By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Another overcast,dark day in the flower city with a starting temperature of 32 (F) 0 (C)

It was a singular morning watch as Beauty was the only Rochester Peregrine Falcon I saw today. As I was by the Radisson Hotel at Main St. checking up in the elevator shaft of the OCSR building I spotted the Beautyful one on the south corner top ibeam. While I was in transit to the hole (Aqueduct St.) to see her better she flew off to the money bag hand of Mercury (MMB).

Click on my pics to see full version

She did some preening in between keeping a watchful eye on her territory. Notice how her chest feathers get darker as it gets lighter out.

Around 7:55am Beauty prepared for take off and flew northwest.

<Click it

As I made my way forward toward Exchange Blvd. from the hole I noticed Beauty perched under the southeast wing of the Times Square building. Her back was facing out so I went down in front of the Blue Cross Arena to see her from the side.

It was at this time I decided to go check the Brighton site. Arriving there about 8:30am I could find no falcons. I waited around 10 minutes and when nobody showed up I left to check downtown once more. I could find nothing there either and so I ended my watch at 9am. Having seen just Beauty was good for a smile but I always like to see them all so I know they’re ok. 🙂

One link below to check out

http://youtu.be/JnlL658JY2M

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Another afternoon watch for me.  My watch started at Kodak Park, where I had no luck finding the KP Falcon.  But I did find a beautiful juvenile Red-tail Hawk.  It was raining, sleeting and snowing all at once with temps in the 30’s (F).  It was the first day of February and the sun set at 5:21 pm.

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After finding no falcons at KP, I headed over to the BS location.  Both Pigott and Dot.ca were there on the west end of the building.  It started snowing harder and then it changed over to an icy rain.

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<– Pigott at BS

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<– Dot.ca at BS

Dot.ca took off and flew east.  Pigott followed and then flew around to the north side of the building, landing on the northwest corner of the northwest extension.  Dot.ca did not return.  It was time to head downtown.

My timing was bad.  There was an event at the Blue Cross Arena (aka the Rochester War Memorial) letting out and there was a lot of traffic around the area.  The Harlem Globetrotters are in town.

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I slowly made my way around the downtown area.  You’ll never guess where I found Beauty.  Yep, you guessed it!  She was up inside the OCSR elevator shaft on the south ledge.  lol

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I ended my watch after seeing all three resident Rochester Falcons.  As I usually do, I drove down to the lake and looked for Billy.  Always hoping for a glimpse of her.  I had no luck finding her today.

I’ll leave you with a picture of the Charlotte Lighthouse.  Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This mornings starting temperature was 28 (F) -2 (C) with dark  overcast skies

Ive been having trouble finding Beauty first thing in the morning the last few days and today was no different-so after an hour with no success I drove over to the Brighton site (BS). Arriving around 8:30am I didn’t find a falcon there either, at first. I drove around the building  with no sightings and as I sat in the east side parking lot I saw a large bird flying over in the trees of Highland Park. When it landed in a tree I drove over to have a look/see. I didn’t find it but when I got back to BS a few minutes later there was a falcon on the south side vent plucking feathers. It was Dot.Ca (DC) and he was pulling out feathers in large amounts.

He got to the meat of the matter and ate it pretty fast -spending only about 20 minutes on it.

Larry and his dog Harold came by and welcomed me back from my trip. As we were having a chat a few Blue Jays came thru and entertained us for a couple minutes.  DC flew off and around to the west side. Larry drove over to check and I followed behind to find DC was now on the northwest corner of the northwest extension.

<Harold

We stayed a few more minutes then Larry and handsome Harold left and I followed suit a minute later around 9:10am. As I made my way down Exchange Blvd. past the Times Square building I glanced over at Widows Walk and spotted Beauty on the northeast corner. I pulled into the parking lot next to Times Square and barely had a chance to take a couple pics before she shot off to the north.

I drove down State St. thinking the Beautyful one had gone to Kodak Office (KO) but as I passed by the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) I could see her on the northeast cube. I had troubles getting a good view of her because of how she was situated on it so I took pics from behind the Open Door mission on Montgomery Alley and from the City Hall parking lot.

Around 9:45am Beauty started whining as DC came flying in and came to rest on the northwest 2nd arm of FCT-he flew east after a few seconds and didn’t return.

Beauty started turning and looking east-she ended up facing north looking toward KO and then turned back around showing me her back.

Taking Beautys’ lead I drove over to KO and found DC on the northeast corner of the launchpad-he was facing north when I arrived.

I watched him for a few minutes then ended my watch at 10am with a smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/Rv815zoJ174

http://youtu.be/DJR5N1Dz234

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

The sunrise and sunset get wider apart and frigid, cold January is gone!  Bring on February!  Today the sun set at 5:19 pm and the temperature remained close to 30 degrees this afternoon.

At KP, I did check sporadically during the day, but never saw the KP Falcon.  I checked one more time as I left work, but again could not find a falcon there.

At the BS location, I found both Pigott & Dot.ca on the east end of the building.  But, before I could turn my camera on, first Pigott, then Dot.ca took off heading to the north side of the building.  By the time I drove around to the north side, they both returned, Pigott landing on the NE corner of the east extension and Dot.ca on the SE corner.  The looked like falcon bookends up there.

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I parked where I could keep an eye on both of them.  They were preening and actively watching all the activity around them.  Dot.ca kept bobbing his head until he finally took off and zipped around to the south side of the building.  Pigott watched him and then launched herself from the building and followed.  They both flew back and forth diving down on the lower roofs.  There are starlings that hang out among other small birds and I have a feeling that Dot.ca was on a hunt with Pigott lending support.

Dot.ca disappeared around the west end of the building, where I could hear a short burst of ee-chups and Pigott returned to the NE corner of the east extension.  Dot.ca returned clutching something very small in his talon.  He landed on the tree ledge on the east side and got down to eating.  I have no idea if he had a successful hunt or if he had found a small cache that Pigott had hidden on the building.  Whatever it was, it didn’t take very long for him to finish it. (4:40 pm)

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Fellow Falcon Watcher Kathy O joined me on the watch.  While we were chatting, Watcher Pat tweeted that Beauty was up on top of the Times Square Bldg. (4:46 pm) So all three resident Rochester Falcons were seen this evening.

At a little after 5:00 pm, Dot.ca took off and flipped around to the north side of the building.  We looked over to where Pigott was and she was also gone.  Kathy and I drove around to the north side and found both Pigott and Dot.ca on north facing windows on the east extension where it meets the NE extension.  This is a spot that Pigott uses frequently as a nighttime roost.  I’ve seen Dot.ca join her there before.

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The sun had set and it was time to end our watch.  I did check the Times Square building on my way through the city, but Beauty was not there.  I suspect she was probably tucked up inside the OCSR elevator shaft.

Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was down right balmy as I stepped out the door today with a temperature of 33 (F)  1 (C) and overcast skies

With my second trip to the east side of the city I spotted Beauty on the northeast corner of  Bausch & Lomb eating as I was waiting for the traffic light at Chestnut and Broad St.  around 7:40am.  I viewed her at first from behind the Hotel Cadillac and Midtown but it was too great a distance for clear pics.

So I left there and parked behind some hazard cones on Broad St. next to Xerox which was a better spot to observe the Beautyful one.

She finished her meal off in about half  an hour then cleaned herself up by doing some feaking  before flying off to the north.

I drove to the Broad St. Bridge where I could see Beauty on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR. I went down to the hole and then over to the Radisson Hotel for closer viewing.

I shared space with  Beauty until about 8:30am and then left for the Brighton Site (BS). I found Pigott on the northeast corner of the east extension and Dot.Ca (DC) under the roof top tree on the southeast extension. They both had full crops and were just chillin’ on their spots.

<DC <Pigott>

DC did some leg and wing stretching while Miss Pigott watched over her territory.

<DC> Pigott>

DC mostly just perched motionless in one spot while Pigott did a little preening, stretching, rousing (shaking her feathers) and she pooped too!

<Click it to see DC

<Pigott

I left them to digest their meals and checked OCSR on my way thru downtown and could see that Beauty was still on the top ibeam digesting her breakfast as well. I ended my watch at 9am content in knowing that all 3 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons were seen and had substantial meals in them. Keep smiling! 🙂

Check todays videos by clicking on the links below

http://youtu.be/UqsXrNvBWxU
http://youtu.be/dHxluTy1Uag
http://youtu.be/4E4cThQSCz8
http://youtu.be/P53xjiUcFSo

By Rochester Falcon Watch Carol P.

The temperatures are rising and the sunset is being pushed out farther everyday!  During my watch today, the temperature was close to 30 degrees (F) and the sun set at 5:19 pm.

At 10:30 am, I spotted the KP Falcon on its favorite spot on the east stack.  This is the 3rd morning in a row that I saw it there.

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This afternoon, I could not find the KP Falcon, but I did find Pigott at home at the BS location.  She was up on the northwest corner of the northwest extension.  Preening and just enjoying the milder temperatures, just like her Watcher.  lol

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Downtown I found Beauty tucked up inside the OCSR elevator shaft on the south ledge.  Same spot that I found her yesterday afternoon.

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I looked at both locations for Dot.ca but I wasn’t able to find him.

On my way home, I checked along the lake but was unable to find Billy or any Snowy’s along the way.

Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

More manageable temps today with a starting temperature of 11 (F) -12 (C) and warming up into the 20’s for a high-I’ll take it! With bright sunshine and barely a breeze it felt like a heatwave

The weather cooperated but the falcons did not on my watch this morning. I checked out the High Falls hoping Beauty or Dot.Ca (DC) would show up on Kodak Office (KO) but no such luck. The sun was rising in the eastern sky and the falls were in a mostly frozen state.

Click on my pics to see the full version

After searching for nearly an hour I gave up on downtown and drove to the Brighton Site (BS). Arriving there around 8:10am I discovered Pigott eating on the east side roof of the southeast extension. She was just finishing up and started feaking and seemed to smile after she was done.

Miss Pigott turned around and suddenly flew across to the east extension landing on a top window ledge.

After landing she stuck her tongue out at me and got cinched in to digest her meal while kept an eye on her territory.

I was happy to see a full crop on this girl and at 8:45am I left her to it and went back downtown.  Just before I landed at BS a tweet came in from Shaky that Beauty was on the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) so I was hoping she would still be there. I made it just in time to get one pic before she flew north off the northeast corner of the platform railing.

I drove north thinking the Beautyful one had gone to KO but after checking the whole perimeter I came up empty. I then went north down State St. to the Driving Park Bridge checking the Hawkeye Plant where she’s been known to hang out  but not there either. While I was there I checked the Lower Falls to find them just about completely frozen like there big brother (High Falls) down river.

<Click it

I made a couple more trips around downtown but was unable to find Beauty or DC  so I called it a watch just before 10am. Some days are like that but as long as I see at least one Rochester Peregrine Falcon I leave the city smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to view a couple videos from this mornings watch

http://youtu.be/FYmv-Cn5yjw

http://youtu.be/kP01HUZQJE0

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

During my late afternoon watch it was 12 degrees (F) with a wind chill well below zero.  The winds were really gusting!

Earlier today, around 10:00 am, I spotted the KP falcon on the east side of the east stack on the silver box next to the red light above the lower catwalk.  This was the 2nd morning in a row that I’ve seen this falcon on that same spot.

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After work, I checked the KP area again, but I couldn’t find the KP falcon.  So, off to the BS location where I found Pigott hunkered down on an east facing window below the tree ledge.  The winds were whipping around the building.  I looked for Dot.ca, but could not find him.

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Downtown was my next stop.  From the Broad St Bridge, I watched the pigeons swirling around above the river.

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I thought that maybe a falcon was the cause, but I couldn’t see one.  So I headed over to check out the OCSR elevator shaft and found Beauty tucked safely up inside on the south ledge.

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I didn’t see Dot.ca, but I was happy to find Beauty and Pigott.

I’ll leave you with a few pictures of some beautiful frost art.  These were on the windows at work this morning.  There was quite a crowd taking pictures of the gorgeous patterns.  Enjoy!

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By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

For the 2nd day in a row the starting temperature for my watch was 0 (F) -18 (C) and the wind made it feel way colder as I had trouble keeping my fingers warm today and my camera had trouble focusing

Around 7:30am I spotted Beauty on the east side of the launchpad on Kodak Office (KO) and she was eating! It’s very important for our falcons to eat so they can keep warm in this brutally cold weather. The red light on KO was still lit as I arrived and then the sun finally rose up from the horizon and cast its rays on the Beautyful one.

Click on my pics to see the full version

About 15 minutes later Dot.Ca (DC) flew in and joined Beauty on the launchpad as they exchanged words. She finished her meal off by swallowing a leg in front of him. She did some feaking on the edge of the launchpad and dropped off of it to fly away as DC and i watched.

A few minutes later DC went over to the northeast corner and got into hunt mode.

I stayed a few more minutes and left to see where Beauty might have gone. I didn’t find her so off to the Brighton Site (BS) I went. Arriving there around 8:30am I found Pigott on the top window of the southeast extension in the corner where it meets the east extension.

She spent most of the  45 minutes I spent with her preening her chest feathers. She also checked out a Blue Jay and a Cardinal that came flying thru.

Just before I left Miss Pigott gave me a parting poop shot and threw me a glance over her shoulder as if to say- finally, some solitude around here! lol

I searched downtown with no luck at finding Beauty or DC  before ending my watch at 9:30am. Having seen all 3 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons on my watch sent me on my way with a big old smile on my face! 🙂

Click on the links below to see our birds in action

http://youtu.be/7xURhUhYnK0

http://youtu.be/ZdaZG87TDF8

http://youtu.be/ypKhDCWfXsg

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Downright bone chilling cold has returned to Rochester as it was 0 degrees (F) -18 (C) as I began this mornings watch with a wind chill factor of -18 (F)  and bright sunshine

I was pleasantly surprised to spot Beauty eating on the northeast corner of Crossroads after checking the east side as I was on the Broad St. Bridge at 7:24am. The best place to view her was from Graves St at Main St. next to Aqueduct Park and it had to be done thru the middle of a snowflake light on a pole on Main St. lol

Click on my pics to view full version

The Beautyful one spent a half hour eating and when she was finished she did a little feaking (cleaning her beak off by wiping on ledge), content with her meal she seemed to smile and then she pooped.

Beauty then waved hi to me, gave me the A-ok sign and flew off to the northeast at 7:55am.

I suspected that Beauty had gone over to the Kodak Office tower so I shot down State St. and found her on her favorite early morning spot lately which is the west side of the south side arch. This is the first time I’ve seen Beauty with food in her crop since I returned from my Arkansas trip last Tuesday-this made me very happy! 🙂

So I left our downtown female Peregrine Falcon to check the Brighton Site (BS) after about 15 minutes passed as I knew she would be resting and digesting her breakfast. I arrived at BS Around 8:30am finding Pigott on the southeast extension perched on a top row east facing window with her back to me. She was very sleepy and had a fascinator stuck to her forehead making her look a little goofy.

She did some preening and looking around her surroundings and still the fascinator stayed in place.

Miss Pigott foofed herself up after a good rouse (shaking her body feathers) to keep warm and just before I left her at 9:05am she watched a plane fly over the building.

When I returned to downtown I had a hard time finding a falcon and as I was stopped on the BSB there were pigeons lining the Blue Cross Arena letters telling me there wasn’t a falcon near by. After 2 unsuccessful trips around the city I decided to check the elevator shaft-from the Radisson Hotel driveway I was able to spot the back of a falcon which was blending in very well on the south side ledge. I believe it was Beauty but can’t say for sure.

It was 10am and time to ease on down the road ending my watch with a smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to see our girls from this morning

http://youtu.be/bYwG6Cizf9E

http://youtu.be/RZSVFpvYQgI