By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was dark and overcast with a temperature of 43 (F) 6 (C) to start my watch

Click on the pics to see full version

I found Beauty around 7:30am on the Bausch & Lomb  (B&L) building as I was checking from Woodbury Blvd. on the east side. She was plucking feathers and I was too far away, so I drove over to St. Mary’s Place and pulled over next to Washington Square Park. That was closer but there was a tree branch between me and the Beautyful one so then I went around the corner to Court St. where I found just the right spot.

Beauty finished eating after 15 minutes or so then she did a lot of feaking. After she was done cleaning herself up she perched for a few minutes before flying off to the west. The pigeons lined up on the Court St. garage below her were relieved I’m sure.

<Click it

I caught up with Beauty as she had flown to the Times Square building (TSB) under the southeast wing-I parked by the Blue Cross Arena on Exchange Blvd. just before 8am to observe. She didn’t stay long as she flew off to the northeast at 8:05am

Once again, from Woodbury St. I spotted Beauty on B&L -this time she wasn’t alone. Dot.Ca (DC) was on the other end of B&L southeast corner with his back to me. I went back over to Court St. where I had been earlier. Beauty was on the southwest elevator and hopped to the back of it like she had food to cache. She came back into view and stayed perched for a few minutes before leaving while I watched DC.

After she left so did I so I could find a place to see the front of DC. I pulled over on Broad St. next to Midtown and what a view I had of his huge, bulging crop!

There were some mum planters around Xerox which I couldn’t help but notice. I was really surprised DC didn’t tip over with all that weight in front. lol

There was work being done on Midtown and it was quite loud at times, well one big bang and DC was off at 8:57am. He flew northwest and I headed straight ahead to the Broad St. bridge.

<Click

I discovered DC under the northeast wing of TSB. I went down in the hole and parked behind He’s Chinese.DC was looking straight toward the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT). I followed his lead and drove over there after a few minutes shared with him.

I stopped on Fitzhugh St. and barely spotted Beauty on the southeast cube with her back to me. This wouldn’t do, so I checked from every angle and finally settled on the City Hall parking lot right next to the building as the best look at her.

I left after a couple minutes believing that she and DC would rest and digest. As I made my way down Seth Green Drive I spotted a falcon flying around the south end of the building, it flew northeast and disappeared. I checked all sides of  Seneca Towers but there were no falcons to be seen, so I ended my watch at 10:05am with a smile knowing our downtown Rochester Peregrine falcon pair had eaten well on this Saturday morning! 🙂

Click on the links below to view many videos including a bonus video of the foliage view I have from the 16th floor of Seneca Towers where I live
http://youtu.be/0MNQpWWuZL8

http://youtu.be/E6aKBebgV3M

http://youtu.be/yxdLt0Mbd2U

http://youtu.be/qSF6kx3Z24E

http://youtu.be/WXzfufBrDHQ

http://youtu.be/gmUP_xDfQ0A

http://youtu.be/GvniWu-5peQ

http://youtu.be/lK-vZDMOfhs

http://youtu.be/3YXPC0IuEFs

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

The temperature was 45 (F) 7 (C) with clouds and sun to start the day

Click on the pics to view the full version

There were no falcons on Seneca Towers as I left for my watch this morning so I drove straight away to downtown. Turned out that was a good thing or I wouldn’t have spent the few short minutes I did with Beauty. She was on the Times Square building (TSB) under the northeast wing as I arrived in the hole on Aqueduct St.

Just before she flew off  less than 10 minutes later, the Beautyful one became even prettier as the golden sun hit her as it rose from the eastern horizon.

She left when I wasn’t looking and I wouldn’t see her again. I shifted my attention to the river after checking around town with no falcon sightings. I stopped on the Court St. Bridge and spotted the Great Egret fishing below the south side of the Broad St. Bridge (BSB). The usual ducks and gulls were enjoying their morning routines.

I left and took a ride around finding a man on the first K on the south side of the Kodak Office tower. Then I made my way back to the BSB where I was closer to the egret.

I walked across to the north side of the BSB and watched the ducks doing their tail up diving for food and other duck things.

Finally around 8:30am Dot.Ca (DC) showed up under the northeast wing of the TSB. I went back down to the hole to watch but he didn’t stay but a few minutes and he was off to fly to the Mercury money bag (MMB).

I drove over by the Blue Cross Arena on Broad St. to observe him but the back lighting was not any better there than down in the hole. DC had a full crop so I know he had some breakfast and one picture was so dark I just gave it a neon outline in Picassa.

I moved up on the bridge for the best view and conditions. DC was quite alert looking every which way-he flew over to the TSB back under the northeast wing at 9am.

DC was looking quite bright white in the light from the sun.

<Click it

I left DC to look for Beauty one more time before heading out-no luck. When I got home to Seneca Towers I pulled over in my spot on Seth Green Drive before the visitor parking and stopped. No falcons at first,  but less than a minute later Billie came flying in from the south vocalizing and came to rest on the west side railing.

The sun came out from behind the clouds to give a nice blue sky background before Buffalo Billie flew south some 20 minutes later. She returned and circled the building then disappeared for good. I ended my watch at 9:45am smiling from thinking how lucky I am to live with Peregrine Falcons! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos
http://youtu.be/CVLxXcy0pTs

http://youtu.be/6hea3PP9y1k

http://youtu.be/nJpHMpqWOkE

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

6:00 – 7:00 pm

Watchers Out Tonight:  Kathy O, Joyce, Brian H and Carol P.

When I arrived on the Broad St Bridge, around 6:00 pm, I spotted Kathy O in her car.  I parked in front of her.  She and Joyce had reported that both Beauty and Dot.ca were on the south side top IBeam of the OCSR.  Just as I was getting out of my car, one of the falcons took off, heading west towards the Times Square Bldg (TSB).  The second falcon followed.  They were both flying around the TSB.  I got back in my car and pulled up for a closer look.  I could hear ee-chup! ee-chup! ee-chups! fill the air.  Love that sound!  Both Beauty and Dot.ca had landed on the south east wing ledge and they were both vocalizing/chatting with each other.

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Joyce and Brian joined Kathy and I.  Dot.ca took off and headed east with rapid wing beats.  He flew around the Xerox Tower and over it.  A few moments later, Beauty took off and headed northeast.  We all headed back to the Broad St Bridge for a better view.  She was flying over the area surrounding the Andrew St Bridge.  We lost sight of her when she stooped behind some buildings.  While we were all watching Beauty, Dot.ca returned to the Times Square Bldg’s northeast wing ledge.

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Everyone left at about 6:30 pm, but I wanted to stay until it got dark, hoping to see where Dot.ca’s nighttime roost was.  I suspected he was still using the OCSR elevator shaft.  Joyce had taken Brian home and on the way checked out the Xerox Tower.  She tweeted that Beauty was up on the south side, 5th column in from the southeast corner.  This was Beauty’s nighttime roost spot.  So I waited until it started to get dark.  A little before 7:00 pm, Dot.ca took off and stooped from the top of the Times Square Bldg, heading southeast over the river.  When he went low, I lost sight of him.  After waiting a few moments, he had not returned, so I ended my watch a little after 7:00 pm.  Called due to lack of light!  lol

During the time I was watching Dot.ca, a most beautiful sunset was happening behind the Times Square Bldg.  Here are some pictures.  If you look carefully, you can see Dot.ca up on the northeast wing ledge in the first picture.

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Here are some other pics from my watch tonight and one (of the Great Blue Heron in flight) from yesterday’s watch.

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Goodnight everyone!  Remember to keep your eyes to the sky!  You never know what you might see up there!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Brrr, a chilly start to the day at 39 (F) 4 (C) degrees but it rebounded quite nicely as bright sunshine took over

Click on the pics to see the full version

My watch started right out of the gate as I spotted a falcon on the northwest corner of my building, Seneca Towers. I thought it was Billie at first as it looked big, but when it took off  a minute later, it looked more like 99 to me. Pre-dawn light is tough on a camera.

When whoever it was didn’t return I set out for downtown finding Dot.Ca (DC) on the Mercury money bag (MMB), Beauty under the northeast wing of the Times Square building (TSB) and the moon beside it at 7:30am. I was watching from the Broad St. Bridge (BSB).

<Beauty   DC> 

I looked up to see that Beauty had left the building and when I looked back to the MMB, DC was also gone so I checked out the river. When I didn’t find anything of interest there I looked at Mercury again and voila Beauty was on the base and DC back on the money bag.  He keeps track of his mate very well when it’s meal time.

A couple minutes later the Beautyful one moved over on the green part of the base and I thought DC would fall off trying to watch her every move. He literally had to spread out his wings to catch himself when he lost his footing while turning to watch her.

<Click it  

They both gave a look my way-love it when they do that!

Around 8:15am Beauty flew back to the northeast wing ledge of the TSB and DC remained for a minute or two then flew to the southeast wing ledge to be closer to his girl. Ain’t love grand!?

<Click it

<Click it  

I went for coffee and on my way to my car in the hole on Basin St. next to the Wilder building I spotted DC circling the TSB and Beauty was gone. When I reached my car I grabbed my camera and as I was watching DC after he landed on the northeast wing ledge, he started looking straight down. No wonder, Beauty had landed on the column below him and right above the nest box.

One of them was vocalizing as Beauty had a fascinator (a feather stuck on her) on her beak. This was around 8:45am-it didn’t stay this way for long as Beauty flew up under the northwest wing.

They both flew off about 10 minutes later and returned with Beauty landing under the northwest wing and DC under the northeast wing facing her. She flew off again right away followed by DC. He returned to the northeast wing and Beauty flew up to him, some vocalizing occurred, then DC took off and she landed in his spot. No falcons there or at Seneca Towers. I was smiling when I ended my watch at 9:30am! 🙂

Click on the links to see todays videos

http://youtu.be/G-2mavh3e8U

http://youtu.be/WcqacUSjBdA

http://youtu.be/xfyQ-zupOrc

http://youtu.be/f4iQ7zOlgPI

http://youtu.be/wwlWvcn8nc8

http://youtu.be/ULSLl8mOF9k

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was breezy sun and clouds this morning and a starting temperature of  54 (F) 12 (C)

Click on my pics to see the full version

I was lucky enough to start my watch as I stepped out the door from Seneca Towers with Billie and 99 (new name for Mr. Yellow Tape). She was on the northwest corner railing and he was on the west side railing.

Buffalo Billie, as I like to call her (she is from Buffalo), flew off and came to rest near her beau on the west side railing. After that they were both off and flying for the next 10-15 minutes landing on different spots on the roof and flying again together.

<Click it 

There was vocalizing and I got the feeling they were really enjoying chasing each other around and above the building, I too was enjoying it.

They continued flying around together and eventually disappeared to the north and didn’t return.

Time to head downtown-as I was stopped at the traffic light at State St. and the inner loop I checked the north side of OCSR with my binoculars and spotted Dot.Ca (DC) on the top ibeam north corner. I pulled over on State St. across from the Rochester Plaza Hotel to observe our bright white friend.5 minutes later DC turned into the sun and suddenly he was our golden boy as he walked out of view to the east side of the ibeam.

As I made my way toward Times Square (TSB) I could see Beauty under the northeast wing. I went to Basin St. in the hole to watch and 3 minutes later she flew east out of view.

I then drove up to the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) where a surprise was waiting for me at 8am-DC was on the Mercury money bag (MMB) and the Beautyful one was on the base of Mercury.

Beauty stood there calmly but DC was definitely looking for a meal to fly by. They looked at each other and then DC spotted something and flew off into a stoop at first, then came out of it and flew over by the Radisson Hotel before flying to the TSB under the northeast wing.

Beauty remained on Mercury base until around 8:30am when she flew to a small ledge on the southeast corner of TSB briefly then off to the southeast side top ibeam of OCSR.

I left the bridge and went down to the hole on Basin St. to watch after Beauty left OCSR and flew to the TSB landing under the southeast wing across from DC. They stayed like this for about a half hour  then someone alarm called and they both took off to the NE out of view.

They returned soon after taking over the same ledges they had just flown from around 9am.

DC  

Beauty   

I left our downtown pair of Peregrine Falcons, checking Hawkeye and Seneca Falls with no sightings ending my watch at 9:30am. I also saw our Seneca Falls pair making for a big old smiley face! 🙂

Click on the links below to view a photo album and videos from todays watch

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqj8U

http://youtu.be/EjTjtirQOLw
http://youtu.be/4Tl2CrPkTs4
http://youtu.be/C29BB2lZe_g
http://youtu.be/ctQdhjABfYI
http://youtu.be/Upugcd-k00Q
http://youtu.be/ckuVC5h331w

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was mostly cloudy with a starting temperature of 58 (F) 14 (C)

Click on my pics to see the full version

I’m getting started later and later as it is still dark at 7am now. I found Billie on the southwest end of the building having herself some breakfast on the roof as I got to my spot on Seth Green Drive.

She finished up about 10 minutes later, did some feaking and walked down to the north west corner of the section of the roof she was on, then took flight at 7:39am. She looped around to the east side of the building and turned north flying out of sight.

I left for downtown when she didn’t return and found Dot.Ca (DC) eating his breakfast too. He was on the back part of the Times Square building (TSB) on the 6th column from the northwest corner.

DC finished up his meal and did some feaking (when they wipe their beak on the edge of wherever they are perched). A minute later at 9:18am Beauty came flying in from the north-DC flew off and she took his spot while he flew over to the northwest corner of the Widows Walk (WW) railing.

The Beautyful one stayed a minute then flew up to the northeast wing ledge. In the mean time DC moved over to the west side of the WW railing before flying off.

DC came flying in to join Beauty under the wing-there was vocalizing and Beauty was bowing but DC only stood there. Beauty then took flight,  and at the time I thought I saw a tiny bit of food in her beak but my pics don’t show it. She had checked out where he had been eating and now I believe he was there to check out if she had food as well. These two are very comical when it comes to food!

DC moved right over after she left and was looking around where Beauty had been, he then settled down for a while. Every so often DC would look on the ledge turn around and settle and repeat it almost like he was tanning himself and trying to do it evenly. I’m sure it had more to do with heating his body evenly with the suns rays that peaked thru the clouds on and off.

DC also did a little scratching and stretching and of course he pooped! I shared space with him for almost an hour before leaving to look for Beauty.

I wasn’t able to find our girl so I left for home checking Hawkeye, where I stopped to video tape the lower falls before heading to Seneca Towers. There were no falcons to be seen at either location and so I ended my watch with a smile at 10:10am! 🙂

lick on the links below to check out the videos from my morning watch
http://youtu.be/Tb84gxIOgVM

http://youtu.be/MKNIubdyfJo

http://youtu.be/UQccJKbDmJI

http://youtu.be/5h42U_GIjhw

http://youtu.be/j0YlUd7aNmI

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

I wasn’t able to stay out to long today, but I wanted to see if I could find Dot.ca since he was not seen this morning.  From the Broad St Bridge, I could see a falcon on the Times Square Bldg on the north east wing ledge.  It wasn’t until I had parked down on Aqueduct St aka “the hole” that I saw TWO falcons up there.  Both Beauty and Dot.ca were sitting side by side.

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Before I left, Dot.ca went into hunt mode.  He took off, first heading towards the OCSR and then back to the northwest wing ledge.  After a few moments, he again took off, this time heading south.  When I ended my watch, he had not returned, but Beauty remained on the northeast wing ledge preening.

I’ve been seeing them together a lot lately.  Here are a couple of pics from my Saturday afternoon watch.  Both Beauty (right) and Dot.ca (left) were on the top Ibeam of the OCSR.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This morning started out overcast and breezy with scattered showers and a temperature of 48 (F) 9 (C)

Click on the pics to see the full version

When I first left Seneca Towers this morning I didn’t see any falcons- I forgot something and had to go back and when I got there I saw a falcon on the northwest corner railing. I believe it was Mr. Yellow Tape-he took off while I tweeted out my findings.

So I continued on to downtown where I found Beauty under the northeast wing of Times Square (TSB).  She had her back to me as I was parked on Basin St. next to the Wilder building  in the hole, but when she turned her head I knew it was her.

She appeared to be nibbling on something and the proof came when she turned around to feak on the ledge edge.

She stood there showing herself for a brief time before turning around to show her back once again. It started to rain lightly.

Around 8:12am the Beautyful one shook the rain water off and flew east.

I made the trip around downtown checking all the usual spots but didn’t find her or Dot.Ca (DC) until I went to Bragdon Place next to the Radisson Hotel to check the OCSR elevator shaft. Nobody in there but I did spot Beauty next to it on the top ibeam with her head tucked into her wing sleeping.

I stayed with Beauty a while then looked for DC before leaving downtown around 9:45am. I had to run a couple errands before going home and when I got there at Seneca Towers I spotted Mr. Yellow Tape on the north end windows-top ledge west side. A minute later he started vocalizing and let me know that Billie was flying in to join him-she landed on the east side across from him.

<Him  Her>

Buffalo Billie had food in her crop and spent the whole time perched and resting but the mister was alert and looking everywhere for a food source. The only thing he moved was his head and would not raise his left leg to show me his band.

<Her    Him>

I started out on the Seneca Towers property and ended up on the other side of the chain link fence by the Veterans Memorial Bridge. They have a nice big American Flag and a big stone monument there, so I had to take a pic of them.

I was starting to wonder if our unidentified male would ever fly off or raise his leg so I could get an ID.I hung out a bit longer and watched them closely.

Just as I was about to pack it in Billie flew off and he went right after her. Darn, the take off shot wasn’t clear enough but they came back and Mr. Yellow Tape showed me his leg before settling back in his corner on the top window ledge. Success-although they are not the clearest of pics after cropping them so much you can absolutely make out 99/BA.

The B wasn’t showing completely but the next pics show it quite clearly.

After looking on a list of Rochester Falcons known to be alive I found him only he has no name and he was gendered a female at banding.
Yellow female   99/BA B/G   yellow   May-2013   Rochester, NY

He came from an undisclosed location near Rochester as requested by the DEC  because it is an unsecured site and we don’t want any harm to come to any future birds there. So it looks like we’ll be having another naming contest folks! We can all smile now for knowing who Billie’s beau is here at the Seneca Towers site! 🙂

Click on the links below to see todays videos
http://youtu.be/NhSeENGQTFY

http://youtu.be/1fd0dII94QE

http://youtu.be/NAzCKJPbaPk

http://youtu.be/5vuxPNOeJ0M

I just wanted to share a video that I put together today. This is dedicated to those who venture outside with their binoculars and cameras in hand and report what they see and hear to sods like me who seem to be getting out a little less every year. Hopefully, this brings you memories of another wonderful year in Rochester. As another season draws to a close, I want to thank you for your reports, tweets, posts, dedication and service.

Lou

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

A cold start this morning with clouds and sun and a starting temperature of 39 (F) 4 (C)

Click on the pics to see the full version

Well, for the first time in many days I say no falcons on my Seneca Towers building when I left for my morning watch. I arrived downtown around 7:20am finding Beauty under the northeast wing of the Times Square building (TSB). I parked on Exchange Blvd. in front of the Blue Cross Arena for the best view of her.

10 minutes later Dot.Ca (DC) flew in and buzzed by Beauty like a flash, making her duck-he flew over to the southeast wing ledge and landed. My best guess is that he went by her so close like that to see if she had food.

Unfortunately, his back was to me and if I had moved to another location they both would have had their backs to me so I stayed put-it worked out good because he left after a few minutes while I was changing the battery in my camera. The Beautyful one moved over showing herself better and did a little preening and feather plucking-she’s still not quite done molting.

I left her just before 8am and came across his whiteness, DC, on the northeast corner of the Kodak Office launchpad. He was looking hard for breakfast-there was something below him he was especially intrigued with and I thought he was going to go after it but didn’t.

DC started preening and plucking feathers as he is still not done molting either. I was parked on State St. right below the tower instead of on Mill St. where I usually go. It got me that much closer to him.

At just about 8:15am DC pooped and got set to fly off very fast to the south toward Times Square and I followed right behind him.

When I caught up with DC he was on the Mercury money bag and Beauty was below on the base. My guess is that she flew from Times Square and he thought she was going after food and just had to check it out. lol I parked in the hole parking lot to see both of them-unfortunately the back lighting was not good making for dark photos.

Around 8:45am DC flew over to the northeast wing ledge on Times Square and Beauty followed right behind him. As she came up to land he flew off and she took his place as he ended up on the top ibeam of OCSR near the south corner.

I went to get coffee and DC left while I was gone-I left Beauty on Times Square and found DC back on the northeast corner of the Kodak Office launchpad.

I didn’t stay too long before leaving for home-I checked Hawkeye and Seneca Towers but came up empty! I ended my watch at 10am after sharing space with Beauty and DC, who left a smile on my face as they always do! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/KQboBZi6wvI

http://youtu.be/GrUm9CglEAk

http://youtu.be/5CLssvMT4Yc

http://youtu.be/jfVw0w-i4Os

http://youtu.be/ZKKxx2Oom7w