By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

I left for my watch under clear skies and calm conditions with a starting temperature of 28 (F) -2 (C) at 6:30am

I came into downtown from the southeast instead of my usual west side and got a somewhat clear pic of the city from the Susan B.Anthony/Frederick Douglas bridge (490) and looped around for a look from Broad St. going eastbound.

Please click on my pics to see the full version

When I arrived on the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) I found Dot.Ca (DC) on the Mercury money bag (MMB) – he flew off right after I pulled over heading west.

After I made a u-turn to face the Times Square building (TSB) I saw that he had gone to the deck so I went to the hole giving me the best vantage point.

I heard chupping so I thought Beauty was in the nest box-thanks to Donna who let me know that Beauty was not up there. DC flew off to the heel of Mercury and Beauty arrived at the nest box just before 7am. Camp and Annette let me know that bonding had taken place. Thanks ladies!

I had to laugh at the pic of DC as he looks like he’s flexing his muscles with the sun bursting thru from behind him as it was rising. He is our golden boy! At 7:17am DC spotted something down in the river and stooped off the heel-he caught a small bird and took it to the nest box for Beauty. Campgee let me know Beauty took the prey-TY!

She left with it but I missed her exit and then DC flew up on cam 1 for a different view of things. He started chirping very loudly for the Beautyful one and in less than 5 minutes Beauty flew in and landed on the column directly above the nest box area.

At 7:31am DC flew up to Beauty and they mated-she stayed on the column and DC flew around to the nest box expecting beauty to join him for their usual bowing session after they mate. She did not go down to him and so he left and went back to the Mercury heel while she seemed to be tired with heavy eyes and a big yawn. Probably a prelude to egg laying soon.

<DC

At 8 o’clock DC flew north and I headed south to check the Brighton site for Pigott and/or the juvie that’s been hanging out there but once again I was unsuccessful. Upon returning to downtown at 8:45am I found Beauty still perched on the column above the nest box but after a ride around no sign of DC.

I left Beauty at 9am and drove over to High Falls to check it out before ending my watch. The falls were just gushing from the amount of rain and snow melt from the last week. There were 3 Canada Geese on the north side of the Pont De Rennes pedestrian bridge trying to share the same spot on a cement barrier down in the river.

They cracked me up and sent me on my way smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to see more pics and todays videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqjbA

http://youtu.be/b8jFQIjEhXs

http://youtu.be/Zy8_V-bPZzI

http://youtu.be/yPPf_IUeHvQ

http://youtu.be/3_jOMic6xd8

http://youtu.be/yPGyZerR_1A

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Back to winter today with strong wind, dark overcast skies, a snow/sleet mix falling during my watch and a temperature of 36 (F) 3(C)

No wonder Beauty won’t lay any eggs yet-she’s a smart cookie to wait for better weather!

I witnessed Beauty and Dot.Ca (DC) at the nest box on the livestream before I left for downtown this morning. When I arrived at 6:45am Beauty was on the front ledge of the nest box but I didn’t see DC around.

I left to have a look around for our handsome mate to Beauty but I didn’t find him because he was at the nest box delivering food to his Beautyful mate, but there was a tug of war and mama to be won flying off with it.  Campgee tweeted this information. so I headed back to the Times Square (TSB) area. Thank you Camp and Happy Birthday to you!

I saw a falcon fly from the nest box as I approached at 7:04am and I received a tweet from Annette that it was DC that flew from box. Thanks! Next I spotted Beauty fly over me in the hole and she had nothing in her talons so she had cached her food for another time. A minute later I caught DC streaking thru from behind Widows Walk heading north. I went for a jaunt to find him with no luck-when I returned I found the Beautyful one on the small ledge on the southeast corner of TSB 1 level lower than the nest box.

<Click it for full version

She didn’t stay long before flying to OCSR landing on the top ibeam southeast side. I went over to the Radisson Hotel by Main St.to observe her and after half hour or so Beauty flew off to the nest box.

Beauty must have seen DC fly in with food as she got down in that special crouched position when they see a falcon coming in. Then I spotted him on the north side of the lower roof on TSB-I left for the hole to be closer. He had food and started plucking feathers, then had a few bites and left with it flying east at just about 8am. And he had something to say as he flew past the nest box and Beauty.

A couple minutes later Beauty flew east too and ended up on the OCSR top ibeam southeast side. I checked out the raging river before opting to go over to the Brighton Site to look for Pigott but to my dismay she is still missing and the Juvie with the Yellow tape on her right leg band (I named it JY) wasn’t around either. I stayed about 20 minutes then left for downtown. The snow had picked up and there was sleet mixed in with it now so I was happy to find Beauty and DC at a close spot to watch on the Wilder green strip. She was on the southeast corner and he was a few feet to her left-at first they both had their backs to me.

After a few minutes Beauty stood up turned my way and revealed a chunk of food that she had underneath her. She began eating calmly as she already had some in her crop and wasn’t feeling ravenous, while DC looked over his shoulder every once in a while to keep track of  her.

<DC

At 9:08am Beauty feeling sufficiently full cached her tiny leftover on the corner and went around to the east side of the green strip. DC still had his back to me but that changed after a couple minutes when he discovered Beauty was no longer in his sights and curiosity got the better of him and he had to turn around.

<DC   <Click it

Thru the snow I noticed DC napping on and off and with Beauty getting situated after her meal I thought they would probably just stay put for a while.

After a nice little watch in the snow and the sleet and the wind in the first week of April which is supposed to be spring I left our beloved Rochester Peregrine Falcon pair smiling at around 9:30am! 🙂

Click on the links below if you would like to see todays videos

http://youtu.be/OCeabb2T_Vs

http://youtu.be/q2l9OgTcrvw

http://youtu.be/q2l9OgTcrvw

http://youtu.be/pHD_iS5KIuk

http://youtu.be/rdQoMZwMGV4

http://youtu.be/hFLZQfnv5HA

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Todays starting temperature was 39 (F)  4(C) with light rain,windy and dark overcast conditions throughout the duration of my watch

I witnessed Beauty and Dot.Ca (DC) on the livestream video at the nest box bonding before I left for my watch this morning. I started at the Brighton Site (BS) again hoping to see Pigott but no such luck-I also didn’t see the juvie with the yellow tape on it’s right leg band I named JY. It was seen yesterday at BS so DC didn’t chase it out of his territory like I had thought when it wasn’t seen for a few days. I made my way downtown and while looking from the Andrews St. bridge found Beauty on the northwest corner of the Crossroads building around 7:10am.

Left and found the best place to see her was on Exchange Blvd. by the Philipone building. She stayed there until 7:22am when she flew off  heading south toward me and disappearing behind the Times Square building (TSB).

I went up to the Broad St. bridge (BSB) and found Beauty on the jail tower top arm but as I grabbed my camera she flew off. She went to the top ibeam west corner of OCSR. She was looking southwest from the jail tower in the direction of BS so I think she was looking for DC who was being elusive at the time. As time went on I got more concerned that he might be battling with either JY at BS or the falcon that’s been seen at Kodak Park or the 3rd falcon seen yesterday with Beauty and DC by MarkB who works in the TSB.

I left for BS again but no falcons were seen again so I returned to downtown hoping to see DC. I didn’t locate him but could see Beauty on the west corner top ibeam of OCSR. While I was gone Annette reported a falcon at the NB-thanks!

I looked away for a second and Beauty was gone from OCSR-I found her on the north side just around the corner from where she was as I pulled over on State St. around 8:45am.

I left to check BS one more time but there was no Pigott or DC but I did see what I think was a juvie flying  above St. Johns Home on Highland Ave. I found her while I was trying to find a building I thought I had seen it on that I incorrectly tweeted on Highland Drive instead of avenue. Meanwhile, NCAFalcons reported mating on OCSR and bonding at the nest box by Beauty and DC. YAY!!! No more worries on where DC was all this time. He may have just been hunting and/or eating but boy it sure took him a long time! Thank you very much for your help NCA!! I got back downtown a little after 10am to find the Beautyful one on the base of Mercury.

I left to look for DC and from the Andrews St. bridge I spotted him on the top ibeam north corner of OCSR-I went to Bragdon St. by the Radisson Hotel for a closer look.

Then I drove back to State St. for a front view of DC. I could only see the top of him as he was scrunched down.

I must say this was the one of the weirder watches I’ve had in quite some time, but at least DC was ok so I could end my watch with a smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to see my videos from today

http://youtu.be/zqYrl-2EDCM

http://youtu.be/f8SJHtIdcDg

http://youtu.be/r_Mp2bSfsgY

http://youtu.be/iO2l1GoTI3E

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

A little before 1:00 pm, a tweet came in from Mark B, who works in the Times Square Bldg.  “Three-way fight over river/Broad Street/War Memorial.  They seemed to chase off the smaller intruder very quickly.”

The Rochester Falcon Watchers jumped into action.  Pat, MAK and Dana checked out the area.  Thankfully, whatever happened was over quickly.  Both Beauty and Dot.ca were seen and all was calm.  Thank you Mark for letting us know what was going on downtown.

After work I made a quick trip through downtown and out to the BS location.  Downtown I found both Beauty and Dot.ca relaxing  on the Wilder Bldg.  Beauty was on top of the southwest corner and Dot.ca was below her on the green stripe.

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I left them to check on the BS location where I found the yellow banded juvenile Peregrine Falcon on the south side vent.

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I was really happy to see that s/he was still around and doing well.  I had to be somewhere, so I wasn’t able to stay and watch the juvie.  But Dana arrived at BS after I left and was able to verify that this juvie had yellow tape on the USFW band.  I hope we’re able to ID this falcon soon.  Would love to know if it is one of ours!

At 6:45 pm, I continued my watch, first checking out the BS location.  No falcons were seen or heard while I was there.

I joined Dana downtown on the Broad St Bridge.  Dot.ca was on top of the Chase-Lincoln Tower and Dana believed that Beauty was somewhere to the east of us because that was the direction that Dot.ca was looking.

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While we were chatting, Dot.ca took off.  Until rfalconcam watcher NCA tweeted that Dot.ca was in the nest box and that he and Beauty had food, we weren’t sure where he had gone.  Thanks NCA!  🙂

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Dot.ca came out of the nest box and landed on top of the Mercury statue.  Beauty had also left the nest box, but we weren’t sure where she went.

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Dana and I drove down to Aqueduct St (aka the hole) and looked for Beauty.  Finally we found her on the east end of the green strip on Wilder Bldg.  Earlier Dot.ca had taken off and we’re pretty sure, due to the vocalization we heard, that he and Beauty had copulated on Wilder.  But of course we missed it.  lol

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Just before we ended our watch, Beauty flew over to the base of the Mercury statue.  Not sure where Dot.ca ended up.

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It was getting dark, so it was time to end our falcon watch.  All was quiet and peaceful.  Now all we need is an egg!  Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

3 mornings in a row I’ve had bright sunshine and blue skies-have we turned the corner into spring? Stay tuned!  It was however, chilly at 26 degrees (F) 3 (C)

I decided to start my watch at the Brighton Site (BS) this morning-there were no falcons seen so I went downtown. Arriving at 6:50am I parked in the hole by Keybank and found Beauty on the column above the nest box-she was watching Dot.Ca (DC) who had food over on the back lower roof of the Times Square building (TSB).

As I was tweeting out my findings  they both snuck off. I soon found out where-Beauty was on the northeast corner of the lower roof of Widows Walk (WW) eating and DC was on the Mercury money bag (MMB). So I think it’s safe to assume that DC cached the food on WW for Beauty.

I drove over to Fitzhugh St. to get up close and personal with the Beautyful one. She was plucking feathers to prepare to eat the food gift DC had left her. After a few bites she flew off with her gift in tow to the base of Mercury where she started eating it below DCs’ watchful eye.

Again Beauty ate only a small amount and then she and DC flew to the nest box for a bonding session. As usual DC came barreling out of the nest box.I was now parked on Broad St. next to the Blue Cross Arena (BCA).

He flew over to the heel of Mercury and came to rest on it and quickly went down to the base to start eating what Beauty left there.

I then moseyed up to the Broad St. bridge (BSB) for better lighting and a closer view of DC. He didn’t eat all of these leftovers which were going a long way for our downtown duo.

I could see Beauty up on the front perch of the nest box and she was watching DC too!

At 7:37am DC flew to the southeast corner of the deck and Beauty came over where a brief tug of war ensued. She got the small chunk of prey and took it to the northeast corner of the deck to eat.

DC watched for a few seconds then flew off as Beauty watched him go back to the Mercury heel. A couple minutes later he flew southwest prompting me to think he was going to BS as that’s the direction he went.

Well it was a big fake out on MAK for as I was almost there my phone went off-Donna and Campgee were tweeting that DC and Beauty were mating on Mercury. Well, I suppose he could have gone to BS and back downtown before I got there as it only takes him 1-2 minutes one way and it takes me 5-10! Thanks D and Camp!! So I checked BS and found no birds of any kind. I returned to downtown to find Beauty preening on the south side railing of WW and DC on the southeast corner of the deck calling for her.

They stayed in those spots for the remainder of my watch-Beauty preening and DC stretching, preening and calling out for Beauty. I ended my watch at 9am smiling all the way home after spending time with our downtown Rochester Peregrine Falcon pair! 🙂

Click on the links below to view more pics and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqjaE

http://youtu.be/o1_f99xb05M

http://youtu.be/0hgB1LgmwqY

http://youtu.be/Dy4sAFSgPwg

http://youtu.be/4WoShgVBqGI

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

My falcon watches have been recently cut back.  But I still try to get out a little bit each night, usually 7:00 to 8:00 pm.  Just wanted to share some pics from yesterday and today.

Every day I’ve been checking on the BS location hoping to see Pigott, who I dearly miss.  Sadly, I have not seen her this past week.  I and many of the watchers are continuing to check for her and will keep checking this location.

Last night (4/1/14) at about 7:00 pm, I joined Kathy O and Dan on the Broad St Bridge.  They had seen Beauty successfully hunt.  She brought a pigeon back to the Times Square Bldg.  Just before I arrived, she took the remainder of the meal somewhere to cache it and Dot.ca followed.  Just as we were ending our watch at approximately 8:00 pm, a Coopers Hawk flew over the Broad St Bridge and in front of the library.  Out of nowhere, a small torpedo whizzed past and chased the Coop down the river heading south.  It was Dot.ca clearing out his territory.

Kathy and I checked out the area before heading out and found Beauty on the base of the Mercury statue.  It was so nice seeing Dan out on a falcon watch.  Hopefully the weather will be getting a little warmer so he can join us more often.

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Today (4/2/14), after checking out the BS location, I arrived downtown a little after 7:00 pm.  The Broad St Bridge and surrounding area was packed with cars due to an Amerks game at the Blue Cross Arena (aka Rochester War Memorial).  I found a spot down on Aqueduct St (aka the Hole) where I could see Beauty on top of the Mercury statue.  Rfalconcam watcher NCA tweeted out that Dot.ca was in the nest box and had been for about 45 minutes.  Thanks NCA!  Just after I parked my car, Dot.ca left the nest box.  I finally found him on the base of Mercury,with just his head showing now and then.  lol

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As I watched Beauty and Dot.ca on Mercury, beautiful bird song filled the air.  My most favorite little finches have returned to serenade the watchers this year.  Last year we enjoyed watching (and listening) to them as they raised their young near the stairway at Falcon Watch Central.

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Beauty took off, flying fast heading south.  Dot.ca just watched from his position at the base of Mercury.  She soon returned to land on the northeast wing ledge on the Times Square Bldg carrying prey in her talons.  Feathers soon were flying and Dot.ca took off and landed at the nest box.  All kinds of loud vocalizations filled the air.  Ee-chups and wailing by both Beauty and Dot.ca.  He soon came out of the nest box and landed on top of the Mercury statue.

I was just tweeting out that I was ending my watch when Dot.ca took off and went to the nest box and Beauty landed on top of Mercury.  I ended my watch just before 8:00 pm.

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I’ll leave you with a picture of Dot.ca at the nest box at the end of my watch.  Picture captured on the Rfalconcam Main Camera.  Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Another pleasant morning-sunny with a few clouds and a temperature of 34 (F) 1 (C)

I started my watch at 6:40am with Dot.Ca (DC) on the Mercury money bag (MMB) as I pulled over on Broad St. by the Blue Cross Arena (BCA).

He didn’t stay long before flying west out of view behind the Times Square building (TSB). I drove to the hole to check Widows Walk (WW) and to my surprise I found Beauty there on the northeast corner. A couple minutes later she flew to the MMB.

I missed Beauty leave and then I got a tweet from Annette that there was bonding at the nest box. DC shot out after and flew west landing on the northeast corner of WW where Beauty had been and was eating. I blinked and he was gone!I left to investigate where DC might have gone and as I was stopped at the traffic light at Main and Plymouth I spotted him eating on top of the large sattelite dish on the east side of the Frontier Communications tower (FCT) with his back to me. I then drove to the City Hall parking lot on Fitzhugh St. where I had a good look at him before he stopped eating and slipped off the back where I couldn’t see him fly off around 7:30am.

I returned to the hole on Bank Place at Aqueduct St. to find Beauty on the MMB-where things were looking up!

A few minutes later Annette reported a falcon on the southeast corner of the deck  so I went over by the Keybank to see DC (thanks Annette). He stayed about 5 minutes then flew southwest behind TSB out of view.

I went to the Brighton site at this time thinking since that’s the direction he flew that he may have gone over to check for Pigott or to chase JY (my name for juvie) the juvie that’s been hanging out there lately. Arriving just about 8am I didn’t see anyone at first but as I pulled over in the back I spotted a small rocket come in from the east and fly toward the front of the building. As I made my way around to the front of BS I saw DC way up on the roof top antenna.

He flew south after 5 minutes and didn’t return. I took a trip around the building but saw no falcons before returning to downtown, arriving at 8:32am to find Beauty on the MMB. Once again I parked by the BCA to observe.

The Beautyful one flew off at 8:42am to meet DC at the nest box. This next series of pics is first Beauty arriving on the southeast corner of the deck followed by DC who had a small package to deliver.

And now for DC

Next thing I saw was Beauty on the northeast corner of the deck with the goods. She started plucking feathers and DC flew out and left the immediate area. Beauty flew off at 8:48am taking her treasure to the base of Mercury where she finished it off.

I called it a watch and just as I was to pack my camera away Beauty flew off. I snapped her take off and then I left at 9am.

As I was driving down Broad St. to home Campgee tweeted that there was bonding going on in the nest box-I smiled and continued on down the road! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/ulymY4BTilY

http://youtu.be/EptmZ4Y_SmA

http://youtu.be/-DnhnUe7iPE

http://youtu.be/Sx0TX-0nYfU

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

What a beautiful April Fools Day morning with wall to wall sunshine, blue skies and a starting temperature of 29 (F) -1 (C)

As I pulled over on Broad St. next to the Blue Cross Arena at 6:35am I saw a falcon fly off the base of Mercury with a small package in its talons and head west past the Times Square building (TSB). So I went over to Fitzhugh St. to see if there was a falcon on Widows Walk (WW). Got there just in time to see a falcon caching food at the back of the northwest corner on the ledge below the railing ledge and fly off toward TSB. Donna (TY) let me know that they had gone to the nest box while I was gone. Next I went to the hole where I found Dot.Ca (DC) on the Mercury money bag (MMB) looking down at Beauty who was on the base of Mercury.

Next thing I saw was DC jumping off and going straight down to Beauty to mate. Usually he flies out first then around to her-he took her by surprise as she wasn’t quite turned the right direction for him or have her tail up yet. He managed to turn himself  to mount her correctly and she quickly put her tail up to accept him.

<We got a jumper!

I didn’t see where DC went and Beauty looked like she didn’t either. She looked a little shook up by his surprise visit then at 6:58am  she flew off to the northeast wing ledge of TSB.

She was looking down and when I looked at the nest box area I saw why-DC was on the northeast corner of the deck and he started chirping for her.

DC flew off without me seeing him go but Beauty stayed put under the wing preening. I set out for the Brighton Site at this time but there were no falcons there. Crows were though-since Pigott has been gone they have really made a presence on the roof tops looking for cached food. I was back downtown just about 8am finding Beauty on the base of Mercury and DC on the money bag. She was looking up at him and he would look down to her at times too.

<Beauty   <DC

I was now parked on the Broad St. bridge (BSB) and out of my car in the warm sun. Seems like every time I looked at the Beautyful one this morning she was all foofed up and she also looked like there was an egg just ready to pop out at any time-we call this egg butt. It’s evident in one of my videos today where she shows her back side.

They stayed put for 10 minutes then DC flew over to the deck again-northeast corner while Beauty stayed on Mercury.

<DC <Click it for full version

Meanwhile, Beauty was napping which said to me she might be conserving her energy to lay an egg. At about 8:20am Beauty slipped off the base and flew to the nest box. Reported by Annette-they bonded in there. Thanks for letting me know. So I got my camera ready for when DC came shooting out like he does when they are done bowing to each other.

DC went right to the MMB

10 minutes later Beauty showed up on the base of Mercury again. We all hung out in the sun together for awhile as I checked out the river on both sides of the bridge. The river was rolling hard on the south side by the Court St. bridge. Around 8:45am DC stooped off Mercury down near the Thomson Reuters building and came back in view with nothing in his talons. Beauty started to ready herself expecting him to come down and mate but he flew right past her and returned to the MMB.

Beauty slipped off the base and flew west around 9am-I caught up with her when I went down in the hole and spotted her on the north side railing of Widows Walk. I left her up there and DC on the MMB ending my watch at 9:15am smiling with visions of an egg being laid real soon! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/fLQ0e01gnoE

http://youtu.be/t8Aig5sskzA

http://youtu.be/AdAVGWHFLI8

http://youtu.be/KHGuB-bLaXE

http://youtu.be/Y1xZpfQYAGc

http://youtu.be/fMn90U4T5t8