By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

No frost this morning but it was still chilly at 33 degrees (F) 1 (C) and quite windy-sunshine and blue skies one minute and wet snow flakes mixed with light rain the next. Yes, I saw snowflakes today!

So I spotted Beauty on the southeast corner of HSBC from Woodbury St. I drove over to Ajax St. by the post office to observe around 7:30am. She was eating and plucking feathers. She finished up in about 5 minutes then unexpectedly flew off to the west.

I followed after her stopping on the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) where I spotted a falcon on the middle arm northeast side of the Frontier Communications Tower. I first went to Fitzhugh near Church St. and snapped off a pic, it looked like it was Beauty but since she had her back facing me I went to the City Hall parking lot to at least get a side view. As soon as I stopped she took off heading straight toward OCSR.

I made my way down to the hole after spotting the Beautyful one under the southeast corner of the Times Square building (TSB) just before 8am. Buddy the gull stopped by for a visit as Beauty preened a bit.

<Click it 

I left for the Brighton site (BS) after 15 minutes or so, arriving at BS just about 8:20am. Just before I got there Shaky tweeted that there was a falcon on the Mercury money bag.  I had been wondering yesterday when Beauty would start hanging out on this her favorite winter perch. Anyway, I could find no PEFAs at BS but as I scanned the building I noticed beehives in many of the upper window corners. I whipped back downtown to try and catch Beauty on Mercury but she left it while I was enroute as cam watcher Donna let me know. Thanks D! I spotted Dot.Ca (DC) under the northeast wing of the TSB as I pulled over on Exchange Blvd. in front of the Blue Cross Arena.

Then I noticed Beauty under the southeast wing-they both had their backs facing out as I went up on the BSB to get a bookend pic of them. After that I went to the hole and parked on Basin St. behind He’s Chinese where I could see their profiles at least.

<Beauty <DC

For the most part Beauty preened and DC looked to the north as they seemed like they were ignoring each other. They do have a strange relationship but at least they are hanging out in close proximity to each other. It’s funny how DC whines to Beauty (mostly for food) almost acting like a juvie but when he is with Pigott in Brighton she’s the one that does the whining and food is not the issue there. Maybe it’s the age difference-Beauty is older than DC and he is older than Pigott so the younger one does most of the whining!? Just my thoughts.

<DC> <Beauty>

I had to leave them just before 9:30am as I had an appointment to get to thus ending my watch in the bright sunshine looking at our beloved downtown duo which absolutely made me a smile! 🙂

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

http://youtu.be/be2zEgcT1Q0
http://youtu.be/yx9IFp3L1QU

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

There was frost on my car windows when I walked out the door this morning-you must expect that when the temperature is 32 degrees (F) 0 (C). There was also a brisk breeze making it feel colder yet

I found Beauty on the east side of HSBC to start my day-not bad eh? About 5 minutes later she extracted a pellet and flew off circling the building twice. Parked on Broad St. behind HSBC I was able to see Beauty meet up with Dot.Ca near Midtown and then they disappeared as they flew toward Bausch and Lomb.

I drove west, stopping on the Broad St. Bridge for a look around as is my normal routine and I promptly spotted a falcon on the top arm of the Frontier Communications Tower northeast side around 7:30am.  And there was a lovely cloud floating beyond the High Falls.

I went to Fitzhugh St. but couldn’t positively ID this falcon from the angle I had as it attempted to bring up a pellet. So I drove behind the church to have a look from the north end of Montgomery Alley but it left while I was enroute.

You must click on my pics to see the full version

I made my way over to the hole after searching downtown and found the Beautyful one under the northeast wing at 8am. I shared space with her for half hour as she scratched and watched the little birdies below her.

Next stop was the Brighton Site (BS) arriving about 8:45am finding both Pigott and DC after receiving a tweet from fellow falcon watcher LarryO who said there were 2 falcons  on the south side vent. Pigott was on the east end of the vent but I didn’t see DC until I drove around to the east side. There he was under the roof top tree on the southeast corner of the southeast extension.

Pigott spent most of her time preening while DC just relaxed and kept an eye on his surroundings. Then about 9:10am DC perked up and started chirping as Pigott came flying in, coming to rest on an east side window ledge by the east extension where it meets the east side of the building.

<DC  <Pigott

Miss Pigott was her usual animated self as she preened and generally stayed in motion, while DC was content to just stay in one spot.

<Pigott DC>Click it

Next, Pigott took a walk to the other end of the ledge, something she does all the time while DC stretched out a bit.

<Pigott  DC> 

Suddenly around 9:40am they started alarm calling-first Pigott flew off, followed by DC going east as I turned to look I saw a Red-tail Hawk being bombarded by our falcon duo. They chased it back over the roof and to the north leaving my field of vision. Pigott returned and landed on the southeast corner of the southeast extension-DC did not come back.

<DC>RTH>Pigott>

I stayed a bit to see if DC would return and then headed back to downtown arriving about 10:15am. I found DC on the top ibeam of OCSR near the south corner. I figure he chased the hawk and came right straight downtown.

I then set out to find Beauty which I was successful at doing as I saw her from the Andrews St. Bridge. She was on the northeast side of OCSR on the top ibeam so I drove over to Bragdon St. for a closer look and where I could also see DC.

I saw all 3 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons on watch today and ended it at 10:40am with a smile on my face! 🙂

Again, I’m having problems with YouTube so I have links below for 3 out of the 6 videos I shot today and for my photo album

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqi2O

http://youtu.be/gqx28WkVcTk
http://youtu.be/nSlzrMKs4Z4
http://youtu.be/239rVDVITsU

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

It was really cold, in the 40’s (F), and by the end of my short watch, it was sleeting.  No snow yet, but I bet it won’t be too long before we see the white stuff.  Brrrrr!

I was able to get in a short watch after work today.  Downtown, I found Beauty and Dot.ca on  the south side of OCSR on the top IBeam.  Dot.ca was on the left and Beauty on the right.

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Beauty and Dot.ca were the only two falcons I saw today.  I saw no falcons at the BS location, Hawkeye, Seneca Towers, old Medley Center Mall, Charlotte/Summerville or Russell Station.

I was happy to see both Beauty and Dot.ca keeping each other company.

Last night, Lisa McK saw both Dot.ca and Pigott at BS.

So, that’s it for my falcon watch report.  I’ll leave you with a few pictures I took while I was down at the lake (Ontario), looking for the juvie Peregrine.  Be sure to click on any pictures you would like to see larger.  Goodnight everyone!

Buck Pond in Greece, NY.  Dark Clouds moving in.

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Continuing Fall Foliage

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Red Sky at Night, Sailor’s Delight!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Brr- 39 degrees (F) 4 (C) as I left for my watch this morning with overcast skies and a breeze. There’s a freeze warning out for tonight

I found Beauty and Dot.Ca (DC) as I checked the north and east sides of HSBC-she was on the northeast corner and he was a couple feet away from her on the north side.

Click on all my pics for the full version

I took a couple pics then headed over to my spot on Chestnut St. by the Hotel Cadillac and just as I pulled up I heard eechupping followed by DC whining. I looked up just in time to see Beauty fly off the northwest corner of HSBC and head west-DC was now on the west end nearer to the northwest corner. So they had switched corners while I was enroute-sneaky little birdies they are!

<Click it  

Beauty did not return and DC left after a minute or so flying north. That would be all I saw of a falcon for the next 2 hours.

I searched downtown and the Brighton site thoroughly but there wasn’t a falcon to be found so I took pics of mums that the city has displayed around downtown.

Finally as I pulled up on the Broad St. Bridge from checking on the east side just before the 10 o’clock hour I found DC under the northeast wing of Times Square. I went to the hole straight away to click off a few pics of him before I had to leave for an appointment.

I had to smile as I exited downtown for even tho I didn’t see our downtown Rochester pair for long on my watch this morning, I DID see them for which I am blessed!  🙂

One video link below to click and view

http://youtu.be/aLzKvKzLyJU

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

As I walked out the house today the temperature was 40 (F) 4 (C) with a slight breeze and mostly cloudy. It had rained during the night ushering in a cold front and as it made its way thru today the breeze got busy.

As I made my way around the back of HSBC on the east side I spotted Beauty on the east side of HSBC. She had her back to me at first and then after 5 minutes she flew over to the northeast corner of HSBC. I started out on Broad St. and switched over to Chestnut St. near the Hotel Cadillac to watch the Beautyful one.

There’s a nice display of pretty flowers in the back of HSBC which I had to photograph for a splash of color.

<Click it>

I left Beauty after well over an hour before leaving to check the Brighton Site. As I arrived there near 9am I found Pigott on the east side perched on the southeast corner near the roof top tree. Her head was on a swivel this morning watching everything in sight.

<Click it

Miss Pigott had a full crop and never moved from her spot.

I returned downtown finding Beauty on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR just in time to see her fly off headed north.

After some searching I found Beauty on the inside of the southeast cube on the Frontier Communications Tower as I was on Fitzhugh St. I never did see Dot.Ca while on watch.

<Find Beauty

I got another angle of her from Church St. allowing me to see her from the front.

I left her to rest thus ending my watch at 9:45am. So today was ladies day as I saw both Beauty and Pigott. On my way home I saw a u-haul truck with a goshawk on it and a lovely leaf with several colors and stages of its fall life. Keep smiling everyone! 🙂

Due to technical difficulties there are no videos today

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This morning was partly sunny with a starting temp 0f 47 (F) 8 (C)

I had a bit of a time finding a falcon at first but was pleasantly surprised when I came across both Beauty and Dot.Ca (DC) on the top ibeam of the OCSR building. He was on his north corner and she was 11 windows away from him.

<DC <Click> <Beauty

They stayed perched with their backs to me and each other at the start then DC turned toward Beauty and I before disappearing. I think Beauty was a little grumpy this morning, she had some fierce looking faces going on.

<DC   <Beauty>  

<Beauty> 

I hung out with the Beautyful one til she started napping then I went to Brighton after I didn’t find DC anywhere downtown.

<Beauty>  

I arrived at BS at 9am finding DC on the east side southeast corner by the roof tree. I stayed with him for the better part of an hour as he surveyed his territory.

<Click  to see DC> 

I found my way back downtown just before 10am to see that Beauty was still on OCSR top ibeam northeast side. I had a busy day ahead so I called it a watch and headed out with a smile for seeing our downtown pair of Rochester Peregrine Falcons! 🙂

I had trouble loading videos so I have only one of DC and another from yesterday that I ran out of time for-just click on the links below to view them

http://youtu.be/GS_jioB0Wdk

http://youtu.be/0GOKaph-yFA

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Another gorgeous fall day here in Rochester, NY with temps in the 50’s (F), blue sky, fluffy clouds and sunshine most of the time I was out.  During my Watch I was joined by fellow Watchers Dana & Lou.

No sightings of Billy the juvenile Peregrine at Russell Station, Charlotte/Summerville, Seneca Towers or Hawkeye.  We’ll keep looking for her!

I drove through downtown, but could not find any falcons there, so continued on to the BS location.  Pigott was on the east end tree ledge.  She was actively watching everything, her head swinging back and forth and up and down.

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I parked my car on the east side parking lot and settled in to enjoy my watch with Pigott. (12:30 pm)

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At approximately 1:15 pm, Pigott began to alarm kak.  She was looking up and so did I just as she launched herself from the ledge, wings beating strongly.  She quickly gained on the Red-tailed Hawk that was passing overhead.  I could hear her angry cries, but just before she reached the hawk, she broke off the attack and headed north, higher and higher and then………she stooped.  She stooped back towards me and I spotted what she was after.  A lone pigeon was flying towards the building and she dove towards it and extended her talons out in front of her and snatched it in mid-air.  She then carried it to the NE corner of the east extension.

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She ate her fill and then started to look around and bob her head.  This is what they do when they are ready to take off.  Well, most of the time.  As the Watchers know, it may be the falcons intent to fly, but sometimes we wait a really long time to actually see them take off.  lol  Well, it wasn’t too long before Pigott took off with the remainder of her meal.  She flew around the building, and I lost sight of her as she headed SW.

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Dana and Lou joined me and we searched the area, finding a falcon on the SE corner of the building.  This falcon seemed smaller and was banded, so I assume it was Dot.ca.  He eventually flew off to the west and we all decided to head downtown.

I checked the Xerox area, and then joined Dana and Lou on the Broad St Bridge.

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When I arrived, Dana was out of the car taking pics of the falcon on the top IBeam (south side) of OCSR.  This falcon took off and started chasing the pigeons and gulls over the river, first landing on the upthrust hand of the Mercury statue and then heading west.  The falcon landed on top of the Times Square building (TSB) on one of the wing rings.  This was definitely a spot that Dot.ca has been seen many times.

As I was getting out of my car, an adult Red-tail Hawk landed on a sign between Dana and I.

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Dana was intently taking pictures of Dot.ca up on top of the TSB, so she had no clue the hawk was directly behind her.  I was trying to warn her and so was Lou.  That’s when Dot.ca launched himself from the wing ring and went into a stoop, directly at Dana!  Of course Dot.ca was aiming for the hawk behind Dana, but she didn’t know that at the time.  The hawk took off and the chase was on.  Dot.ca chased the RTH over the Broad St Bridge, heading south over the library.  Once they passed over the library, all we could see was quick passes by Dot.ca as he stooped over and over again on the hapless hawk.  Finally, he’d had enough and flew back towards us, landing on the top IBeam of the OCSR.

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A gentleman on a bike that had been passing by at that time had stopped to watch with us.  Dana told us she had been taking pics of DC up on top of the TSB, when all of a sudden he took off and headed straight for her.  She watched him get bigger and bigger in her long lens, thinking he was stooping on her!  lol  That was until she turned around and saw the hawk right behind her.  Nothing like being stooped on by the fastest creature on the planet to get the adrenaline going!  Even if you weren’t the intended target.

It was close to 3:00 pm and time for me to end my Watch.  I did continue to check the downtown area, but was unable to find Beauty.  It had been a wonderful day of Falcon Watching!

I’ll leave you with a few pics I took during my Watch.  Remember to click on any you would like to see larger.  Goodnight everyone!

Fall foliage in the Genesee River Gorge from the Driving Park Bridge near Hawkeye.

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Plus a couple from the Lower Falls Park.  Lots of water flowing over the falls and in the second pic, you can barely see the rainbow that crossed over the path in front of me.  I actually walked through a rainbow and it was very wet!  lol

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This morning the starting temp for my watch was a cool 41 (F) 2 (C) with clear skies and plenty of sunshine

Click on my pics to see full version

It was almost a carbon copy of yesterdays events as I found Beauty on the northeast corner of HSBC.  The difference being she dropped off the corner immediately going into stoop form straight down after a pigeon which she missed. Then she flew toward the sun making me lose sight of her momentarily and when I saw her next she was in the middle of a flock of pigeons trying to grab one. She was unsuccessful and returned to HSBC at 7:54am to look some more after a short flight to the west .

I think Beauty couldn’t wait any longer to catch breakfast for 15 minutes later she flew northwest and ended up under the northeast wing of the Times Square building (TSB). I caught up to her as I could see her there from the Broad St. Bridge. I continued down to the hole behind He’s Chinese to observe. While I enroute, Beauty flew over to the ledge under the southeast wing going to the back of it to eat cached food.

The Beautyful one finished her tidbit in quick time, and spent 10 minutes feaking (wiping off her beak) and cleaning up before she flew northeast. I drove over to check the Frontier Communications Tower for her and she gave me the slip-when I went back to TSB she was under the northeast wing! Ha, you can run but you can’t hide-well, not this time anyway! lol

I went to Brighton at this point arriving there just about 9am but there were no PEFAs present. I went back downtown via Highland Park and took some foliage pics. They’ll all be gone soon as we go into winter mode.

I found Beauty in the same spot, same position under the northeast wing when I arrived downtown,where I left her 45 minutes earlier.  She was looking around and being, well being just Beautyful!

I ended my watch at 9:30am on the Broad St. Bridge. The water level was higher than its been in a while thus covering all the flats and keeping the shore birds out of there. On the north side of the bridge the only bird was one lonely cormorant.

For the second day in a row I had a Beauty only watch, which will become the norm once Dot.Ca migrates (if he does). Whomever I get to see on my watches will keep me smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to view more pics of Beauty and the fall foliage plus 3 videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqi1g

http://youtu.be/gRArTjKnUNM

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Lots of weather changes today.  Temps in the 50’s (F), sunshine, dark clouds and gusty wind.  Thankfully the rain held off until this evening.

I finally was able to get out for my falcon watch this morning just before 10:00 am.  I decided to took for Billy the juvie Peregrine Falcon first.  First Russell Station, then the Charlotte/Summerville area, then Seneca Towers and finally the Hawkeye Plant.  Sorry to say, I was unable to find her.  I headed downtown and found two falcons on the Frontier Communication Tower.  It looked like Beauty on the NE box below the platform and Dot.ca above her on the NE corner of the platform.  They were both vocalizing softly to each other.  (11:05 am)

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After awhile, I decided to head over to the BS location, arriving there at approximately 11:30 am.  I circled the building twice checking every nook and cranny.  I could not find any falcons there.  So, I parked on the south side and waited to see if they would return.  After seeing the banded tiercel, which I assume was Dot.ca, here last night, I wondered if Pigott or UT would return.

It was very quiet there and after an hour, I decided to drive around the building again.  When I got to the north side, I saw a falcon up on the NW corner of the NW extension.

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I am pretty sure that this is Dot.ca.  I did see a black band on him later in the watch.  Just after Lisa McK joined me, Dot.ca started to ee-chup loudly.  We looked up to see what had caught his attention.  It was Pigott.  She flew up to the cubby ledge and looked around.  She took off and flew over Dot.ca, then turned back towards the cubby.  Dot.ca followed and they both went into the cubby where we could not see them.  But we sure could hear them!  Loud ee-chupping filled the air.

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They spent about 15 minutes inside the cubby.  At 1:00 pm, Pigott came into view at the edge of the cubby while, DC continued to vocalize from within.  A few minutes later, he stepped out onto the ledge and flew out, landing on the roof above the cubby.  It was then that I saw the black band.  This was definitely not UT.  I never got a look at the numbers/letters on the band, but I had to assume that this was Dot.ca.

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I thought that Dot.ca left, but later in my watch at 2:11 pm, I saw a small falcon face peer over the edge of the roof line at me and then disappear.  I drove out further from the building, but could not see him up there.

Pigott remained on the cubby ledge, preening and napping until I left her at 2;45 pm to check out the downtown area one more time.  She never did show me her bands and I never saw Dot.ca reappear on the roof.

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Just before 3:00 pm, I arrived on the Broad St Bridge and found a falcon on the south side of OCSR on the top IBeam.  This falcon was very white.  It had to be Dot.ca.

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I checked out the downtown area, but could not find Beauty.  It was time for me to end my watch.

I’ll leave you with a few pictures I took yesterday and today during my watch.  Remember to click on any pics you would like to see larger.  Goodnight everyone!

When the falcons are away, the Crows will play!  lol

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Some pictures taken at Russell Station last night.

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Couple pics from the BS Location.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

The starting temperature this morning as I stepped out the door was 53 (F) 12 (C) with mostly cloudy conditions but I did get the sunrise during a clear time

I found our Beautyful girl on the southeast corner of HSBC to begin my watch. It would be an all Beauty morning! She soon flew off there and went over to the northeast corner and started eating as I arrived in my spot on Chestnut St. near the Hotel Cadillac.

She spent maybe 10 minutes at the most nibbling on a meager piece of food and then at 7:42am Beauty flew off with her small package heading west.

I followed right behind, stopping on the Broad St. Bridge to look around. I spotted her up under the southeast wing on the Times Square building to the back of the ledge finishing up her food. When she was done Beauty flew out and back landing under the northeast wing.

Beauty had more cached food on the ledge and started eating-it was another small piece and she finished it off  lickety split in about 5 minutes. She then did some feaking (wiping her beak off) and started cleaning up her blood stained talons.

Satisfied with her clean up the Beautyful one flew off at 8:01am and headed north over to the Frontier Communications Tower. When I got over to the City Hall parking lot she was on her northeast cube. Beauty got situated then foofed out her feathers-I love it when they foof it up!

After 10 minutes I left to check the Brighton Site but I didn’t find any PEFAs there. I returned downtown and searched everywhere for Dot.Ca but he was nowhere to be found. Beauty was still on her cube preening.

I left her at 9:06am thus ending my watch. I do like to see all our Rochester Peregrine Falcons so I know they’re ok but a watch with only Beauty makes me smile everytime! 🙂

Check out the links below to see the Beautyful one in action

http://youtu.be/k5JOL02OWYg

http://youtu.be/J14zJcQbfE0

http://youtu.be/Mzn_4hUqHnw