By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was way brighter this morning because we actually had lots of clear skies for the sun to shine thru. The temperature was 28 (F+) -3 (C) when I started my watch

Click on my pics to see the full version

Another day starts with falcons at Seneca Towers where I live. Parked on Seth Green Drive after making my u-turn I could see both Billie and 99. They were on the west side railing both facing me and pretty close to each other.

<99 Billie>

They gazed at each other on and off as they watched the territory for prey-as their crops were empty. Billie pooped and stretched a couple times.

I had to change the battery in my camera and of course as soon as I got started Billie flew off,  and just as I got the camera turned on, 99 flew south over the river  and out of view.  That’s how it goes sometimes! lol  It was after 8am so I left for downtown. I made the rounds once then I spotted Beauty under the northwest wing around 8:30am. I parked on Basin St. in the hole next to the Wilder building but she had her body perched in such a way that I mostly saw her back and caught quick glimpses of the side of her head and face when she turned her head.

I took a drive over to Broad St. behind the Times Square building for a better view but it was a worse angle than from the hole, so I returned to Basin St. Around 9:20am the Beautyful one spotted something to the east, pooped and flew off in a hurry. I lost sight of her as she reached the river. I suspect she may have seen Dot.ca and left to join him.

I took a ride around but all I found were more decorations.

I left downtown at 9:40am smiling after a quiet, laid back Monday morning falcon watch! 🙂

Click on the links below to see the videos from today
http://youtu.be/p5nJJfg-TsE
http://youtu.be/FMacWcJF4Tg
http://youtu.be/BxN1wz0qxKw

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Winter Solstice!  First day of winter.  More importantly, the days will start to get longer after today!  Woohoo!  It was 34 degrees (F) during my watch and the sun was shining through most of it.

I made my normal weekend checks at the west end of Kodak Park and the BS locations.  No falcons seen or heard at either.

When I arrived downtown, it took me awhile to find Beauty and Dot.ca.  It wasn’t until I stopped on the Andrews St Bridge that I finally found both of them on the Frontier Communication Tower (FCT).  They were both on top arms.

*

*

*

*

*

Starlings and pigeons were continuously moving about below Beauty and Dot.ca.  They were watching their every move.  A large flock of Starlings landed on the bottom arm and platform.

*

*

*

*

*

After awhile, first Dot.ca then Beauty took off heading south.

*

*

*

*

*

Five minutes later, they were both back on the Frontier Communication Tower.  This time Dot.ca was on the top arm and Beauty was on the south east box below the platform.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Dot.ca left and Beauty remained on the SE box.  I was joined by fellow watcher Kathy O.  We were parked in front of City Hall.  While we were chatting, Beauty left and Dot.ca returned, landing on the 2nd arm down.  This is where we left him, ending our downtown falcon watch.

On my way home, I stopped at Maplewood Park (across the river and a little north of Seneca Towers).  From there, I could see one falcon on the west side, near the south end of the building, on a short pipe or antenna.  The same location as yesterday.  I was too far away to identify this falcon.

Russell Station was my last stop and again there were no falcons seen at this location.  Lake Ontario was calm for a 2nd day in a row.  It was a nice ending to my weekend falcon watches!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a bit brighter this morning with mostly cloudy skies and sun breaking out on and off with a temperature of 27 (F) -3 (C)

Click on the pics to see the full version

I was treated to both Billie and 99 this morning to start my day at 7:30am. As I pulled over on Seth Green Drive I spotted Buffalo Billie on the west side railing and 99 on a pipe at the northwest corner of the roof.

They stayed like this for over half hour watching their surroundings and each other-just waking up along with me.

Just about 8am 99 flew off over the river, behind the tree and back to the south end of the building. Billie flew with him until he landed on the south end antenna. Billie flew past 99 then circled the building several times before landing the southwest corner of the roof below him.

<99

<Billie

<Click it

Around 8:15am Billie flew off to the southeast and 99 went right after her. They didn’t return so I left for downtown. On my way downtown Donna tweeted that she thought Beauty was on the Mercury money bag (MMB). Thanks to her for letting me know where to check first. I found Dot.ca (DC) there when I arrived.

DC flew off around 8:30am and ended up on the top of Times Square (TSB) on the southeast wing ring. I parked on Broad St. below as the sun came out to watch DC do some preening and stretching.

I left him to look for Beauty but I didn’t find her until I returned to see that DC was gone from the wing ring and now on the MMB with the Beautyful one below on the base of Mercury with food. I pulled over on the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) to observe them

For the next 15 minutes or so Beauty worked on preparing and eating her meal while DC kept an eye on her and planned his strategy for getting some food from her. He had a pretty full crop so he really didn’t need any more to eat-or so I thought. DC flew off at 9:52am crossing the river to the east and doubling back to land by Beauty. He grabbed a small morsel and took it to the TSB to eat under the northeast wing.

Right around 10am DC finished eating and flew back over to Beauty to take more food-there was a scuffle, she held her ground this time and he flew off only to land on the other side of the base, then up onto the green for a few minutes. DC then scurried over and chased Beauty off as she took her leftovers with her.

As they got together in the air over the river DC ended up with the wing leftover-I don’t think Beauty wanted him to have it or I think she would have just left it on the base for him. Anyway, DC flew to the green part of the base of Mercury with the spoils and Beauty came over and landed on the base where she had been eating for a moment, then she flew up under the northeast wing of TSB. DC went to work on finishing off the leftovers. I chose to end my watch at this time, just shy of 10:30am.

Another great watch in the books after sharing space with all 4 Rochester Peregrine Falcons giving me good reason to smile!  🙂

Click on the links below to see todays many videos and a photo album with a few more pics
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqkHA

http://youtu.be/gW0qatiV1EI

http://youtu.be/4eIwR0KF230

http://youtu.be/nVGwPIU-SpQ

http://youtu.be/ASg-vOBaAiY

http://youtu.be/zeUHgmdn93Q

http://youtu.be/ISs0p40DCKI

http://youtu.be/azws9HIB-bY

http://youtu.be/1ZmX3aCFy7A

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

It was cold out there (temps near 30 degrees), but having a bit of sunshine made it tolerable.

REMEMBER TO CLICK ON ANY PICTURES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT LARGER

I found no falcons at the west end of Kodak Park or the BS location.  The first falcon I found was downtown.  Beauty was on the top arm of the Frontier Communication Tower (FCT).

*

*

*

*

*

Beauty took off, heading south.  From the Broad St Bridge, I could see her hunting a flock of pigeons over the river.  She ended up on top of the Mercury statue.  There was no where to park on the Broad St Bridge, so I made my way down to Aqueduct St. (aka “the hole”).

*

*

*

*

*

After Beauty took off, she headed back towards the north west.  Of course, I followed.  Tag your it!  lol

When I caught up with her, she had joined Dot.ca on the Frontier Communication Tower.  They were low on the tower, below the platform, very close to each other.

*

*

*

*

*

First Dot.ca and then Beauty took off, both heading north east.  They were a well oiled tandem hunting machine.  Both took turns stooping on the pigeons that were on the buildings near the river.

*

*

*

*

*

Their hunt moved down the river to the south so I drove over to the Andrews St Bridge.  From there I was able to watch their continued tandem hunt.  Pigeons were frantically diving and zipping around the buildings to escape them.  Beauty flew south down the river and to the other side of the OCSR.  Dot.ca landed on the  NW corner of the Radisson.  He took off and headed towards the Times Square Bldg (TSB).

*

*

*

*

*

I drove over to the Broad St Bridge and found Beauty back on top of the Mercury statue and Dot.ca on the nest box platform, next to the base of the main camera.  Since there  were no parking spots to be had, I headed back down to Aqueduct St.  I found a spot where I could see both Beauty and Dot.ca.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Dot.ca took off, heading east.  He returned, flying directly over Beauty and then headed back towards the Times Square Bldg.  At first I thought he was going to land there, but he continued past the TSB and stooped on some Starlings.  He missed catching any of them and landed on the Widows Walk railing.  Beauty remained on Mercury.

*

*

*

*

*

After awhile, both took off, this time heading northwest.  Tag!  I’m it!  Off I went in search of our very active pair of falcons.  It didn’t take me long to find them both on the Frontier Communication Tower.  Dot.ca was on the top arm and Beauty on the arm just below him.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

When they both took off, it was time for me to end my downtown watch.  I wished them good hunting and headed out.  I checked out Hawkeye, no falcons there and continued on to Seneca Towers.  I found a falcon on a short antenna or pipe on the west side, south end of the building.  Based on size, I thought it was Billie, but could not be sure.  MAK was able to see the falcon from her balcony and verified it was Billie.

*

*

*

*

*

I checked the rest of the building from all sides, but could not find a 2nd falcon.  I continued on to Russell Station, but found no falcon there.

I’ll leave you with a couple of pictures of beautiful Lake Ontario and a Christmas greeting.  Enjoy!

*

*

*

*

*

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

I was sitting in my recliner when I received a tweet from Carol that there was falcon on a west side pipe on the roof of Seneca Towers around 3pm. So I went out to the west side balcony of my 16th floor apartment and could see Billie up there. I came out without my camera (duh), so I had to go back to my apartment to get it-0y! Buffalo Billie had a full crop-I always like to see that they’ve eaten.

She did a lot of turning her head and I thought she would fly off at one point but she didn’t. I stayed just 5 minutes or so because my camera wasn’t the only thing I forgot-a jacket and gloves would have been nice! lol It was chilly out there-that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! 🙂

Check out the link below to see the video of Buffalo Billie

http://youtu.be/oIVbBCkYP7I

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Gray, overcast and calm with a temperature of 28 (F) -2 (C)

Click on the pics to see the full version

The first place I checked this morning was the OCSR elevator shaft expecting to see Dot.ca (DC). If he was up in there I didn’t notice him from the Radisson Hotel by Main St. What I did notice was a falcon with its back to me on the top ibeam south corner of OCSR. I drove over to the hole parking lot to see that it was Beauty and she was looking in my direction.

About 10 minutes later Beauty flew to the east out of view and when she came back into view I saw her fly up into the elevator shaft. I believe this was her wake up call for DC to come out and start the day. When I arrived back at the Radisson Hotel she was way back in on the north side ledge of the elevator shaft. Beauty then came forward where I could see her much better and it was obvious to me that she was looking across at DC.

After a couple minutes the Beautyful one flew out and around to the south corner top ibeam of OCSR again around 8am. I drove to Bragdon Place where I could see the south side ledge of the elevator shaft and there he was in all his glory-DC with his back to me.

I couldn’t resist making that pic above festive! I decided to go back by Main St. where I could keep track of Beauty and the elevator shaft for when DC might come out to join us. On the way I stopped to take a pic of a window on Main St. at St. Paul St.

While I did this Beauty flew to the Mercury money bag (MMB) so I returned to the hole parking lot to watch her. Less than 5 minutes later I spotted DC flying north toward OCSR-after he checked out Beauty on Mercury he went to the top ibeam near the south corner (a very popular place in the morning lately).

I started to tape a video of DC but he flew off just as I got started to replace Beauty on the MMB as she had stooped to the east right around 8:30am.

DC stayed up there for a while stretching, scratching and keeping watch over the territory while Beauty was most likely off somewhere hunting. The last pic below was too dark so I gave it a little color. lol

I left to look for Beauty with no luck and when I returned DC was gone of course. I made a final search but couldn’t find them. I did find this pretty wreath tho.

I left downtown around 9:30am and didn’t find any falcons at Seneca Towers for the 4th day in a row. That’s ok, I’ve gone that long and longer without seeing Billie and 99. They’ll turn up eventually and make me smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to see todays videos
http://youtu.be/E4ZgeOj_Ou0

http://youtu.be/1brsxf4IsOA

http://youtu.be/UsTtqeFxfrE

http://youtu.be/2sHjwHuJMaE

http://youtu.be/ckSMVbu9Kbw

http://youtu.be/-YDX0D1YguY

http://youtu.be/kP2omBPxB40

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Overcast, dark, dreary, cold, breezy with a few snow flakes in the air and a temperature of 25 (F) -4 (C)-perfect weather for a falcon watch! lol

As always, click on my pics to see the full version

Initially, as I did my check downtown I found no falcons, but when I came back through from checking the east side I spotted a falcon on the top ibeam south corner of OCSR from the Court St. bridge.  I went over to Aqueduct St. in the hole and thought I was looking at the back of Dot.ca (DC).

I then drove over to the Radisson Hotel by Main St. for a better look and was able to positively identify Beauty as the falcon on the south corner and I also found DC on the north ledge of the elevator shaft. He was tucked up tight in there and barely showing.

Suddenly, just before the 8 o’clock hour DC started chirping and Beauty had flown off the south corner  and landed further down on the top ibeam closer to the elevator shaft. She quickly left there and flew up and tried to land by DC but he came forward and blocked her, so she flew back out from the elevator shaft as he started chirping again.

I didn’t see where the Beautyful one went because I was watching to see if DC would fly out from his man cave. He turned around and tucked himself back in tight again for a few minutes. At 8:04am DC walked out, spread his wings and flew out and over to the south side of the elevator shaft on the small, top ibeam. I believe he was looking for cached food.

After rummaging around on that cross ibeam DC flew off to the other end of the top ibeam and landed near the south corner. Beauty flew in and landed right next to him a split second later.

They both did some preening and after a while Beauty walked over to the corner and back. DC had a poop for himself and they settled down for a bit.

At 8:40am Beauty watched as DC spread his wings and turned around in a circle. Once again they settled down to have a look around the area.

A couple minutes passed, then DC flew off to the northeast as Beauty watched him go.

Beauty went right after DC and that was the last I saw of them.

I drove around looking but to no avail so I took some more pics of decorations around the city. A music shop on East Ave.-the Bausch & Lomb main entrance-a shop on Mt. Hope Blvd. called TheArtful Gardener and a window on Main St. I ended my watch at 9:30am.

I was happy to have spent some time with our downtown pair of Rochester Peregrine Falcons bringing a smile to my face! 🙂

Click on the links below to see todays videos
http://youtu.be/kcwPietGM5w

http://youtu.be/Mds0DuAVDiE

http://youtu.be/kAt6yCYx0sw

http://youtu.be/1afkQRbUYbM

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was another dark, overcast morning in Rochester with light snow falling at times and a temperature 0f 32 (F) 0 (C)

Click on the pics to see the full version

This morning I was late in finding our beloved falcons again as they have been scarce first thing when I arrive downtown, so I start with pics of a place on Elm St. behind the Hotel Cadillac and the Liberty Pole.

It wasn’t until after 8am that I spotted both Beauty and Dot.ca from the Broad St. Bridge, as they were perched on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR.  I drove down to the hole to watch but they had their backs to me from there.

This just wouldn’t do, so I went over to my spot by the Radisson Hotel by Main St. for a better angle of them. They were both preening and looking around. It looked to me like Beauty had some food in her crop.

<Click it

<Beauty   DC>

Beauty and DC didn’t seem like they were much in the hunting mood seeing how they had there backs to the world and all. I was grateful to have found them before I had to leave early to be somewhere.

They both did some stretching and DC flew off heading toward the elevator shaft. I thought for sure he was going up in it, then he veered off back to the top ibeam and landed much closer to the Beautyful one than he was previously.

<Click it

This is how I left our 2 love birds right around 9am,which of course, put a big ole smile on my face! 🙂

Click on the links below to see todays videos

http://youtu.be/9QK99baGO3Y

http://youtu.be/lbyyrh_ddp0

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Dark and dank this morning with a fine misty rain at times but a warm 43 (F) 6 (C) degrees

Click on my pics to see the full version

It took me some time to find a falcon again this morning but not as long as yesterday. While on the east side I found these 2 treasures all lit up on South Ave. Note the top middle window in the first pic-it’s the major award from the movie “A Christmas Story”-the infamous Leg Lamp!

I spotted Dot.ca (DC) on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR from the intersection of Broad St. and South Ave. around 8:15am. I quickly went down to Graves St. by Main St. and Aqueduct Park for an up close and personal look at him. It looked to me like he had some food in his crop.

I started taping DC when he flew off heading northeast. I left to look for him and as I pulled over on the Court St. bridge around 8:30am I spotted Beauty nearly in the same spot DC had just vacated. Again I whipped over to Graves St.

There’s only room for 2 cars to park on this small one way street and when I got there a truck was parked in the front spot so I couldn’t see the south corner of OCSR because the building there was blocking my view. While I was taping the Beautyful one she watched something fly by below her-at the time, I thought perhaps it was DC. The guy came and left in his truck and when I pulled forward I could see that DC had indeed joined our little gathering.

<Click it

<DC         Beauty>

I stayed a few minutes then went over to the Radisson Hotel by Main St. for a different angle. I got distracted by a phone call and missed both of them as they left the building.

<Click it

I made one more sweep of downtown before leaving for home-I didn’t find them, nor did I find any falcons at Seneca Towers when I arrived home to end my watch at 9:30am. I didn’t get to share space with our downtown pair for very long this morning  but I was still smiling for having seen them at all! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/irRbPBqz_xU

http://youtu.be/O-9RKcskeic

http://youtu.be/85kn6XXeYyw

http://youtu.be/V3c5oBn_BWU

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was mostly cloudy with a few bits of blue sky early then it became totally overcast with a temperature of 35 (F) 2 (C)

Click on the few pics I have today to see the full version

My watch started out on a high note as I found 99 right off the bat on the northwest corner railing at Seneca Towers from my spot on Seth Green Dr. 99 started out with his back to us, but while I was taping, he turned around for us to see the front of him.

99 stayed up there looking around for a nice meal to appear for 10 minutes and then he slipped off the back (north) end of the building out of sight and didn’t return.

I left for downtown around 7:45am and things went down hill. I searched high and low for Beauty and Dot.ca (DC)-even checking new places until around 9am. In my travels I stopped on Fitzhugh St. by City Hall to snap a couple pics of the banners that the city has put up around downtown.

I decided out of lack of knowing where else to look I would take a drive over to the Brighton Site where Pigott and DC used hang out. Maybe DC and Beauty went there-when Beauty first came to Rochester she was seen at this site so it was worth a shot. No such luck, however I found a lot of whitewash (poop) on the east side on both sides of a corner where Pigott liked to roost at night on window ledges. Perhaps it’s from something other than a falcon but I’m guessing a falcon. I also found feathers from a prey bird scattered all over the snow last week after the storm which means somebody is eating on that east side as well. Stay tuned!

So I left to try my luck downtown again,my last resort (about my 3rd check of the morning) was the OCSR elevator shaft. I couldn’t park in my usual spot just before the driveway starts at the Radisson Hotel by Main St. because a cab driver was there so I had to park under their carport. Even though I know one of the security guys there, I try not to get in the way of their shuttle vans and customer parking. Anyway, I looked up at the north ledge first-nothing, but when I looked at the south side I spotted a falcon tucked way in deep on the ledge.

I was able to ID it as DC when he turned his head to show the heart shape of his auricular patch-plus, what I could see of the front of this PEFA was too white to be the Beautyful one. So at nearly 10am I found my first and only downtown bird! I left DC to hang out in his man cave and left for home after a quick check for Beauty. When I arrived at Seneca Towers there were no falcons around. It was a bit frustrating this morning but the fact that the boys showed their faces made me smile all the same! 🙂

Click on the links below to see todays videos
http://youtu.be/UeIUiL8FFAU

http://youtu.be/KpgSC0VT_5k

http://youtu.be/dL4PZlSVfSA