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.

*

*

*

*

*

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)

*

*

*

*

*

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.

*

*

*

*

*

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.

*

*

*

*

*

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

*

*

*

*

*

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

*

*

*

*

*

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.

*

*

*

*

*

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.

*

*

*

*

*

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

*

*

*

*

*

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.

*

*

*

*

*

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!

*

*

*

*

*

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

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

At 18 degrees (F) -8 (C) it should have felt warmer this morning as I headed out the door at 7:10am but the wind made it feel very bitter cold. We had an Alberta Clipper come through just before I left bringing 3 fast inches of snow making for a slow drive at rush hour and the wind created white out conditions at times. However, the sun shone bright!!!

In my travels to find a falcon downtown I spotted one flying for a brief moment near the Bausch&Lomb building around 7:40am. I continued on and found Beauty 10 minutes later on the Kodak Office (KO) tower south side arch perched on the west side of it. 10 minutes later as I just started to video tape her the Beautyful one flew off heading south right over my head.

After it was apparent she wasn’t coming back I left and did a quick check of downtown-with no sightings I went to the Brighton Site (BS). As I rounded the back of the building and the east side of the building came into view I spotted Dot.Ca fly (DC) off the east extension followed by Pigott who was on a southeast extension window. They flew around to the front of the property out of view and half a minute later Pigott returned and landed on an east extension window. She stayed only a few seconds before she flew over to the southeast extension coming to rest on a window ledge 2 rows down with her back  facing me.

I got situated where I could get a side look at Miss Pigott-she always looks around a lot so I was able to get some shots of this pretty Peregrine! At one point she was getting sleepy but didn’t close her eyes for long as the wind would whip up and wake her. It seemed to give her a little attitude judging by the look on her face.

I stayed with Pigott for about 35 minutes and before I left her I took a ride around to see if maybe DC  was somewhere on the building-no such luck. I drove to the back of the east side parking lot and took a few parting shots of Pigott before leaving for downtown.

Arriving in our fair city around 9:30am I searched for falcons at KO but found none so I drove over to the Andrews St. bridge to have a look/see. Scanning from the east side of the river and working my way west-nothing on OCSR or Crossroads north side. Nope, not on Times Square or Mercury. No bumps on the Frontier Communications tower either and then-what? Is that Beauty on the south side arch of KO? Yep it sure was as I pulled over on State St. to check out our little sneak after I had just been there a few minutes ago! lol

I shared space with our downtown matriarch for 15 minutes as she looked around her territory while the wind whistled around her.

DC  was nowhere in sight as I ended my watch about 10am. I said good bye to Beauty and shot her a smile as I drove away! 🙂

Click on the links below to check out todays videos

http://youtu.be/4UrerCa

http://youtu.be/GTKarmTszxs

http://youtu.be/HHTD5J7-dgo

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

My Watch started at noon today.  My normal first stop is Kodak Park.  Today I found the KP Falcon at home.  S/he (don’t no if this is a male or female yet) was on the east stack, lower catwalk, on a silver box next to a red light, east side.  This seems to be a favorite perch for this falcon.

*

*

*

*

*

My next stop was the BS location, where I found both Pigott and Dot.ca.  Pigott was on an east end window and as I was driving up, Dot.ca flew in and landed on the tree ledge above her.

*

*

*

*

*

At 12:50 pm, a Ring-billed Gull came flying by.  Now, I’ve seen many gulls pass by the building and flap their beaks at the Peregrines below.  Usually Pigott and Dot.ca just ignore them.  But not today.  For some reason this gull annoyed them.  Here comes the gull.  Scree!  Scree!  Scree! Dot.ca looked up at the approaching gull.  This gull was entering Peregrine Country, not a smart move.  As the gull got closer, Dot.ca took off and smacked the gull!  Over and over again, chasing it to the north east.  Well, Pigott wasn’t about to let Dot.ca have all the fun.  She took off and joined in the attack on the hapless gull.  They double teamed, both taking turns hitting the gull. The gull screamed and got out of dodge as quickly as possible.  The interesting thing is that there was no vocalization from the falcons at all.  No KAK KAK KAK! like they would normally do for an intruder.

*

*

*

*

*

Pigott and Dot.ca finally gave up the chase and returned to their building.  Both flew over patrolling the area.  Then they both flew off heading southwest.

*

*

*

*

*

I waited around for about a 1/2 hour.  When they didn’t return, I headed downtown to find Beauty.  It took me awhile, but from the Andrew St Bridge, I found her up on the north end of the Cross Rds Bldg.

*

*

*

*

*

On my way home, I checked out the Charlotte area and Russell Station, hoping to find Billy.  I had no luck finding her, but I did find a Snowy Owl out on the middle of the ice on Buck Pond.

*

*

*

*

*

When I was downtown, I did visit the pedestrian bridge.  I wanted to check out the High Falls and Genesee River Gorge.  It was an icy wonderland.  I’ll leave you with some pictures from my visit to the gorge.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Oh, and one last thing.  Here’s a video of the water flowing over the partially iced High Falls.  Enjoy!

CLICK ON THIS YOUTUBE LINK

http://youtu.be/yy-1UZRMhv4

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

My falcon watch started a little after 2:00 pm.  At the BS location, I found Pigott and Dot.ca on the east end of the building, just a few windows apart.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

At 2:39 pm, Pigott took off and flew around the building.  She then flew off to the southwest.  I had reported in my tweet that it was Dot.ca, but it was Pigott that went on a hunt.  Dot.ca and I waited for her to return.  We didn’t have to wait long.  Pigott came back at 2:46 pm carrying a pigeon up to the tree ledge above Dot.ca.  There, Pigott prepped the pigeon and enjoyed her meal.  Feathers were flying everywhere, floating on the cold winds. Dot.ca stayed where he was the whole time Pigott was eating.

*

*

*

*

*

After Pigott finished her meal, she took off with the remainder.  Dot.ca took off and gave chase.  He finally got his share when Pigott allowed him to have what was left.  lol  I have to say, he was very patient, waiting for her to complete her meal.

Now, did you ever wonder what we mean when we say “feathers are flying” when the falcons prepare their meal?  Well this video says it all.  Here’s Pigott prepping her pigeon on the tree ledge at the BS location.  Enjoy!

CLICK ON THIS YOUTUBE LINK