By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a nasty morning-49 degrees (F) 9 (C) pouring rain, foggy and dark

I checked the livestream before leaving for my watch at 6am and thought Beauty was on the eggs although I couldn’t tell for sure since all I saw was a back. When I got downtown I was looking for Dot.Ca (DC) and having a hard time of it. Cam watcher Annette tweeted a switch on the eggs-Beauty out and DC in at 6:48am. This was incorrect as Donna (thanks) let me know that DC had been on the eggs since 5:40am and I checked the archives to confirm. It wasn’t until 7:20am that Beauty showed up-as I watched from Aqueduct and Basin St. in the hole she flew in from the east and landed on the deck next to the main cam.

I started taping her and DC came flying out almost immediately heading northeast. Beauty stayed perched where she was momentarily then hopped into the nest box to cover those precious eggs. One of them and possibly 2 started pipping yesterday so a hatch will be very soon.

I left to look for DC and found him around 7:35am from State St. across from the Rochester Plaza Hotel-he was on the 2nd ibeam near the west corner of OCSR.

DC had his back to me trying to seek shelter from the rain that was falling. I watched him for nearly an hour and when I wasn’t looking he left the building. I drove up to the Broad St. Bridge to look for him and found the apparatus set up on the southeast side of OCSR for people to rappel down. I thought maybe he sensed people up on the roof  and that’s why DC left. I ended my watch at this point around 8:30am.

Earlier I had been on the Court St. Bridge and got out to check the river since it sounded so loud. The water level was half way up the open arches under the Broad St. Bridge and it was rolling along at a good clip. I took video of it so all could see-I apologize for yelling on it as I thought you wouldn’t be able to hear me over the raging river. lol And after I ended my watch I stopped by the High Falls to shoot a video as well.

I’ve added a bonus video of STJ  the female banded 67/AR on the Veterans Bridge last night and I took a pic of a pic off the LCD screen of Joyces’ camera of STT giving STJ a food gift.

I hope it makes you smile as much as it did me! 🙂

Click on the links below to view 5 videos from my watch

http://youtu.be/cP_6w3KgkF8

http://youtu.be/HFCkT3u1PU8

http://youtu.be/qBEi_DgtUvw

http://youtu.be/157HxX9R830

http://youtu.be/ZPzNI5A9T8k

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Another warm morning with hazy sunshine a temperature of 67 (F) 10 (C) and windy conditions

Beauty was on the eggs when I checked before heading out the door and when I got downtown I had to go to the Andrews St. Bridge (ASB) to see the north side of OCSR and find Dot.Ca (DC) on the northeast side of OCSR 2nd ibeam with food.

Click on my pics to see the full version

A minute later DC flew off headed toward Times Square where he switched with Beauty on the eggs. The Beautyful one went to the base of Mercury to take a breather after a long night on the eggs that should be cooked and about ready to start pipping and hatch. I parked on the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) to watch her.

Beauty started eating after 5 minutes at 6:35am-mainly just picking at it. She stopped to extract a pellet and got back to her breakfast with more enthusiasm after that.

Beauty moved back on the base a little so I couldn’t see her as well so I went down to the hole-parking on Aqueduct St. The wind was blowing her feathers  and actually made her lose her footing too!

Beauty took a look at the nest box then flew off and over to it at 7:33am

DC came out  from nest box and flew north. I followed behind and found him on the north corner top ibeam of OCSR. The sun was in a bad spot making for lousy pics as I was parked on State St. across from the Rochester Plaza Hotel.

I went to get some coffee after a while and when I got back DC was gone so I went in search of. While stopped on the BSB I spotted DC flying up river from the north and disappearing behind OCSR so I drove to the ASB again and found him on the 3rd ibeam down  north corner at 8:55am.

I drove to Bragdon St. by the Radisson Hotel across the river from DC where he was closer to me and looking especially white with the sun beating on him. The wind was blowing all the international flags on the Sister Cities pedestrian bridge.

DC flew off around 9:05am and I decided to call it a watch at that time. I left with a smile on my face! 🙂

Click on the links below to view 2 videos from todays watch

http://youtu.be/GUtjfT32MY4

http://youtu.be/h7nPmatz1IM

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This mornings weather was overcast and muggy with a temperature of 66 (F) 19 (C) when I started my watch at 6am

When I checked the livestream, Beauty was on the eggs so when I got downtown I looked for Dot.Ca (DC). Cam watcher Campgee confirmed Beauty was still in the nest. Thank you! I had no luck finding DC until about 6:50am I just caught a glimpse of him going in the nest box from the Broad St. bridge (BSB). Beauty flew out to the base of Mercury and I was in business.

I watched a duck fly over to Aqueduct Park and land next to another duck as Beauty just perched and preened there for like 15 minutes. I thought , ok DC had trouble catching breakfast and that’s why he was so late.

Wrong-Beauty starting nibbling on something and then there were feathers stuck to her beak and egg on my face for doubting DC-the great provider!

I found out that not only does Beauty talk to her eggs but she talks to her food too!

I went down to the hole where I could see what she was eating better and she was still talking! She finished her meal, walked around the back of the base then flew off to the northwest at 7:32am.

I went looking for the Beautyful one and from the Andrews St. Bridge (ASB) I spotted her on the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT). She was on her favorite northeast cube.

I drove over to Fitzhugh St. in front of the Sister Cities parking garage to observe her.

Beauty did some preening,scratching and stretching and as it started to sprinkle she looked up as if to say-not again, didn’t we get enough rain overnite?

She gave a look toward Times Square then flew off in that direction. As I approached from State St. I could see Beauty on cam 1-I went to the hole and watched as she had her back to me.

Beauty was looking around but mainly down at the nest box-meaning get ready DC she’s coming in to boot you out! Sure enough she flew off at 8:11am but she tricked both DC and I by flying past the nest circling above the Philipone building twice and then making her way to show DC the door.

DC flew out immediately and went over to the Mercury money bag. He stayed about 5 minutes then flew southwest.

I spent the better part of an hour searching for DC including a trip to the Brighton site but didn’t find him. I stopped to take a pic of a guy walking 4 dogs in Cornhill on my way back downtown. At 9:11am from the Andrews  St. Bridge I found DC on the 2nd arm east side of FCT-I then headed over to Fitzhugh St.

I ended my watch at 9:15am after taking a couple pics of DC from below FCT. Keep smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to view more pics and a couple videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqjfy

http://youtu.be/R58oU3AE2HM

http://youtu.be/uXd_fQb8tCw

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This morning was overcast with a temperature of 58 (F)  14 (C)

I arrived on the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) at 6:15am to find Dot.Ca (DC) on the 2nd ibeam southwest side of OCSR plucking feathers and preparing breakfast. I went to the hole for a closer look.

Make sure to click on my pics for the full version

15 minutes later he called out and seemed to slip off the edge and I thought he dropped his prey but as you can see in the blurry take off shot there is a piece of red meat on the ibeam.

I didn’t see what direction he flew as he disappeared behind buildings but I surmised he went north since he didn’t show up at the nest box. I found him from the Andrews St. Bridge on the 3rd ibeam down northwest side of OCSR and he had food, so I drove to State St. across from the Rochester Plaza Hotel. As I pulled over DC flew off, heading toward Times Square so I pulled out behind him but got stuck at the traffic light at Main and State. From there I spotted Beauty flying out from the nest box so I drove to the hole directly. The Beautyful one was on the base of Mercury chowing down on the small package DC had provided her.

Beauty finished eating about 10 minutes later and started cleaning herself up and feaking on the green part of the base.

I went to a different spot on Aqueduct St. where the back lighting wasn’t as bad to share space with Beauty. There were some bug catcher birds flitting past her as she perched-I guess they think just because a falcon has just eaten that it won’t come after them. lol

At 7:20am Beauty turned, spread her wings and flew off going directly to the nest box to give DC the boot-poor guy got less than an hour with the eggs for his efforts. Perhaps the chicks inside those 4 eggs are starting to talk and chip away at the shell and Beauty wants to make sure to be there when they start hatching, which should be within the next few days.

DC wasted no time flying out and over to the Mercury money bag (MMB). It had started to briefly sprinkle a little rain at this time.

After some preening and scratching DC flew east at 8:02am out of my line of vision as the Thomson Reuters building obstructed my view.

Again I went to the Andrews St. Bridge to look around and I found DC on the 2nd ibeam north corner of OCSR. I went to my spot on State St. across from the Rochester Plaza Hotel to observe DC aka Whitey.

I watched as he stood perched upright moving his head from time to time to check out his territory. He seemed to be settled in for a while so I called it a watch at 8:30am. As I was pulling away, DC flew off OCSR heading north and I headed west smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/4gPlTguwZAk

http://youtu.be/WW2v52cymlo

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Todays starting temperature was 54 (F) 12 (C) with hazy sun and calm conditions

Upon my arrival downtown at 6:20am I found Beauty, big as life on cam 1 from the hole.

Make sure to click on all my pics to see the full version

She spent quite a bit of time gaping-which is the term used when they throw their head back and open their mouth. She also did some stretching.

And of course there’s usually hand gestures, er talon gestures! lol

At 7:05am The Beautyful one spotted something to the east, spread her wings, flapped a couple times, turned slightly to the north and took off across the river very fast.

While searching the east side for Beauty I spotted a flag  flying on top of  Midtown-this is new and nice to see!

20 minutes later as I was scanning the roof tops from the Broad St. Bridge (BSB), I spotted Beauty on the northeast corner of the Court Exchange Building. I believe this is the first time I’ve ever seen her on this building. I then drove to the Court St. bridge (CSB) to get an up close and personal view of her.

I moved down Court St. right next to the Blue Cross Arena (BCA) and directly across from Beauty as she was watching something .

Then things got serious when Beauty zeroed in on something and flew off at 7:28am flying directly over my head and out of sight.

I went over to the BSB and spotted Beauty on the southeast end of the BCA perched on the roof railing and still looking at something down on the roof.

At 7:34am Beauty jumped down on the roof and I didn’t see her again for about an hour.

I waited, watched and wondered what she might be doing up there. I went back to the CSB for another angle but couldn’t see Beauty. The little bug catcher birds were swooping and catching bugs above the area Beauty went and I thought maybe there was a nest or cached food but I never saw any feathers floating in the air. I never saw Beauty leave either, but when I decided to take a ride and look around I spotted her on the west corner top ibeam of OCSR.

She appeared to have a little food in her crop so she ate in that hour I didn’t see her. I ended my all Beauty watch at 8:30am smiling for having seen some different spots our downtown matriarch chose to perch on! 🙂

One link to click on to watch a video of  Beauty gaping

http://youtu.be/HolEJH_76Z8

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a little chillier this morning at 47 degrees (F) 8 (C) but still beautiful bright blue skies and sunshine

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Once again I heard a falcon outside my window before leaving for todays watch but saw nobody on the roof when leaving the parking lot. One of our veteran watchers Lou Capauno was successful in getting the identifying leg band numbers on our Seneca Towers juvenile female this morning. We already know her band colors as black over green and now her numbers are- 67 over AR. Great job Lou! Now we just need to find out her name and where she’s from-if anyone can help us with that we’d be grateful to ya! WOOHOO! Here’s a pic of the unbanded male on the Veterans bridge last night.

Now on to my morning watch-as I made the turn onto the Broad St. Bridge from South Ave. (my new route) I spotted a familiar sight, Dan sitting in his lawn chair on the south side of the bridge. I also saw a falcon on the top ibeam of OCSR southeast side so I went to the hole for a couple close up shots to make sure who I was seeing-Beauty. I then went back up to the BSB to join my friend Dan where I was greeted by his wonderful smile!

Always click on my pics to see the full version

We had a short but sweet visit before he had to leave at 6:50am. I returned to the hole to share space with the Beautyful one as she did a lot of stretching in the next 45 minutes. Larry came by around 7:30am-long enough to say hi then he was off to walk his dog Harold.

At 7:37am Beauty flew off and went directly to the nest box to relieve Dot.Ca (DC) of incubation duties.

Now usually DC makes Beauty wait before reluctantly getting off their eggs but this time he came right out and flew to the Mercury money bag. (MMB)

DC got right to work preening as they do after they’ve been incubating the eggs.

This went on for about a half hour and then at 7:58am DC spread his wings and flew over to the top ibeam of OCSR near the south corner.

Now there was a window washer with a cherry picker cleaning the windows on the former Keybank building next to the Wilder building and he had to move his machine to where I was parked on Aqueduct St. He had asked if I would mind moving and so I moved up into the parking lot to watch DC.

There was another graduation over at the Blue Cross Arena this morning and they were starting to fill in the parking lot where I was so I opted to end my watch at 8:30am. I left DC on OCSR preening and drove away smiling after a nice little watch with falcons and friends! 🙂

Click on the links below to view a couple videos
http://youtu.be/sx7B2pvWtGo

http://youtu.be/w2Iiffiq7Vk

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

What gorgeous weather for a falcon watch this morning with bright sunshine, wall to wall blue skies, breezy conditions and a temperature of 60 (F) 16 (C)

Just before I left my 16th floor apartment in Seneca Towers (ST) I heard  a falcon kakking outside my window-when I got down to the parking lot to check the roof I didn’t see anything so off I went to downtown. I arrived on the Andrews St. Bridge (ASB)  at 6:30am finding Beauty on the top ibeam northeast side of OCSR, I took a pic then headed over to Bragdon St. for a closer view.

10 minutes later she flew off when I wasn’t looking and I caught up with her on the base of Mercury. The Beautyful one was there only a few minutes before she flew over to the Wilder green strip. I first parked in the hole but she turned around showing me her back so I drove across Exchange Blvd. and parked in the lot next to Times Square.

Beauty looked straight at the nest box, then flew over to it at which time Dot.Ca (DC) exited and flew to the Mercury money bag (MMB) almost landing on it, then changing his mind he flew over past OCSR and headed north. I went north too and found him on the top ibeam of OCSR north corner-one of his favorite hunting spots. He didn’t stay long and took off at 6:58am

I tracked DC down on the top arm east side of the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT)-parking below him on Fitzhugh St. in front of City Hall he had his back to me and was keeping his eye on a cable that was blowing in the breeze from the center pole of the tower.

I decided to go over to Plymouth Ave. where I could see the front of DC but with the back lighting it was hard to see him as more than a silhouette. DC dropped off the arm at 7:10am blazing above me to the west chasing after a mourning dove. I lost sight of them behind a couple trees I was parked by.

5 minutes later I spotted DC on the Kodak Office (KO) cupola and just after I pulled over on State St. by Platt St. he stooped down toward the High Falls river gorge out of view. He returned empty-taloned coming to rest on the southeast corner of the KO launchpad only to fly off again and return to the same corner.

DC flew off right away and circled the tower a couple times trying to flush out the pigeons then landing back on the southeast corner of the launchpad once more.

At 7:24am DC took off from KO flew over near FCT and back then hovered above the northeast rocket.

DC then circled around the back of tower then past the cupola and landed once more on the southeast corner of the launchpad.

DC flew  south a moment later and after looking for him with no success I took a ride over to Brighton. I didn’t see any falcons there but I did see some pretty spring flowers on the corner of Elmwood and Mt. Hope.

<Click it>

The people marching in the Lilac Festival Parade  were parking at the Brighton site and the multitude of pot holes from a rough winter had been filled in sometime in the last couple days. YAY!  Upon returning to downtown as I pulled over on the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) I watched DC fly to the nest box and Beauty fly out and go to the base of Mercury at 8:18am. 5 minutes later Beauty flew off heading east across the river.

I decided to end my watch at 8:30am as the Times Square/BSB area parking was filling up for the graduation ceremony of St. John Fisher College at the Blue Cross Arena. I left smiling after a busy watch keeping track of DC who tried so hard to catch breakfast! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/PsHGnFiT7Jc

http://youtu.be/n2XBHmWTaJ4

http://youtu.be/uTjcqluLBpc

http://youtu.be/pem85zmbOrY

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

The morning started out partly sunny with a temperature of 56 (F) 13 (C) on its way up to the middle 80s

There was a switch on the eggs just before I landed downtown and when I arrived I found Beauty on the base of Mercury. She was half hidden from where I was observing on Bank Place at Aqueduct St.

The Beautyful one came out front and center for me before flying off to the nest box at 6:48am

Dot.Ca (DC) flew out and straight over to the heel of Mercury and started preening immediately

Make sure to click on my pics to see full version

Being that I was behind him down in the hole I went up to the Broad St. Bridge to see him from the front

As you can see DC is a perfect subject for photo shooting as he is always posing.  At 7:22am he stooped straight down going between the legs of Mercury after a small bird. I watched as he came into view over the river but he was below the bird and just missed grabbing it. He returned to Mercury and came to rest on the money bag.

DC did some scratching and preening before flying off once more going into a stoop then going over to OCSR unsuccessful in his hunt. He landed on the south corner 3rd ibeam down and I went back down to the hole to watch.

At 8:47am DC flew off heading toward Times Square-I lost him momentarily and thought perhaps he went top the nest box when suddenly he appeared from behind the Times Square building. He flew around the area and made his way to the nest box.

Beauty came out from the nest box flying straight at me then flew over to the 2nd ibeam south corner of OCSR.

It was almost 9am as I decided to end my watch and get on with my day. Another great watch with our Rochester Peregrine Falcons sending me on my way with a smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view the videos from today

http://youtu.be/ql41pj6ZtjM

http://youtu.be/tICEpJOp4Xg

http://youtu.be/BHo9qFb_jm4

http://youtu.be/WG-J_63gklA

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was 54 warm degrees (F) 12 (C) with clouds blocking the sunrise

Remember to click on my pics to see a full version

From the Andrews  St. bridge  (ASB) I found Dot.Ca (DC) on the 2nd ibeam northwest side of OCSR after searching to start my watch. He was eating with feathers around him.

I drove to State St. across from the Rochester Plaza Hotel to watch as he ran down the ibeam to the north corner. He did some feaking then dove straight down toward the river.

10 minutes later from the hole, I found DC on the southwest side of OCSR 2nd ibeam down where he was nibbling on something for a minute or so before running to the south corner.

DC stared over toward the nest box for a time-I thought perhaps he was thinking about going over to take over for Beauty on the eggs but suddenly he snapped out of it and ran down the southeast side of the ibeam. We’ll just call him Marathon Man today! lol I then drove over to the Radisson Hotel by Main St. to observe him as he feaked and scratched.

The sun broke thru the clouds for a few minutes and lit DC up like a 100watt light bulb and for a moment I called him Whitey (a nick name I gave him). Then at 7:08am DC flew off heading southwest quickly leaving my field of vision. It was a trifecta pic as there were 2 reflections of him on the building windows.

10 minutes later I found him on the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT)-he was on the top arm west side preening and scratching as I pulled over on Church St.

DC then flew off, circled FCT twice and landed on the 2nd arm east side and after a couple minutes flew off again like he jumped from a spring board straight up and off to the east.

I found him a couple minutes later on OCSR top ibeam south corner-he took off before I could get situated and I found him back on the FCT. I pulled over on Fitzhugh St. to check him out as the clouds were looking very cool above him.

I stayed with him until about 9am at which time I ended my watch. It was an all DC watch and tho I would like to have seen the Beautyful one her mate had me smiling all watch long! 🙂

Click on the links below to view 3 videos of Dot.Ca

http://youtu.be/-tssul0cfPw

http://youtu.be/Vfm4Cb-Z0ww

http://youtu.be/1l8esGl0EaU

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was 46 degrees (F) 8 (C) with hazy skies as I started my watch

As I arrived downtown I spotted Beauty on the top ibeam west corner of OCSR from the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) at 6:20am. I drove down to the hole where Basin St. meets Aqueduct St. to observe her.

She did a little preening but was mainly looking around her territory for a meal. At 6:55am the Beautyful one spread her wings and flew over to the nest box. I played around in Picassa with that last pic-I think it’s kinda cool!

Soon after Beauty went to the nest box Dot.Ca (DC) came zooming out and flew over to the Mercury money bag (MMB). He started preening immediately as I went up to the BSB to hang out with him.

DC spent the next half hour preening and looking for breakfast to pop out from along the river below him.

DC did his best angel pose, held up his talons as if to wave and started talking to himself at one point. DC was very cute this morning!

At 7:29am DC spread his gorgeous wings and flew off heading northwest-I would not see him again.

<Click it

I made a trip around downtown looking for DC with no luck. I drove to the Brighton site but he wasn’t there either so I returned to the city for one more look but was unsuccessful. I called it a watch at 8:15am but I wasn’t done yet for when I arrived at Seneca Towers and pulled over on Seth Green Drive to check the west side of my apartment building I spotted STJ (Seneca Towers Juvenile) on the southwest corner perched on the railing.

She didn’t budge from her spot while I watched for about half hour, but she did a lot of whining so I think the male was near. I checked the east side before heading up to my 16th floor nest-no falcon there. It was a very quiet watch but certainly smile worthy! 🙂

Click on the 2 links below to see my videos

http://youtu.be/dqyHzyyQkOw

http://youtu.be/RSy3ZOvf7tM