rfalconcam - FalconWatch

FalconWatch

Eyes to the Skies

Archive for May, 2014

Morning watch 5-24-14

Saturday, May 24th, 2014

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

A very nice morning weather wise with wall to wall blue skies and sunshine and a temperature of 52 (F) 11 (C)

As I passed the Andrews St. bridge (ASB) on my way downtown via St. Paul St. I saw gates up blocking the bridge. Upon further investigation I found out there was a I love PINK 5k race to start on the ASB. As I turned onto the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) from South Ave. I caught a glimpse of a falcon on the base of Mercury with some feathers in the air so it had prey up there. When I pulled over to look it was gone. I then got confirmation from both Annette and Campgee that Beauty had left the nest box and returned at that time but she didn’t bring food. Thank you ladies!

I drove down State St. to check the Kodak Office tower and found the parking lot there was just about full of cars from 5k racers but no Dot.Ca (DC) on the the building. I went back to the Times Square (TSB) area and settled in the hole parking lot-soon I was completely blocked in as the police were blocking all my exits for the race.

Make sure to click on all my pics to see full version of them

img_0002-location-north-from-hole-parking-lot img_0007-main-and-state-st-being-blocked<Main and State St. blocked

img_0003-looking-south-from-hole-parking-lot img_0005-exchange-and-broad-st-blocked<Exchange and Broad St. blocked

No problem-I watched starlings, sparrows, pigeons and mourning doves while waiting for DC to show up. Suddenly, just before 8am the Beautyful one flew from the nest box heading south-I lost her quickly behind the Philippone building. A couple minutes later I heard the distinct sound of DC chirping-I looked around but didn’t see anything until Beauty flew from above me and over to the nest box with food.

img_0008-beauty-approaching-nest-box-area img_0009-beauty-getting-closer img_0010-getting-closer img_0011-cleared-for-landing img_0012-touch-down

This is the reason why I named this area surrounding Aqueduct St. the hole-because there are buildings completely surrounding you and it’s like being in a hole where you can only see so much. Anyway, I believe there was a food exchange between Beauty and DC just before she went to the nest box with her talons full of prey. Next, I spotted DC under the northeast wing of Times Square preening.

img_0015-dc-preening img_0016-dc3

A minute later DC flew across and landed on the Wilder green strip where he started watching the bird activity in the area and unbeknownst to him a starling was above on the fire escape ladder.

img_0020-dc-all-bug-eyed img_0021-dc-looking-very-cute img_0030-another-brave-starling

At 8:21am DC flew off the Wilder building and went to the nest box while Beauty went to the base of Mercury to cache food. I thought it was DC on Mercury as I didn’t see him go to the nest box when Beauty flew out-Donna straightened me out on this sequence. Thanks! Then after Beauty returned to the eyasses DC showed up on the back lower roof  north side of the TSB at 8:25am.

img_0034-dc-takes-off img_0040-watching-prey-bird img_0041-dc2

DC stayed a minute or two then flew north and that would be the last time I saw him.

img_0042-dc-flies-off-times-square

There were runners from the 5k race going down Main St. and Broad St. at this time so I took a minute to watch

img_0039-5k-runners<Aqueduct at Main St.  img_0043-main-and-state-st-racers<Main and State St.

A few minutes later a train of cars were let thru from Main St. down Exchange to Broad St. so I made a break for it and followed behind, thus ending my watch at 8:35am. I couldn’t help but smile for having seen Beauty for a moment and DC for a few minutes as I was given my freedom to leave the hole! 🙂

Click on the links below to check out todays videos

http://youtu.be/hq4m7GvjlDA

http://youtu.be/6lipeJTS4A8

http://youtu.be/GtFLKDpOVXw

Morning watch 5-23-14

Friday, May 23rd, 2014

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This mornings weather was overcast with a temperature of 54 (F) 12 (C)

Beauty was feeding the clan when I left home for my watch. I didn’t see Dot.Ca (DC) until just before 7am when I spotted him from the Andrews St. bridge (ASB). He was on the 2nd ibeam northeast side of OCSR plucking feathers. I drove over to Bragdon St. by the Radisson Hotel for closer viewing.

img_0003-dc-working-on-a-meal img_0007-dc2 img_0011-hmm-where-should-i-go-with-this

A couple minutes later DC flew off and went to the nest box to make a food delivery as reported to me by Donna. Thank you!

img_0013-dc-takes-off-with-his-prize img_0014-dc-going-down img_0015-off-to-deliver-food-to-beauty

By the time I got to the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) DC was on the heel of Mercury. I pulled over by the Blue Cross Arena for the best view of him.

img_0019-falcon-on-a-foot img_0020-hi-buddy

He didn’t stay there for long either as he flew off and came to rest on the main cam briefly before going down to the nest box. Beauty flew to Mercury with the food gift, cached it on the base and went straight back to the nest box. DC came shooting out and flew to the Wilder green strip (WGS).

img_0026-dc-and-his-heart img_0031-yes-im-back-here-dc

DC stayed there taking in his surroundings for 15-20 minutes then he spread his wings and took off flying southwest at 7:37am.

img_0033-time-to-go img_0035-off-in-a-flash img_0036-see-ya

This would be the last time I saw DC  for the next hour and a half! As I was driving down State St. near Church St. I looked to my left at the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) and caught a glimpse of his whiteness take off from the top arm and fly south. I ended my watch at this time-9:15am. I can’t wait until Beauty starts letting DC spend time with their eyasses so I can see her out and about again and so DC can bond with them.

Shortly after I got home at Seneca Towers STJ, the banded female, 67/AR flew past my window on the 16th floor going south and whining very loudly. She then flew back thru heading up to the roof near the west balconies and I believe landed up there because I could still hear her whining. I noticed she was missing a couple wing feathers so she may be molting. Sharing my building with falcons-now that makes me smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/ChApaBvYgOw

http://youtu.be/rpWFWxIX_LM

Morning watch 5-22-14

Thursday, May 22nd, 2014

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

All I could see was fog when I looked out my window from the 16th floor of Seneca Towers this morning. There was a thunder storm knocking on the door and the temperature was 60 (F) 16 (C). I waited for the storm to pass before leaving for my watch

The fog was not an issue downtown when I got there as I could see Dot.Ca (DC) on the top ibeam west corner of OCSR. I knew the Beautyful one was in the nest box with the eyasses because I checked the livestream before leaving. Donna reported that DC had just delivered breakfast. Thank you very much! I took this shot of him from State St. across from the Rochester Plaza Hotel.

img_0003-dc

DC left 10 minutes later around 7:10am when I wasn’t looking. While on my way to Times Square DC stopped at the nest box briefly then left as reported by Donna. Thanks again! I went to Aqueduct St. in the hole and found DC on the Wilder green strip (WGS).

img_0007-dc1

DC was doing some preening while a starling was perched on the south corner of the building. Not a very smart thing to be doing with a Peregrine Falcon near by.

img_0009-starling-has-a-death-wish<Click it img_0017-dc-preening img_0021-hello-dc img_0024-built-in-toothpick

At 7:33am DC spread his wings and flew off to the heel of Mercury.

img_0036-ready-to-go img_0038-spread-out img_0040-time-to-go1

img_0041-hi-dc img_0042-dc img_0043-off-to-mercury

Even though the sun wasn’t out it still created bad back lighting from the hole so up to the Broad St. bridge (BSB) I went to check out dashing DC.

img_0048-dc-on-a-heel img_0050-whitey img_0052-dc-standing-proud<Click it

DC flew southeast at 7:43am and that’s the last I saw of him. While I was on the Andrews St. bridge looking for him around 8am I noticed the fog was trying to move in on downtown as the top of the Kodak Office tower was being gulped up by it.

img_0053-ko-in-the-fog

I spent the next hour checking around the usual places and the not so usual places that he hangs out but had no luck finding DC. I drove over to the Brighton site as well to look for him. I ended up on the Court St. bridge marveling at the power of the Genesee River and ending my watch at 8:55am. Even when there’s no falcon to see, there’s always Mother Nature to deliver something else to make me smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/ZdKWxOMgOQ4


Morning watch 5-21-14

Wednesday, May 21st, 2014

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a bit cloudy when I started my watch with a temperature of 57 (F) 14 (C)

I forgot to check the livestream before leaving this morning but thankfully when I got downtown at 6:30am I got a report from Donna telling me that Dot.Ca (DC) had delivered food and Beauty was feeding the family. As I pulled into the parking lot down in the hole I spotted just the head of DC peeking up from the northwest corner of Widows Walk. I drove to Fitzhugh St. for closer viewing but he was gone when I arrived. Upon returning to the hole I saw DC fly overhead and pass above the Thomson Reuters building out of sight.

I wouldn’t see DC for the next hour until he showed up on the Wilder green strip (WGS) for a second then he flew across to Widows Walk long enough to touch down and leave again. This time DC flew to the nest box chirping-all I could see was wings flap a couple times and then he flew out flying northeast.

img_0001-dc

At this time Donna tweeted that DC had tried feeding the eyasses and even Beauty a foot-needless to say nobody was interested! lol A few minutes later while parked on the Andrews St. bridge I saw DC on the top ibeam west corner of OCSR. I went to State St. just in time for DC to fly off seconds later heading west.

img_0002-dc1 img_0005-dc

After looking for DC I went to the hole to see if he would show up and while I was there I had a woman stop and ask if the babies were flying. Well, I set her straight on when that would occur among other things and gave her a Rfalconcam business card. She was amazed at how many cameras there are as I pointed to them and she said she was going to look on the livestream as soon as she got to work. I set out to resume my search for the busy one, DC  whom I found on the northeast corner of the Kodak Office launchpad from the Andrews St. bridge.  His whiteness stuck out like a sore thumb so then I drove down to State St. to observe him.

img_0006-dc-heart-man img_0008-whats-he-yelling-at img_0011-he-kinda-looks-like-a-penguin-here

This is one of DCs’ favorite spots for hunting and there was no question that’s what he was there for as he kept looking down most likely waiting for a pigeon to fly out from the building.

img_0016-whitey img_0019-see-that-white-dot-its-dc-aka-whitey img_0026-fist-bump-time

DC started picking at his BYF (big yellow foot) and then stretched his wings and flew off at 8:54am going into a stoop down toward the High Falls gorge.

img_0027-clean-off-that-byf img_0028-hi-back img_0040-time-to-go

I quickly lost sight of DC behind buildings and when he didn’t return to Kodak I ended my watch at 9am. I wasn’t done seeing falcons tho, for as I was making my way down Seth Green Dr. I spotted a falcon on the northwest corner perched on the railing of Seneca (ST) Towers. I pulled over just before the ST property begins where there’s a clearing thru the trees to view that particular corner of the building. Turned out to be  STJ, the 1 year old female from Pennsylvania with band ID  67/AR black over green.

img_0045-st-female img_0046-st-female img_0048-stj

She was looking around and seemed to be relaxing as I continued  to my apartment on the 16th floor smiling all the way! 🙂

Click on the links below to see todays videos

http://youtu.be/YskC-ClYbsA

http://youtu.be/CWCIARQ8a5c


Morning watch 5-20-14

Tuesday, May 20th, 2014

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It started out overcast but the sun made its way thru to make for pleasant conditions and a temperature of 46 (F) 8 (C)

Beauty was feeding the eyasses when I left for downtown and the Seneca Towers female flew past my window wailing at something. I had a little trouble finding  Dot.Ca (DC) as he was in the grid work above the southeast wing ledge of the Times Square building (TSB). As soon as I stopped in the hole parking lot he took off and went to the nest box. Beauty flew to the Mercury money bag (MMB)-I went to the Broad St. bridge (BSB) to lose the back lighting from the sun.

img_0003-beauty3 img_0014-sweet-mama

It was great to see Beauty out and about since she has been spending most of her time in the nest box with her babies since they hatched. It was short lived  as she flew back to the nest box after a few minutes and DC went to the Wilder green strip (WGS) and I went to Exchange Blvd. across from TSB to watch him just before 7am.

img_0023-hi-dc img_0027-pretty-boy img_0046-dc-gives-me-a-glance

DC did some preening on his left wing feathers and took a little snooze. Watched DC for the better part of an hour and missed him leave as I was talking to a girl named Cara about our falcons-gave her an rfalconcam  business card and told her to check out the eyasses on livestream. She was VERY excited about that! I next located DC on the top ibeam northeast side of OCSR from the Andrews St. bridge at 8:14am and he was plucking feathers.

img_0057-dc-plucking-feathers

I decided to go to Bragdon St. for closer viewing  but he was gone when I arrived there, so I went to the hole thinking he brought his food to Beauty for a feeding. I found him with his gift on the lower back roof of TSB and he was lined up perfect with the moon behind him.

img_0060-feather-in-his-beak img_0061-whitey-with-food img_0065-dc-with-the-moon-above

At 8:25am DC flew off to the deck by the main cam chirping to announce his arrival, with his prey which looked to be a Mourning Dove.

img_0066-dc-off-with-food img_0067-dc-approaching img_0068-coming-in-for-a-landing img_0069-ready-for-touch-down img_0070-perfect-landing

DC stood there for a few moments but Beauty didn’t come out for his food gift. She had fed the eyasses not too long ago so it was too soon for another one. DC then took his meal across to the Wilder green strip (WGS) and started picking at it.

img_0072-where-should-i-take-this img_0073-dc-leaves-with-the-goods img_0076-picking

DC stopped nibbling on his prey and flew off 20 minutes later to the lower roof of the TSB and cached it.

img_0100-still-flying-around-with-that-bird img_0106-dc img_0108-dc-is-following-the-moon

A couple Turkey Vultures came flying by above DC on Times Square and he flew off after them-chasing them out of the immediate area quickly. I found him on the top ibeam by the south corner of OCSR and that’s where I left him thus ending my watch at 9:10am. There are 4 new born Peregrine Falcons in downtown Rochester-certainly reason to smile! 🙂

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

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqjgC

http://youtu.be/Wys6kPCrQ8s

http://youtu.be/Nu26a9msRKo

http://youtu.be/kFcBB06t42E

Monday Late Afternoon/Evening Falcon Watch – 5/19/14

Monday, May 19th, 2014

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Very early this morning, our 4th eyas hatched!

I didn’t get out until 5:30 pm.  Started at the BS location.  I hadn’t been there in so long, I really wanted to check things out.  All was quiet there.  No falcons seen.

While I was there, on-line falcon watcher Ei tweeted that both Beauty and Dot.ca left the next box and the eyases were alone.  I headed downtown and met fellow watcher Kathy O there.  By then Ei had reported that both Beauty and DC had returned.  While Beauty was in the nest box with the 4 eyases, Dot.ca was on the green strip on the Wilder Bldg just across the street.  He had his head tucked under his wing and was sleeping.

DC Sleeping on Wilder 5-19-14DC on Wilder 5-19-14*

*

*

*

*

Dot.ca took off and while we were looking around for him, we noticed that there were quite a few Turkey Vultures floating over the city. They are such graceful fliers.

Turkey Vulture Over City 5-19-14*

*

*

*

*

While we were checking out the Turkey Vultures, Dot.ca had returned from a successful hunt and was eating his dinner on the base of the Mercury statue.

DC Eating on Base of Mercury Statue 5-19-14DC Eating on Base of Mercury Statue 5-19-14*

*

*

*

*

During this time, while hunting to feed his young, it is important that he eats to keep his strength up to hunt.  After eating his fill, he took off and took what remained of his meal up to the nest box platform.

DC took remainder of his meal to nest box 5-19-14DC took remainder of his meal to nest box 5-19-14*

*

*

*

*

While Dot.ca was up on the platform, we watched what was happening at the nest box on Kathy’s phone.  There was a lot of vocalization from Beauty, but she did not come out to take the offered food.  There had been a feeding about an hour before this, so maybe it wasn’t time to feed the eyases yet.  Dot.ca remained on the platform with the food until about five Crows flew over the Times Square bldg.  The Crows circled overhead and came closer and closer to the building until Dot.ca took off and chased the Crows away.  While he was gone, Beauty came out onto the nest box platform and grabbed the food that Dot.ca had left.  She took it into the nest box to feed the eyases.  On-line Rfalconcam watcher NCA reported that Beauty had been kakking (alarm vocalization) off and on.  This was probably due to the Crows.

Beauty Takes Food into Nest Box 5-19-14*

*

*

*

*

During the time Beauty was feeding the eyases, Dot.ca flew back and forth overhead keeping the airspace clear around the Times Square bldg.

DC on Patrol 5-19-14DC on Patrol 5-19-14*

*

*

*

*

After feeding the eyases, Beauty took what was left and cached it on a nearby building.

Beauty Flew Over with Leftovers from Meal 5-19-141B Cached Food on Nearby Bldg 5-19-14*

*

*

*

*

While Beauty was gone from the nest box, Dot.ca landed just above the nest box to keep guard over the eyases.

Dot.ca on Guard Above Nest Box 5-19-14*

*

*

*

*

When Kathy O and I left at 8″00 pm, Beauty was back in the nest box and Dot.ca was on guard above on the south east Times Square bldg wing ledge.

Dot.ca on Times Square Bldg 5-19-14Dot.ca on TSB 5-19-14*

*

*

*

*

I’ll leave you with my favorite picture captured by the Rfalconcam Main Camera today.  Dot.ca on guard while Beauty feeds the four eyases behind him.  What a beautiful picture!  Goodnight!

maincamera_20140519-143200

Morning watch 5-19-14

Monday, May 19th, 2014

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was 45 (F) 7 (C) with mostly cloudy skies to start my watch this morning

I’m happy to report that before I left home I checked the livestream to find out the 4th egg hatched during the night and Beauty has her first full clutch! An added bonus was when a Seneca Towers falcon flew by my window as I headed out the door. When I arrived on the Broad St. Bridge I could see Dot.Ca (DC) on the base of Mercury. I drove down to the hole and as I stopped the car he flew to the deck with a food delivery at 6:33am.

img_0002-dc-arrives-with-food

Beauty came right out, grabbed the goods and went into the nest box to feed their 4 eyasses. I missed where DC flew off to and set out to find him.

img_0003-beauty-comes-out-to-retrieve-food-for-babes img_0004-beauty-grabs-the-goods img_0006-dc

I wouldn’t find DC until around 7:30am when I spotted him on the Wilder green strip from the hole.  I parked on Exchange Blvd. in front of the Philipone building since that was the best angle on the front of him

img_0007-hi-buddy1

DC gave a yawn and then started napping

img_0012-is-that-a-yawn img_0017-catching-a-few-winks-hes-gonna-need-it img_0018-tired-daddy-and-hes-just-begun

DC seemed quite sleepy and I thought he better catch sleep when he can because he’s going to be very busy for the next couple months feeding and teaching his kids about being a Peregrine Falcon. He was being very cute  tipping his head to and fro.

img_0022-cute-daddy img_0024-hello

And then it was time for more sleep

img_0027-zzzzzzzzzzz img_0030-half-asleep

DC preened a little bit and for a parting shot he pooped then went back to sleep

img_0032-i-see-yu-behind-that-cloak-of-feathers img_0038-im-so-sleepy img_0039-dc img_0041-poop-shot

That’s all she wrote, I ended my watch at 8:15am as DC was sleeping and I had stuff to do. No matter how short a time I spend with our Rochester Peregrine Falcons I drive away smiling! 🙂

Click on the link below to view DC on Wilder

http://youtu.be/bpH8RMgMjnA

Morning watch 5-18-14

Sunday, May 18th, 2014

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

The morning started out at 43 degrees (F) 6 (C)  with a chilly breeze and sunny blue skies

Beauty was on the 3 eyasses and last remaining egg when I checked the livestream before leaving for my watch.  Donna reported that Dot.Ca (DC) had taken over for Beauty while I was on my way downtown. Thanks Donna-that was a big help because they both have their favorite places to perch and hunt from and I can act accordingly depending on who I’m looking for.

My first sighting was on the east side when I spotted pigeons scattering and Beauty right behind them. When they all settled on a building I knew Beauty had left the area so I did too. I next found the Beautyful one on the top arm west side of the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) from State and Church streets. She took off before I could get to Fitzhugh St. and flew to Kodak Office landing on the southeast corner of the launchpad. As I pulled over on State St. she flew off and I was able to get a pic of that take off.

img_0001-beauty-exiting-ko

I quickly made a u-turn to follow as she flew south and went into a stoop past the Federal building at 6:51am.  I went to the hole  and spotted Beauty on the northwest corner of Widows Walk with food-so she was successful in her stoop! I drove to Fitzhugh St. for closer viewing.

img_0002-beauty-preparing-breakfast img_0007-nom-nom img_0024-feathers-all-in-a-row

Beauty ate a fair amount of this unfortunate pigeon or mourning dove then started plucking feathers to beat the band. The brisk breeze blew them away from her with great speed. At 7:10am Beauty flew off with her large leftovers and took it to the deck by the main cam where I caught up with her.

img_0034-shes-off-with-prey-in-talons img_0041-lets-see-where-shall-i-cache-this img_0042-aint-she-sweet

You could tell she wanted to feed the eyasses but didn’t want to go in the box until DC came out. DC had been taking food out since Beauty wasn’t letting him feed the wee ones yet. After 3 minutes she flew to the base of Mercury with her food

img_0048-gonna-hide-this-for-later img_0049-beauty-with-prey img_0050-pigeon-or-mourning-dove img_0051-looking-at-her-prize

Beauty stayed 5 minutes then flew toward the nest box but I didn’t see her go in-she went somewhere and cached the goods then I saw her fly to the nest box.

img_0060-beauty img_0061-beauty-taking-her-prey-to-an-undisclosed-location

DC flew straight across to the base of Mercury where Beauty had been and looked for the food. He’s a funny little character! After a short stay he flew over to OCSR.

img_0064-dc-looks-for-food-beauty-had-in-that-spot img_0069-where-could-she-have-taken-that img_0071-its-not-up-here

DC did a lot of preening, foofing his feathers and scratching while on the top ibeam close to the south corner. He glanced over at the nest box periodically.

img_0075-dc-foofing img_0081-dc-wide-eyed img_0099-dc img_0101-its-time-to-eat img_0106-look-out-below

At 7:53am DC flew east in a hurry and the next time I saw him he was on the Wilder building green strip around 8:20am preening. Donna informed me that he had brought food to the nest box while I was off  looking for him. Thanks again! DC didn’t stay long on Wilder before flying to the heel of Mercury.

img_0108-dc-preening-on-wilder img_0109-dc-looks-sleepy img_0113-back-to-mercury img_0117-dc-readytto-go-again

DC stayed on the heel a couple minutes then flew to the nest box and back over to the heel again. He was certainly keeping me on my toes!

img_0121-something-down-there<Click it

Around 8:35am DC stooped down toward the river unsuccessfully and returned to Mercury coming to rest on the base this time. 10 minutes later DC stooped straight down Mercury and I didn’t see him again.

img_0123-dc1 img_0126-dc-looking-at-nest-box img_0133-dc-stoops-straight-down-mercury

I ended my watch at 9am with a smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view 6 videos from todays watch

http://youtu.be/wdnN0Xvk32o

http://youtu.be/tYYOcwOTb38

http://youtu.be/NQkvvKFhQoY

http://youtu.be/QF_p1MmHfrQ

http://youtu.be/ulEUSV1JnA4

http://youtu.be/EqxDo0I92pI

Saturday Afternoon Falcon Watch – 5/17/14

Saturday, May 17th, 2014

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

It turned out to be such a beautiful afternoon.  A perfect day to get out and find some falcons.  It had been awhile since I had been able to do that.

Downtown, from the Broad St Bridge (BSB), I found Dot.ca on the south side of the OCSR, 2nd Ibeam down from the top.

Dot.ca on OCSR 5-17-14DC on OCSR 5-17-14*

*

*

*

*

He was keeping guard over his growing family in the nest box on top of the Times Square Building (TSB).  Beauty was inside the nest box with their first eyas that had hatched this morning.

Beauty in NB With First Eyas Hatched this AM 5-17-14*

*

*

*

*

Dot.ca started to alarm KAK KAK KAK!  He took off and chased a Crow away that had gotten too close.  After the Crow left, Dot.ca flew to the TSB and landed on the southeast wing ledge, above the nest box.

DC on TSB 5-17-14DC on TSB 5-17-14DC on TSB 5-17-14*

*

*

*

*

After awhile, Dot.ca took off heading east across the river.  There was no vocalization, so I believe he was hunting.

DC Takes Off From TSB 5-17-14DC Takes Off From TSB 5-17-14DC Takes Off From TSB 5-17-14*

*

*

*

*

I drove around a bit and found Dot.ca on the Frontier Communication Tower (FCT).

DC on FCT 5-17-14DC on FCT 5-17-14*

*

*

*

*

Since it was very quiet downtown, I left Dot.ca on the FCT and headed towards the Seneca Tower Apts to look for the two falcon we have been seeing there, STT (Seneca Tower Tiercel) and STJ (Seneca Tower Juvie).  Fellow Watcher Kathy O met me there.  Kathy spotted a falcon on the south side of the Veterans Bridge.  It was STT.

STT 5-17-14STT 5-17-14*

*

*

*

*

He took off and flew higher and higher, definitely on a hunt.  About a 1/2 hour later he returned with prey and landed on the bridge again.  STJ flew in and landed next to him.

STT Brings in Food for STJ 5-17-14*

*

*

*

*

STT left the food with STJ and flew up to the top of the Seneca Tower Apartments.  STJ remained and ate the offered meal.

STJ Eats Her Meal from STT 5-17-14*

*

*

*

*

Kathy and I spent about an hour or so watching both STT and STJ.  While we were there, we enjoyed the many birds that shared the river gorge with the two falcons.  Here are some pictures I took while we were on watch.

Finch I think 5-17-14Finch 5-17-14Not sure what kind of bird this is 5-17-14*

*

*

*

*

After all the rain we’ve had here in Rochester the last few days, the cool air and sunshine was a welcome change.  Goodnight everyone!

One more thing.  As of the time I’m writing this report, three of the four eggs have hatched.  Now we wait for #4!

Morning watch 5-17-14

Saturday, May 17th, 2014

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

A cold start to the morning at 41 degrees (F) 5 (C) but nice and sunny

Well you can imagine how ecstatic I was to look at the livestreaming video and see white under Beauty as I was getting ready for my watch this morning. Carly and I were the early birds that caught the first glimpse of our first 2014 hatch. Needless to say I left a little later than usual to see more, but Beauty stayed put after giving us a little peek. I also had 67/AR aka STJ, the Seneca Towers female fly past my window whining as well. What a morning already!

As I arrived downtown at 6:35am I checked from the Andrews St. Bridge first and saw Dot.Ca (DC) on the southeast corner of the Kodak Office (KO) launchpad. As I approached on State St. I saw him stoop to the north out of sight. At 6:40am I got a text from Donna saying DC had been by the main cam then left. Thanks D! I came across Larry on the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) by Falcon Watcher Central-he left to walk his dog Harold and I left to find DC. It wasn’t until 7:39am that I finally found our new daddy DC-he was on the northwest side 2nd ibeam of OCSR with food. I was on State St. across from the Rochester Plaza Hotel.

img_0002-dc-with-food

DC flew off while I was taping him and as I drove down State St. I spotted a falcon fly from the nest box heading toward Mercury. I thought for sure DC had delivered food and it was Beauty taking it to the base of Mercury to eat. I was half right for when I got to Broad St. I pulled over by the Blue Cross Arena to find that it was DC not Beauty.

img_0007-dc img_0009-dc

He nibbled on his food a little and then I got a tweet from Larry about a falcon on Mercury. I went farther up the bridge for a different angle on DC and found Larry was back from his walk with Harold. At 7:51am DC picked up his small package and flew off with it to the deck.

img_0016-dc2 img_0018-dc-with-that-wild-eyed-look-of-his img_0019-dc-with-a-small-treat-to-take-to-beauty

Larry and I watched the livestream on his phone to see that DC would not let Beauty have the food after seeing his first born 2014 eyas for the first time. I believe he wanted to feed the young one. They had a tug of war and quite the conversation about it all and then DC took the goods and left 3 minutes after arriving at 7:55am.

img_0032-3-and-a-half-minutes-later-dc-leaves img_0033-dc-leaves-with-the-goods img_0034-me-and-my-shadow img_0035-off-to-pout

Larry had to get going so I went to look for DC once again and found him on the top ibeam near the west corner of OCSR. He was looking straight toward the Times Square building.

img_0038-dc-looking-at-tsb

A few minutes later DC turned around, then turned back again, walked a few feet, stopped and had a quick wink then turned to the north and flew off  at 8:18am heading west.

img_0043-dc-turns-his-back-to-tsb img_0045-dc-catches-a-quick-wink img_0051-dc-flies-west

Try as I might-I never found DC again and called it a watch at 9:10am. I wasn’t done yet for when I approached home at Seneca Towers I spotted a falcon on the northwest corner perched on the railing. I pulled over on Seth Green Drive where I could see clearly without the trees blocking my view and took a pic to ID this falcon as the unbanded tiercel we call STT.

img_0052-stt

He seemed to be in hunt mode and when I wasn’t looking he flew off and a minute later his 1 year old female mate with band numbers 67/AR flew in from the south squawking up a storm and landed on the west side railing.

img_0060-st-female-landing-on-rail-w-side img_0062-se-female-has-a-lot-to-say img_0065-st-female

At 9:49am she turned around and  flew off.

img_0066-stj-turns-before-taking-off

I went up to my 16th floor west side balcony to check the Veterans Bridge but neither one was there. Now I was done with my watch and smiling after starting my day off with a glimpse of an eyas and spending a great morning with Rochesters’ Peregrine Falcons!

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/K4tOyS4B0mg

http://youtu.be/QRAEPvE_0yY

http://youtu.be/32A3RRLokqQ


Sponsored By

Times Square
powered by Shakymon