty was also on HSBC on the northeast corner.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Brian and Joyce joined me and we chatted for awhile.  It was time to end my downtown watch.  I wanted to check Seneca Towers and Russell Station before the sun set, which happens around 4:40 pm now.

I found two falcons at Seneca Towers on the north end of the building on the west side.  They were both facing west.

*

*

*

*

*

My last stop was Russell Station, where I found no falcons.  I ended my weekend watches with sightings of all 4 Rochester Falcons.  I just love the weekends!  🙂

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

We’re having a warm spell as the temperature this morning was 21 degrees higher than yesterday at 46 (F) 8 (C). It was overcast and dreary with a light breeze

Click on the pics to see the full version

I didn’t find any falcons at Seneca Towers as I left for my watch this morning but I did see one fly over Hawkeye as I made my way down St. Paul St. I received a message from Donna that Beauty had flown off Mercury so when I reached the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) I looked there first and found Beauty on the green part of the base. 2 minutes later Dot.Ca (DC) flew in to join her landing on the cement part of the base. I believe he was checking to see if she had food.

Beauty and DC flew east at the same time-he went toward Xerox and she toward Chase-both disappeared behind the buildings. 10 minutes later at 7:35am after checking the east side I returned to the BSB to find Beauty on the Mercury money bag (MMB) and DC way up on the northwest wing ring of Times Square (TSB).

I decided to go down to the hole so I could be in between them-while I was taping Beauty, DC left the wing ring . From down in the hole the back lighting on the Beautyful one was bad, making for dark photos so I played around with them in Picassa.

Beauty kept looking down at something, bobbing her head many times and finally she flew off down toward the river and out of view at 8:17am.

I made my way up to the BSB where I spotted Beauty flying and hovering above Xerox. I drove to Court St. across from the Court St. garage where I had a close view of her flight show. Beauty flew south and when she didn’t return I went back to the BSB where I spotted her under the northeast wing of Times Square. I went down to the hole and noticed DC on the back part of TSB on the north side eating, at which time I crossed over to the parking lot by TSB.

Beauty was keeping an eye on her mate and as I was taping him she flew over his head which stirred him up. He msut have been afraid she was going to take his food for he took off with his small package. Beauty landed a couple columns away from where DC had been eating (most likely looking to see if he left any behind) then she flew over to the Widows Walk railing, east side. She didn’t stay but a moment then flew south behind TSB out of sight.

A few minutes later I spotted Beauty soaring above Xerox again-once more I parked on Court St. to watch her. She stooped behind me toward the river after 5 minutes of entertaining me with her winged prowess. I stopped on the Court St. bridge to check out the river on my way thru.

I ended up on Bragdon St. to check the elevator shaft after having no luck finding anybody around 9am. From there I could just barely make out the white of DC across the river on the green strip of the Ellwanger & Barry building on State St. across from the Rochester Plaza Hotel.

By the time I got over to State St. DC was gone-I found him right around the corner on the south side of the platform railing of the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT). He didn’t stay there for long as he flew over to the northeast cube. He was watching something below him then he looked up and flew down to the north side of the tower.

I couldn’t see him so I went down to the City Hall parking lot where I found out what had his attention-Beauty. She was on a north side beam under the platform and he was on an east side beam same level as Beauty, covering up leftover food.  After a couple minutes he flew off with the goods and a minute later Beauty flew off too.

I didn’t follow as I had to be somewhere but I had a good time following them today as I ended my watch at 9:30am with a smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos
http://youtu.be/cMnKVyc8wgk

http://youtu.be/0lFDqCMxedI

http://youtu.be/2e_i1zYs-e0

http://youtu.be/rA4YxPltvPA

http://youtu.be/6tQgd2L_1lA

http://youtu.be/InYc1MxKTbA

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Had to start out by saying, HOORAY for the weekend!  🙂

My watch started at 10:00 am and ended at 12:30 pm.  It started with a little bit of sunshine before clouding up.  I was happy to get out for a watch.  I started at the BS location, where I found no falcons and saw no birds at all.  That was very unusual.  I usually see lots of  Canada Geese and Crows there.

Just before I arrived downtown, I received a tweet from MAK that she had seen a falcon flying by her window at the ST location. After searching the downtown area, I made my way over to the Radisson to check up inside the the OCSR elevator shaft. There I found a falcon on the south side ledge.  I think it was Beauty, but couldn’t be sure.

*

*

*

*

*

I went looking for a 2nd falcon.  From the Andrews St Bridge I checked out the Frontier Communication Tower and the Kodak Tower.  No falcons seen until the falcon from the OCSR elevator flew out and headed north, very fast.  I watched this falcon until it reached the Kodak Tower and a second falcon appeared.  Both falcons flew around the tower and each other.  Weaving in and out and around each other until one landed on the base of the playpen at the northeast corner and the other landed just above the other on the playpen netting.

These pictures were taken from the Andrews St Bridge.

*

*

*

*

*

I made my way over to the Kodak Tower to get a closer look at the two falcons there.  During my watch, I was never able to make a positive ID on either falcon. But I do believe it was Beauty (B) and Dot.ca (DC).

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Both took off and returned to the tower.  Again, flying around it and each other. Mock talon tagging and what I can only describe as playful behavior.  That is not something I am used to seeing from these two.  It was fun to watch.  There was no vocalizations.

*

*

*

*

*

Both returned to the Kodak Tower.  Dot.ca landed on the northeast corner of the launchpad and Beauty on the base of the playpen.

Beauty took off and flew around the tower.  She then landed a few feet to Dot.ca’s left on the launchpad.  It started to rain, so I left them both to their tandem preening on top of the Kodak Tower.

*

*

*

*

*

On my way home, I passed Seneca Towers and found one falcon on top of the building at the north end on the northwest corner.

*

*

*

*

*

My watch ended at Russell Station where I saw two Red-tailed Hawks soaring above the buildings there.  Below them was a flock of pigeons in panicked flight. The hawks flew south and the pigeons settled on the east end of the building.  I saw no falcons there.

It was a wonderful way to end my watch!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

As I stepped out of my apartment I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful site of a new day dawning out the east side balcony windows. Naturally I went out and shot a couple pics!

Todays starting temperature was 25 (F) -4 (C) with mostly cloudy skies and a busy breeze out of the south

Click on the pics to see the full version

After a trip around downtown with no luck finding a falcon I went back to Kodak Office and while checking the west side from Verona St. by Frontier Field I spotted the familiar shape of a falcon on the northeast wing ledge of Times Square (TSB) around 7:25am.

So I drove directly down to the hole parking lot and to my sweet surprise both Beauty and Dot.Ca (DC) were up there facing each other.

The wind was ruffling their feathers as they preened together-seemingly copying each other as they would stick one leg forward and go back to preening.

At 8:09am the Beautyful one flew north as DC watched her wind up and fly off.

DC followed suit and flew off less than 30 seconds later. I then departed myself to find out where they took off to.

As I drove down State St. I spotted Beauty up on the northeast cube of the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT). I parked in the lot next to the Hochstein School of Music for the best view.

I stayed just a few minutes after checking each side for DC who wasn’t up there anywhere. I headed back toward the Times Square area and found DC back under the northeast wing of Times Square. This time he was facing  out and perched in a buddha style position with feathers foofed to keep warm.

DC was moving his head very fast from one side to the other, obviously in hunt mode and looking for some poor unsuspecting prey bird to fly in his air space. I had to get going so I left him after a few minutes. On my way out of downtown I stopped by to say good bye to Beauty who was still on the northeast cube of FCT. I ended my watch at 9am.

I didn’t see Billie or 99 at Seneca Towers while on watch this morning but as I put my report together I have seen a falcon fly past my living room window twice-southbound the first time and northbound the second time about a minute later and it was in stoop formation. This makes me smile because I haven’t seen a PEFA here in a few days! 🙂

Click on the links below to see todays videos
http://youtu.be/73GN_45_MAE

http://youtu.be/m8rJqrmv3vE

http://youtu.be/62QtNQY6Jsk

http://youtu.be/sWgFP5ewbiU

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was overcast with a starting temperature of 19 (F) -7 (C) toward the end of my watch the sun came out

Click on the pics to see the full version

No falcons were seen at Seneca Towers again today. I found Beauty around 7:20am on the south side arch of the Kodak Office Tower (KO).

While I tweeted that Beauty was there she flew off so I had no idea what direction she went. I was just about to leave when she returned and landed on the southeast corner of the launchpad and she had food. She didn’t take long to scarf it down so I think it’s safe to say it was cached food. She started feaking and cleaning up when the sun made its way up high enough to shine right on her.

Like night and day as the sun reaches Beauty

She did some preening and scratching for the next 15 minutes or so.

At 7:40am the Beautyful one flew back down to the south side arch of KO and started preening in the sun.

I left Beauty to look for Dot.Ca (DC) but was unsuccessful in finding him. I returned to KO to find Beauty in the same spot on the arch.

I shared space with Beauty until about 8:40am leaving her as light snow was falling all around her and the sun disappeared.

As I was checking the elevator shaft of OCSR from Bragdon Place by the Radisson Hotel I spotted DC on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR. I drove to the other side of the hotel by Main St. for a clear and closer view of his whiteness.

When I first got there DC was feaking and he had a full crop so he had obviously just finished eating his breakfast. He looked around for a few minutes then flew over to the elevator shaft and came to rest on the north side ledge.

I had to get going so I left DC to hang out in his man cave. I checked KO to see that Beauty was still there on the arch. I ended my watch at 9am with a smile knowing that our downtown Peregrine pair had eaten and were doing fine! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos
http://youtu.be/Vq56FS0cgSc

http://youtu.be/fbQCz6P6-6c

http://youtu.be/Cz82NYtaiJM

http://youtu.be/1Ad_q4e32PQ

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This morning was 10 degrees warmer than the last 2 at a temperature 0f 26 (F) -3 (C) and overcast conditions. There was about 4 inches of light fluffy snow to clean off my car before I could get to my watch. No biggie at all!

Click on the pics to see the full version

I saw no falcons at Seneca Towers or Hawkeye today. When I arrived downtown it was still a bit dark out so I thought I’d check the OCSR elevator shaft first to see if I could catch someone up there before they left. There was one falcon with its back to me on the north side ledge that I could barely make out the shape of it. I shot over to the hole and found Dot.Ca (DC) on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR which told me it was Beauty in the elevator shaft.

I went over to Graves St. next to Aqueduct Park for a closer look. DC was watching the area and did a little stretching.

Beauty flew past DC a couple times then landed next to him at 7:41am. He watched her every step of the way.

10 minutes later DC flew south as Beauty watched him fly away, then she followed less than a minute later.

Upon my second trip to Kodak Office (KO) looking for falcons I spotted Beauty up on one of her favorite winter time perches around 8:30am-the south side arch above the playpen where Mariah & Kaver’s nest box used to be located.

10 minutes later DC arrived coming to rest on the southeast corner of the KO launchpad. The Beautyful one watched from below as he joined her on the tower.

DC turned his back to us after a bit so I drove down State St. to get a few shots of his white front.

I left them to it and headed on out happy to have seen them both and of course, with a smile on my face ending my watch at 9:05am! 🙂

Click on the links below to see todays videos
http://youtu.be/h6coK3TDPjM

http://youtu.be/di22Aj0NHPg

http://youtu.be/S44_hhdC8Q0

http://youtu.be/78RxlQZZ8b4

http://youtu.be/Gca4PfUVD-8

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Today was sunny with blue skies, a brisk wind that could bring tears to your eyes and a cool 15 (F) -9 (C) degrees

Click on the pics to see the full version

It wasn’t until 7:30am that I found my first falcon this morning. It was Beauty up under the northeast wing of Times Square (TSB) preening in the sun.

I was viewing her from Exchange Blvd. in front of the Blue Cross Arena (BCA) when she slipped off the back of the ledge and flew out of view to the west. I took a ride around and from Plymouth Ave. near Main St. I spotted a falcon stooping from the northwest wing ledge. I went over to Basin St. in the hole where I found Beauty with her back to me under the northeast wing again and Dot.Ca (DC) was on the north side of TSB on the lower back portion of the building with food.

DC finished filling his crop around 8:15am, did some feaking then flew off meeting Beauty in flight as she flew to the base of Mercury and he circled around and came to rest under the northeast wing of TSB.

Beauty took off soon after and knocked DC off taking his place under the northeast wing ledge and DC flew northeast.

The Beautyful one did some preening in between looking for her own breakfast since DC didn’t leave any leftovers.

At 8:37am Beauty stooped straight down and came back to the same spot empty taloned.

Her next attempt was successful as she appeared with prey and began plucking feathers immediately. I missed it as I was changing the battery of my camera.

I shared space with Beauty until about 9:15am then headed over to the Radisson Hotel by Main St. to see if DC had gone to his man cave. That’s exactly where he was on the south side ledge of the OCSR elevator shaft digesting his meal.

From there I headed home to Seneca Towers-parking at the Northridge Church at St. Paul St. and East Ridge Rd. where I go to check the north and east sides of the building. I spotted who I believe was Billie (judging by size) flying above the roof then swooping down thru where I park my car 3 times at a very low altitude. I’d say no more than 6 0r 7 stories high. She went out over the Veterans Memorial Bridge then came back and landed on the roof above the north end windows on a northeast corner.

Billie had been standing upright when I decided to go to my parking lot and get a closer view. It was closer but not better as I could only see part of her straight above me. She did look like she was eating something by the way her body was moving as she was not standing straight up anymore.

I ended my watch at 9:50am smiling for having seen a falcon on my building for the first time in a few days! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos
http://youtu.be/kbW9R-FeXbM

http://youtu.be/9hvSDFzFjLE

http://youtu.be/DOvrPeySbew

http://youtu.be/O-2iLD2iBEE

http://youtu.be/nFDslvD_fuY

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a frigid, blustery morning watch with a starting temperature of 18 (F)  -7 (C)  It snowed just enough during the night to freeze all my car doors shut-luckily I got into my trunk and got a screwdriver to pry my door open. Then, when I got downtown I couldn’t open the windows cuz they were frozen shut. Eventually the car warmed them enough to thaw and open up so I could get clearer pics.

Click on the pics to see the full version

There were no falcons seen at Seneca Towers again this morning but when I finally got downtown around 7:30am I spotted Dot.Ca on the top ibeam northeast side of OCSR from the Andrews St. Bridge (ASB).

I left and drove over to Bragdon Place by the Radisson Hotel for a closer view and as I checked the south side ledge of the OCSR elevator shaft I could barely see Beauty.

Beauty flew out and back in landing on the north side ledge of the elevator shaft where I couldn’t see her so I drove to the Radisson Hotel by Main St. where I could see her.

Soon after DC flew off the ibeam up into the elevator shaft landing across from his girl on the north side ledge and he was chirping at her. At first he was out where I could see him but he turned his back and went further in out of view. 15 minutes later at 8am DC flew out and came to rest on the top ibeam near the south corner of OCSR. The sun was shining on him showing his brilliant whiteness and at the same time there were a few flakes falling.

DC turned his back to me as the Beautyful one remained on the north side ledge in the elevator shaft.

Around 8:20am when I wasn’t looking both Beauty and DC left the building. After a ride around I stopped on the ASB and watched a falcon flying near the east side of the Kodak Office tower then land on the northeast corner of the launchpad. By the time I got down to State St. to have a look it was gone. Another trip around downtown brought me right back to the Radisson Hotel by Main St. where I found Beauty back on the north side of the OCSR elevator shaft and DC on the top ibeam near the south corner.  It was like Deja vu!

I decided to go to the hole to see the front of DC-after a couple minutes he flew over to the base of Mercury and attempted to land. I don’t know if he was looking for food, or if the wind was too strong or maybe there was ice and snow on it but he
touched down then lifted up and hovered over it before flying off.

I left downtown after that-found no falcons on the way or home at Seneca Falls as I ended my watch at 9:40am. Even tho I had a rough start I did manage to smile after seeing our dynamic downtown Peregrine pair! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos
http://youtu.be/nCfL4AGshgg

http://youtu.be/7Hvz9czlom8

http://youtu.be/Zb3WlwfKLbg

http://youtu.be/bD69_kIm4QM

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

A dark snowy morning watch with a temperature of 34 (F) 1 (C)

It was tough to see the tops of some buildings with the snow coming down. I saw no falcons at Seneca Towers either before or after my downtown watch. I checked all the usual spots as I made the rounds a couple times this morning-the snow made it impossible to see up in the elevator shaft. Mercury had snow stuck to its back side and it was so dark out that I had to try a couple techniques to make it possible for you to see the snow on him.

<Click it  

Finally, about an hour after arriving downtown I spotted a falcon on the 19th floor of Kodak Office (KO).

It was on the east side near the northeast corner with its back to me. I was able to ascertain that it was Beauty as I found a spot on State St. to view her from the side and I could see her salmon color through the snow.

After a while Beauty straightened up and covered with wet snow, she walked over to the corner.

The Beautyful one then walked back and then over to the corner again. Her tail looked pretty crusted with snow and/or ice which was making her walk funny.

Eventually she walked over to the north side and practically disappeared. I had a great view of the Frontier Communications tower as I left to look for DC. I had no luck in finding him and as I had an appointment to get to I left downtown with Beauty still up on the Kodak towers 19th floor. I ended my watch at 9:10am and I couldn’t help but smile as Beauty came out in the weather for me to share space with her! 🙂

Click on the links below to view a very short snippet movie and a snowy video of Beauty

http://youtu.be/rMde8UJURNQ

http://youtu.be/VVp2HQ5GQjE