Got downtown with Harold shortly after 6:30 a.m. Met up with Margaret in Falcon Watch Central and got a quick update from her.

Took Harold over to the Broad St Bridge where we set up camp. All three eyases were visible on the platform, but they kept pretty still. Beauty was on the TS building keeping watch.

Shortly before 7:00 am, Beauty launched and did two loops over Broad St and Exchange St. I had the feeling that DC was in the area. She must have seen him coming in because when I stopped using the binocs, I caught sight of DC coming in from the south. He pretty much headed straight into the next box. I was hoping for a food transfer, but not today.

Beauty and the eyases began eating, and DC went up to the northeast wing.

It was time for work, so Harold and I headed home.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

7:00 – 8:30 pm – Watchers that joined me Kathy O, Larry O.

What an absolutely gorgeous summer evening.  Perfect for watching our falcon family.

When I arrived downtown I parked on the Broad St Bridge (BSB) to get a good look at the surrounding area.  Dot.ca was up underneath the NE wing on the Times Square Bldg (TSB) and Beauty was on Camera #4 at the nest box.

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I could see the eyases moving about on the nest box platform below Beauty.  Since the sun was in my eyes on the bridge, I decided to move up to Falcon Central, where we Watch at the top of the stairs leading down to Aqueduct St.  I was in the shade and there was a nice breeze, making the 80 plus degrees (F) very enjoyable.

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Beauty went into the nest box and then out to the base of main camera where she picked up leftovers.  Soon feathers were flying and she was feeding the eyases.  But, not for long.  She took off and flew over me heading towards Mercury. She was carrying the remainder of the meal and she landed on the base of Mercury where she cached (stored) it.  Beauty then took off heading back towards the TSB, but this time she was alarm kakking.  I looked all over, but couldn’t see what was bothering her.

Beauty flew back and forth a couple times and then headed back up to the nest box landing on the main camera.

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Beauty remained on main camera looking north.  She continued to vocalize on and off.  Dot.ca was still up under the NE wing on the TSB and he was also looking north.  First Kathy O and then Larry O joined the Watch.

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After awhile they got quiet and Beauty started to preen.  RFalconcam Watcher Ei tweeted out that Beauty had the eyases stay still during this time.  Thanks to Ei and Amy for letting us know what was going on at the nest box.

Soon after this, we noticed that there were a couple of people out at the north end of the Cross Roads bldg.  One was hanging over the side and looked to be doing some repairs on the building.  This is the opposite side from the nest box.

While Beauty was up on Main Cam, we could see first one and then two eyases come out on the platform beneath her.

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It looked like Dot.ca was getting ready to take off.  He spread his wings and launched himself off of the building.  He went into a classic Peregrine stoop, folding in his wings and rocketing down and over the Blue Cross Arena (War Memorial) over the river.  We lost sight of him for about a minute before he returned to the TSB empty-taloned, landing below the NE wing again.

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It was quiet for the remainder of our Watch, except for the beautiful song of this finch, who sat on a fence nearby.  He can sing for me any day!

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At 8:30 pm, it was time to head home.  All was peaceful and quiet. Oh, and Kathy O had stopped by the BS location on her way downtown and spent some time with Pigott there.  So all three adult Rochester Falcons were seen this evening along with the 3 eyases at the nest box, making it a good Watch for the three of us.  When I left downtown it was a balmy 84 degrees (F).  Night everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

When I stepped out the door this morning it was 71 (F) 21 (C) with a breeze that was blowing the humid air around.

As I approached the Broad and Exchange Blvd. intersection at 5:15am I spotted Beauty flying toward the river near the Blue Cross Arena. Up to the Broad St. Bridge I went to find her but she was gone, I did however find the super moon over by the jail tower.

<click it

I wouldn’t see Beauty again for 35 minutes as I searched the city for her and ended up just waiting for her to show up parked by the stairs at Falcon Watcher Central (FWC). I looked up at 5:48am to see Beauty fly to the main cam.I went down to the hole (Aqueduct St.) to watch as she flew to the base of Mercury and then to the deck. I suspected she was looking for cached food and I got confirmation when cam watcher Annette reported Beauty feeding eyases. Thanks! When she was done Beauty flew to the heel of Mercury.

After 15 minutes of looking for a prey bird Beauty flew across the river behind the Hyatt Hotel to try her luck on the east side.

Be sure to click on all my pics for a full view

A couple minutes later as I made my way up to the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) I spotted Beauty above Xerox abd then she disappeared behind it. T 6:15am as I watched the east side there was activity going on behind me that I was made aware of  by Donna and Campgee (cam watchers are literally the eyes in the back of my head). Beauty and Dot.Ca (DC) were at the nest box and one of them had brought food. I turned to see DC fly from the deck to the northeast wing.

I moved down to the hole to observe daddy DC as he watched Beauty feed their hungry little family from above.

Click it to see DC

At 6:30am or so DC stooped down the north side of the Times Square building-missing his mark he flew off to the east out of sight as Beauty flew over to the heel of Mercury once more.

5 minutes later Beauty flew off right over my head across the bridge at break neck speed clearing the railing on the other side by a couple feet and poof she dropped out of sight stooping down in the river. She did it so fast that I almost didn’t turn in time to see and then she came back up empty taloned and flew east over the South Ave. garage and out of my field of vision. WOW-I so wish everyone could have experienced that with me-incredible to see!

After scanning the eastern sky for Beauty with my binocs I turned to find DC had returned to the northeast wing ledge and I could see 2 kids up on deck.

I returned to the hole for closer viewing and then went searching for the Beautyful one to no avail. I then left for the Brighton Site to see if Pigott was home. Arriving at 7:2oam I found her on a west side top window ledge by the corner where it meets the west extension. She was preening and gaping (throwing head back with mouth wide open) and she had  her back to me.

I didn’t stay long for I had an appointment to get to soon. I went back downtown to check and met up with DebbieH by the stairs at FWC. DC was under the northeast wing and Beauty on the base of Mercury but she flew off behind the Thomson Reuters building right away. Just before 8am DC flew north only to return to the northeast wing ledge. Debbie had to get to work and I had to end my watch and get going. All 3 Rochester Peregrine Falcons were seen. It was good to see fellow watcher and friend DebbieH – giving me yet another reason to smile! 🙂

Check out the links below to see videos of our resident falcons

http://youtu.be/_pLUde6hmc8
http://youtu.be/BxI0PEizSp8
http://youtu.be/vxtNtP0RUdw

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

My afternoon Watches this weekend were hot, hot, hot!  With temps going up into the high 80’s.

The highlight on Saturday was when Beauty soared higher and higher, hunting and stooping and chasing a Red-tailed Hawk for 45 mins.  Brian was there and it was his birthday.  So was Dan.  The only saving grace was that it was overcast, covering the intense sun.

Here are some pics from my Saturday falcon watch.

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I was happy to find Pigott home on Saturday afternoon.

Sunday – 6/23/13 – Hot and Steamy!

Wasn’t much activity by the falcons this afternoon, due to the heat.  Pigott was not home, so I spent a few hours with Beauty, Dot.ca and the eyases.  Temps were up very close to 90 degrees (F) and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.  The eyases were very active, coming out to the end of the nest box platform.

Here are a few pics from today’s (Sunday’s) watch.

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It was too hot to stay any longer than a few hours, so I headed home to cool off.

It turned out to be a really nice weekend to watch the falcons.  Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watch Carol P.

Got a late start today.  I decided to check the BS location first.  I found Kathy O on the south side of the building.  She had no luck finding Pigott and neither did I.  Just after I arrived, RfalconCam Watcher Ei tweeted that Beauty was alarm kakking.  She had been doing it for awhile.  So, Kathy and I decided to head downtown since Pigott wasn’t home.

We arrived on the Broad St Bridge (BSB) and all was quiet.  Ei had tweeted while we were on our way that things had quieted down.  So whatever it was that bothered Beauty, was now gone.  Beauty was on top of the main camera at the nest box and Dot.ca was up under the NE wing on top of the Times Square Bldg (TSB).

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Here are some pictures from the rest of my Friday watch.  I would have posted this report on Friday, but I couldn’t post pictures.

During this watch, we were joined by Joe, Kate and their mom and dad.  It was so nice seeing them.

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It was quiet downtown when Kathy and I arrived and there was no indication as to to what Beauty was alarm kakking at.  When we left Friday night there was a beautiful, almost full moon, above.  It was they day before the supermoon.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Todays starting temperature was 72 (F) 22 (C) with partly cloudy skies and breezy.

I arrived in the hole (Aqueduct St.) at 5:20am and didn’t see any falcons. At 5:38am I spotted Beauty and Dot.Ca (DC) flying in from the northeast to the deck and landing. Cam watchers Campgee and Annette told me that Beauty took food from DC and was feeding the eyases. I was parked on Exchange St. in front of the Times Square building (TSB) when this occurred so I didn’t see much-thanks for the assist ladies. I got out the car to take some pics from below TSB to give y’all a perspective of how things look as we are watching the eyases wander up there outside the deck rails. DC flew from the deck to up under the northeast wing after the food exchange was made.

DC on northeast corner of deck 

On the south side of the deck where cam 4 is there is a column below from the cam to the back of the nest box that they would land on if they fell. Behind that column is a narrow well also. From the cam to the front of the deck there would be a drop straight down to the sidewalk where I was standing. The north side of the deck has a well that they would fall into.

<Taken from in front of Blue Cross Arena

I returned to the hole across the street to continue my watch. Beauty flew out and around the back of the TSB out of view and DC remained under the northeast wing.

I went up to the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) to look for Beauty a little after 6am and joined Dan who was sitting in his spot on the south side of the BSB. He said that Beauty had flown to the jail tower but flew off as I was pulling up. About 10 minutes later I spotted Beauty coming from the southwest over the Wilder building. She crossed the river in front of the OCSR building and continued east over the Granite building. She then turned south going behind the Chase building before we lost sight of her. She was in hunt mode as I could see pigeons in panic mode flying every which way but loose.

I drove to the east side to look for the Beautyful one and I found her while stopped at the Broad and Chestnut St.traffic light. She was soaring above Xerox and Bausch&Lomb going in and out of view as I shot a video of her. I then rejoined Dan on the BSB to see if he saw her. He didn’t because he was watching the TSB where there was a couple eyases on the front ledge of the nest box that could be seen.

Young watcher Joe and his dad, Mike joined us as Beauty was still flying high near Xerox. Today is Joes’ birthday so he was getting a nice aerial show from Beauty as he turned the ripe old age of 12. 10 minutes later Beauty was circling above the TSB before flying across the river only to turn back and land on the Mercury Money Bag. Dan spotted DC on the top ibeam south corner of OCSR just before 7am.

Another birthday treat for Joe as Beauty and DC went a pigeon by the Thomson Reuters building. They missed, making it a lucky day for that pigeon! Beauty flew to the column above the nest box and DC went up under the northeast wing.

<DC     Beauty> Click all pics for full version

2 eyases were out front by the main cam that I pointed out to Joe as Beauty flew east again and DC watched his kids from the northeast wing ledge.

< Joe and his dad

That’s a smile he got when I said I was taking a pic of him to put in my report. Dan left at this time. DC took off fast at 7:30am flying across the river over the Radisson Hotel and returning to the northeast wing.

I asked Joe if he had ever been to the Brighton Site and he said they had tried once but couldn’t find it so off we went to see if Pigott was home. Unfortunately she wasn’t but we did see 2 Turkey Vultures on a window ledge above the east extension.

Joe and his dad had to get going and I had somewhere to be so I ended my watch at 8:30am. As I was about to leave I got a report from cam watcher Donna that Beauty had a big breakfast that she was feeding the family. It made me smile to know that Beauty accomplished the mission she was on all morning! 🙂

Click on the links below to view some videos I shot

http://youtu.be/0av2XWMKY5Q
http://youtu.be/xJfbvS0Cl0w
http://youtu.be/5acQApDT9RA
http://youtu.be/sYUwNlEVmug
http://youtu.be/p_kwdm6eWvg

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was 63 (F) 17 (C) to start my morning watch with a breeze and some clouds in the sky.

I arrived downtown at 5:20am driving to the hole in the middle of the parking lot between the Wilder and Philipone buildings. I couldn’t see any falcons from there so I went over to Bank Place by the stairs that lead up to Broad St. and Falcon Watcher Central. I looked up toward the Times Square building (TSB) and spotted Beauty on cam 4.

Going over behind the Philipone building on Aqueduct St. I could still see her and keep an eye on OCSR in case Dot.Ca (DC) showed up there.

The Beautyful one was napping. At 5:47am Beauty flew out and up to the column above the nest box.

3 times Beauty tried to bring up a pellet being successful on the 2nd try and she did some preening in the next 35 minutes. She flew out and down to the deck at 6:24 then up to the main cam.

Click pics to view full version

5 minutes later Beauty flew behind the TSB circling it once and landing on the column above the nest box briefly before taking off toward the river out of view.

She flew back thru a moment later with DC on her tail. They landed on the deck and some words were exchanged as well as the food, then she went in the nest box and he took off  for the top ibeam south corner of OCSR.

5 minutes later DC flew over to the TSB landing under the northeast wing.

Around 6:30am Beauty came out on the deck and vocalized and a couple minutes later DC flew off, went into a stoop missing his victim and zoomed back behind the TSB out of view. Was she saying “go get us some grub”-sure seemed like it.

Beauty flew up to the column above the nest box and DC didn’t reappear so I snuck out to check the Brighton site.

There was nobody home in Brighton-I stayed for awhile  and returned to downtown when neither Pigott nor DC showed up. I came in from the east side and as I was stopped at the traffic light at Clinton Ave. and Broad St. I could see with my binoculars that Beauty was still on the column above the nest box.

I could see Larry and his dog Harold on the BSB as I made my way down Broad St. At the same time, Aaron came walking up to join us. I hadn’t seen him since last fall when Joyce and I ran into him while out watching owls. It was good to see him again-he’s given me some good tips on taking photos in the past. We chit chatted for a bit then they left. I checked out the river and was happy to see that the level was down from what it’s been thus exposing the rocks which will bring in the shorebirds. I watched a single gull flying up and down off a log to the river-not sure if he was catching fish or just getting his morning exercise but he was very entertaining

I decided to end my watch at 8:44am. I don’t often see other watchers when I’m out because it’s so early, but when I do it makes me smile! 🙂

Below are links for an album and videos-just click and view

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqiJ-

http://youtu.be/2JbM6O6F-3A
http://youtu.be/DhS-OlR89lc
http://youtu.be/l8ItDArFJlU
http://youtu.be/NYnh7CR0jPI

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

A beautiful first day of summer with a starting  temperature of  54 (F) 12 (C) calm conditions and more blue skies and sunshine.

As I made my way downtown cam watcher Annette tweeted that Beauty was feeding the eyases. Thanks! When I arrived in the hole (Aqueduct St.) at 5:20am I found Beauty under the northeast wing of the Times Square building (TSB).

Around 5:50am Beauty flew down to the deck on the north side of the main cam and Dot.Ca (DC) came flying in with prey to the deck on the south side of the main cam where Beauty quickly scampered over and grabbed it from him.

<Beauty> Food exchange>

Campgee tweeted that Beauty was feeding the little darlings. TY   DC stood on the corner of the deck watching  for a moment then he flew to the top ibeam south corner OCSR.

At 6:05am DC flew over to the TSB landing under the northeast wing.

Click it to see DC appear   lol

I left the hole and went up to the Broad St. Bridge joining Dan who was watching from his lawn chair. 15 minutes later we saw Beauty fly over to OCSR briefly, When she spotted DC she flew up to the wing bumping him off and he flew back behind the TSB out of view from the bridge.

At 6:31am DC appeared and landed on the Mercury Money Bag (MMB).

10 minutes passed before both Beauty and DC took off almost simultaneously with the Beautyful one going down to the main cam and DC replacing her under the northeast wing.

I showed Dan the pic of Beauty landing on the main cam pointing out the eyas in the front of the nest box watching mom land. A great big smile appeared on his face and he said that’s amazing MAK. He left right after that so I moved down to the hole by He’s Chinese. For the next 45 minutes it would be the 3 of us sharing space with Beauty on the main cam watching the kids, DC watching the territory and MAK watching them watching!  lol

At 7:22am DC flew over to the MMB and I left to check on Pigott over at our Brighton site.

I found Miss Pigott on the northwest corner of the northeast extension where she was just looking around her surroundings and preening here and there.

I left her after almost an hour of preening and sleeping. In my last pic she almost seemed to be waving goodbye.

When I arrived downtown for one last look I saw Beauty fly off the main cam down to the nest box and DC was on the top ibeam south corner of OCSR napping.

I called it a watch at 8:46am and left downtown with a big old smile on my face after having spent the first morning of summer with 3 of my best friends! 🙂

Click the links below to view videos from my watch

http://youtu.be/W6jzspG9mwo
http://youtu.be/EDgUmymJloQ
http://youtu.be/dPMxcjvnoXM
http://youtu.be/H2HMxjlpGWM
http://youtu.be/Cp7LVryCcng
http://youtu.be/gapm_mJh34E

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

We had a power failure here last week and my PC is FINALLY back in business!

I was able to get downtown for a couple hours this afternoon.  I arrived on the Broad St Bridge (BSB) around 3:50 pm.  Beauty was up on the main camera at the nest box and Dot.ca was no where in sight.  I drove down to Aqueduct St (aka “the hole”) for a closer look.

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Beauty took off and Dot.ca buzzed in from somewhere.  Just shows you that, even though I could not find him, he was somewhere nearby.  He saw Beauty leave and immediately flew to the nest box to guard the eyases.

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DC did not have to wait long.  Beauty was back quickly and he was out of there!

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Beauty entered the nest box and Dot.ca flew over to the Wilder Bldg, landing on the green strip on the south side of the building.

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They stayed where they were for awhile before Dot.ca again took off and flew to the nest box, this time landing on the main camera.  I did not see Beauty leave, so I didn’t know where she went this time.

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I waited for awhile hoping that Beauty would return.  While I waited this HOSP aka House Sparrow (male) had found himself a nice, very ornamental perch.

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When Beauty did not return, I decided to check on Pigott at the BS location.  I found her on the south side of the southwest extension, 5 windows down.

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She was very alert, watching all the activity south of her building.  After about 1/2 hour, she took off and headed south over the wooded area.  She was in no hurry and there was no vocalization.  I waited for awhile to see if she would return.  When she didn’t, I headed back downtown, since I had to leave soon.

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Back downtown on the Broad St Bridge, I could see Beauty back on top of the main camera and one eyas was visible behind her looking out.  Dot.ca was over on the south corner of the top IBeam on OCSR.

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During my two hour watch, I was happy to have seen all three adult Rochester Falcons and one white eyas at the nest box.  lol  All was peaceful and quiet.  Just how I like it!  Night everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

A chilly start with a temperature of 48 (F) 9 (C) but the sun warmed it up quickly and gave us a stellar day!

As I arrived in the hole at 5:20am I could see Dot.Ca (DC) was on the Mercury Money Bag (MMB) and Beauty on the main cam.

I was facing the Times Square building (TSB) watching Beauty as she took off 5 minutes later heading northwest and as I turned to check on DC he was gone too. I next saw DC under the northeast wing from the Broad St. Bridge (BSB), he quickly flew off down to the deck and left to fly over to the top ibeam south corner of OCSR.

Cam watcher Campgee let me know DC brought food to Beauty and a few minutes later as I was watching DC, she also told me Beauty flew out with breakfast and returned with it. Cam watchers are the eyes I need in the back of my head for watching more than one bird. DC flew to the northeast wing ledge on the TSB after 5 minutes.

Another 5 minutes passed and DC went after a gull that flew thru too close to the nest box area. He stooped on it above the Philipone building and then again over the BSB and nearly whacked it! As I lost them behind Thomson Reuters heading toward the river I spotted Beauty on the base of Mercury.

<Sleek looking DC           Beauty>

The Beautyful one flew over to the main cam after a half minute. Around 6am DC was back under the northeast wing briefly then off to the north.

<Beauty>

As I looked at Kodak Office from the BSB I saw a bump on the northeast corner of the launch pad. I drove over there to find it was DC. I couldn’t tell if he was looking north for another PEFA,hawk or just in hunt mode, but he didn’t stay long before he was off to the northeast at 6:20am.

I left for the Brighton site at this point finding Pigott on the southeast corner of the southeast extension.

I shared space with Miss Pigott for a little over an hour as she preened and watched over her territory. She was seeming very relaxed to me. I returned to downtown just before 8am and spotted DC on the top ibeam south corner of OCSR and then he was gone when I looked again. I went down to the hole and watched DC fly to the west end of the Wilder green strip with prey. Beauty went screeching over there and landed next to him and quickly flew off. I didn’t see where she went as I was watching DC with his small package.

<DC 

DC was not to give up his prize as I found him next on the southwest side of OCSR top ibeam.

Around this time I was informed by both Donna and Shaky that Voyager went out to the playpen followed by Baron.  It’s almost nail biting time as they start venturing out away from the safety of the nest box. DC took the prey to the deck and left with it as told to me by Donna. Thanks Donna and Shaky! Beauty was up on the main cam at 8:10am and that’s where I rapped up my watch. I saw all 3 Rochester Peregrine Falcons with beautiful blue skies and sunshine-how can I not smile about that!?! 🙂

Check out the links below to view my videos

http://youtu.be/Hoj_hRoCORc
http://youtu.be/uAe1Kmsn-P4
http://youtu.be/IcNTd8blGs8
http://youtu.be/MLwBpIG4gAU
http://youtu.be/7lEhaNnM3eY