By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

I’d say there was 8 inches of snow from the storm since yesterday with a few more to come today before it’s all over. It was snowing and blowing with a temperature of 18 (F) -8 (C) when I left this morning

I expected more snow than what we got here at Seneca Towers when I got to my car-it still made for a slip, sliding drive on area roads. I made my way around downtown slow but steady but could find no falcons until about 40 minutes into my watch. Stopping on State St. below Kodak Office I spotted Beauty up on the south side arch.

I shared space with the Beautyful one for half hour or so before Dot.ca (DC) joined her at around 8:35am. DC flew in from the south and landed on the opposite side of the arch from her.

I left them there around 9am and headed for Seneca Towers where I found both Billie and 99 in the same spots as yesterday on the south end of the building on the top window ledge.

<Billie> <99

I didn’t watch them for long as I had some business to attend to. I left Buffalo Billie and 99 at 9:40am smiling after seeing all 4 Rochester Peregrine Falcons! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/8sU4FjGmVIY

http://youtu.be/tarzfdxzMRs

http://youtu.be/flYl0vj1VMo

http://youtu.be/kLYZ9YlFixo

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Just a quick watch report today.  By the time I made my way downtown, it was still very foggy, but I could just see up into the elevator shaft on OCSR.  Two falcons were up there, one on each ledge.  The falcon on the north ledge took off and zipped around the south side of OCSR, landing on the top IBeam.  When I ended my watch an hour later, they hadn’t moved.

Since MAK had both Billie and 99 at Seneca Towers this morning and I had both Beauty and Dot.ca downtown, all 4 Rochester Falcons were seen today.

Here are some pics from my downtown falcon watch.

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Rochester is under a Winter Storm Warning until early Tuesday morning.  Be careful if you have to go out during the storm!

• … WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EST TUESDAY…
• * LOCATIONS… MONROE… WAYNE… ONTARIO… AND NORTHERN CAYUGA COUNTIES.
• * TIMING… FROM LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT.
• * HAZARDS… SNOW… WHICH MAY MIX WITH SOME FREEZING DRIZZLE MONDAY NIGHT.
• * ACCUMULATIONS… 1 TO 3 INCHES TODAY… 2 TO 4 INCHES TONIGHT… 2 TO 4 INCHES MONDAY… AND AROUND AN INCH MONDAY NIGHT… LEADING TO STORM TOTALS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES.
• * WINDS… NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH.
• * VISIBILITIES… AS LOW AS A HALF MILE AT TIMES.
• * IMPACTS… A LONG LASTING ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL PRODUCE DIFFICULT TRAVEL WITH SNOW COVERED ROADS AND REDUCED VISIBILITY.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was very foggy this morning with a temperature of 25 (F) -4 (C)

Click on the pics to see the full version

When I left Seneca Towers for downtown I wondered if I’d be able to see any falcons-I wondered no longer once I got there. At the surface it was clear but the top of the taller buildings where Beauty and Dot.ca hang out were enveloped in thick fog.

I couldn’t see up in the OCSR elevator shaft either so I thought I’d hang out a while to see if it would clear up.  I got out the car to tape the river and the ducks who were happy to have open water in which to do their thing in. I decided to call it quits and go home at 8:45am. I would arrive at Seneca Towers to a greeting committee on the top window ledge of the south side-Billie and 99. They were facing each other at each end of it.

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Billie spent her time preening and watching her mate. 99 got busy trying to catch breakfast as he flew off many times trying to catch sparrows.

After his first failed attempt he flew up above Buffalo Billie on the southeast corner. He didn’t stay there for long and returned to his spot on the window ledge.

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These two love to watch each other and this falcon watcher loves to watch them watch each other. Billie cranked her neck more than once to keep an eye on handsome 99 as he tried over and over again to catch a meal and return to window ledge.

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I had a hard time keeping up with 99 for it seemed every time I looked over to Billie he would take off again but I did manage to get a couple shots of him flying off.

I got some pics of 99’s yellow tape covered leg band as well so there’s no doubt that it’s him.

99 flew up to the southeast corner of the roof railing and off 5 seconds later and back to the window. The last time he took off it was a stoop down into the river gorge and Billie followed right behind this time.

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They didn’t return and I was thinking and hoping that the reason Billie joined him was that she saw 99 catch something and they went somewhere to share a meal. So a disappointing downtown watch turned into a nice little watch where I live, at Seneca Towers, ending with me smiling at a little after 9am! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/Y6V1kMxAAWc

http://youtu.be/9Ks-YzRC6Tg

http://youtu.be/dH9I90X4nc4

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

My watch started at 11:00 am and ended at 1:00 pm.

It was cold and snowy and just another wonderful winter day in Rochester, NY.

I first checked out Kodak Park West, where I found no falcons.

Downtown I found Beauty on the south side of OCSR on the top IBeam.  Dot.ca was tucked into the elevator shaft on the south ledge.

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At noon Beauty took off, while Dot.ca remained in the elevator shaft.  I looked around for her, but could not find her. Downtown was very busy again, this time due to Disney on Ice: Frozen being in town.  Perfect weather for them!  lol

I ended my downtown watch and stopped at the pedestrian bridge to check out the High Falls gorge.  I’ll post a few pics at the end of my report.

Fellow falcon watcher Pat had tweeted out earlier that both Billie and 99 were at the north end of Seneca Towers.  When I got there a little before 1:00 pm, they were still there, sitting very close together on the ledge about the windows on the north side.

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I was very happy to have seen all 4 Rochester Falcons today safe and sound.

Now, I will leave you with some images from my visit to the pedestrian bridge at High Falls.  It was very cold and the snow was deep, but it was worth venturing out for a look at this beautiful icy wonderland.  It was almost as if Elsa had been there.  🙂

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A view of the High Falls from my favorite bench.  Waiting for Spring!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was dark, overcast and snowing throughout my watch with a temperature of 25 (F) -4 (C)

I managed to see 3 Peregrine falcons today-2 I could identify and one I could not! After finding an empty elevator shaft I drove over to the Broad St. bridge where I spotted a falcon on a northeast corner of Bausch & Lomb. In the low light snowy conditions I knew I wasn’t close enough to ID this Peregrine so I drove around to the east side and stopped on Broad St. by Midtown.

I was looking at the back of the bird so my next move was up to the top of the South Ave. garage. Just as I got up there and stopped the falcon flew off B&L right above me and heading northwest toward OCSR. Back down to the ground I went and over to the Radisson Hotel by Main St. where I found a falcon on the south side ledge of the elevator shaft, and guess what-it had its back to me!

I couldn’t see much better with my binoculars so I couldn’t positively identify it as any more than a falcon. I went down to Bragdon Place to check the north side ledge but only thought that I could see the form of a falcon tucked way in-couldn’t say for sure. That was about the size of my downtown watch today as I left at 8:30am. I thought that would be the end of my falcon watch but after going to the grocery store I spotted Billie and 99 on the north side of Seneca Towers on the top (22nd floor) window ledge from the intersection of St. Paul and East Ridge Road. I pulled into the parking lot of the Northridge Church to observe.

They were very close to each other as they stand perched in the snow, watching their surroundings and each other.

I made a video of them and tweeted it out-when I looked back up there they were both gone. I saw them for less than 5 minutes but it was enough to send me home smiling at 9:40am! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/6YSLq889aE0

http://youtu.be/JfUZqlpTbhM

http://youtu.be/wtmFbQ57Hfo

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Another cold, wind swept day in Rochester with snow flurries on and off and a temperature of 13 (F) -11 (C)

Timing is everything in watching falcons and this morning I had it! As I pulled over on Bragdon Place I caught Beauty flying into the OCSR elevator shaft and land on the north side ledge.  Dot.ca (DC) flew out immediately after, only to fly over to the top ibeam southeast side and start eating. I drove around the block and parked at the Radisson Hotel by Main St. where I could see both of them. It was obvious that Beauty had just eaten as she was feaking and cleaning her talons. So I figured DC was eating her leftovers.

Beauty turned around so I could see her crop-it could be seen pretty good in the darkness of the elevator shaft and it was full. Whitey, er I mean, DC in the meantime was enjoying a nice piece of fresh red meat.

I had to leave to give a friend a ride and when I returned around 8:30am DC was gone from the ibeam and planted on the north side ledge of the OCSR elevator shaft where the Beautyful one had been located before I left.

So where did Beauty go!? Well, I drove down to the north end of the Radisson Hotel on Bragdon Place where I could see the south side ledge of the elevator shaft and voila there she was with her back to the world.

DC ended up turning his back to the world as well so I called it a watch and headed out at 9:30am. No falcons seen at Seneca Towers today but that didn’t keep me from smiling since I did see our resident downtown Peregrine Falcon pair! 🙂

Click on the link below to see my one video from today’s watch

http://youtu.be/KulHAXul9Ac

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was 14 (F) -10 (C) with snow flurries and sun on and off

Click on the pics to see the full version

As I arrived on Bragdon Place to check the OCSR elevator shaft I was shocked that there were no falcons on the ledges. I was happy to see one out and about on the top ibeam southeast side, so I drove around to the south end of the Radisson Hotel to observe. The falcon had its back to me so I couldn’t positively ID it though I had a feeling it was Beauty.

So I drove over to Bank Place where it meets Aqueduct St. in the hole to get a front view and knew right away it was the Beautyful one from her glowing salmon colored chest.

This wasn’t close enough for me so I then drove down to Graves St. right across Main St. from OCSR and next to Aqueduct Park. It started to snow while there but I got a couple good pics.

Beauty had enough as the snow intensified-she turned around then took off for the elevator shaft. I drove back over to the Radisson Hotel by Main St. where I could see that she came to rest on the north side ledge.

After 15 minutes passed I spotted Dot.ca (DC) over on the top ibeam southeast side-I got my camera fixed on him just in time to get him flying off. He flew past Beauty a couple times then went in the 3rd time landing on the south side ledge.

Knowing Beauty and DC would be in there a while I opted to leave hoping to see a falcon or two at Seneca Towers when I arrived home. Well, I wasn’t disappointed as I checked from Seth Green Drive and saw a falcon on the top window ledge of the south end of the building. I went to the south end of my parking lot to share space with Buffalo Billie.

Billie was actively looking around her surroundings. She took time out to do a little stretching and scratching.

Billie zeroed in on something to the south then turned and flew off heading to the northeast at 9:19am over the town of Irondequoit.

Billie didn’t return so I called it a watch at 9:30am. What a great watch today as not only did I see 3 falcons but I also saw 3 falcons fly as well. Something I haven’t seen for a while and most certainly reason to smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

http://youtu.be/UkSRMrtZ0Fk

http://youtu.be/8VU4QfVzlW0

http://youtu.be/dflJhtqX2oo

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Another overcast morning with snow falling but much warmer with a temperature of 26 (F) -3 (C)

One of these days I’m going to see more than a couple falcons in the OCSR elevator shaft-until then I’ll just have to be happy with just seeing them. lol So I checked the south side ledge first from Bragdon Place and found Beauty facing out with food in her crop.

While I was taping the Beautyful one she turned around and that’s all the action I saw today. haha! She did show me that there was food in her crop which is always a good thing.

At one point I thought Dot.ca (DC) was tucked way in on the same ledge as Beauty but couldn’t be sure. The snow slowed down a bit but that didn’t help to see way back in there. I decided to go get some coffee and when I returned DC was on the north side ledge facing out and Beauty had her back to me as I pulled over in the Radisson Hotel driveway where I could see both of them.

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I hung out a few more minutes until I noticed an eyelid closed on DC, so with that I decided to call it a watch.

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This is the lull before the storm that is the beginning of the Peregrine season-soon the hormones will be raging and I’ll be back to chasing them all over the place. Until then, I’ll just keep on watching and smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to see the days videos

http://youtu.be/ZXFex1BpLvo

http://youtu.be/OLLDl9-RD9Y

http://youtu.be/GhQt3XG8Jf8

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a sunny start with a temperature of 2 (F) -17 (C) and a breeze making the wind chill factor -15 (F)

We had a snow storm yesterday that brought high winds and over a foot of snow and right behind it came another arctic blast of cold air, so I didn’t expect to see either one of our downtown pair out and about this morning. I chose to take the day off since I probably wouldn’t have been able to see our beloved falcons anyway. Today, as I arrived to check the OCSR elevator shaft I found Mr. Whiteness himself-Dot.ca (DC). He was on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR having breakfast.

Beauty wasn’t in the elevator shaft and so I only stayed with DC for a few minutes before leaving him to look for the Beautyful one. I’m always a little anxious after a storm to find them and ease my mind that they are alright.

I checked around downtown to no avail and ended up back where I started-checking the elevator shaft. On the north side ledge was a small falcon with his back to me all tucked in and ready for a nap. This was DC who had finished eating while I was gone searching for his mate.

I then proceeded to check the south side ledge, stopping in the Radisson Hotel’s driveway. Beauty was there turned to the side enough that I could see her sweet face when she turned her head.

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Beauty preened for a short couple minutes then tucked her head into her wing over her shoulder-a technique I believe is to keep warm. I think I saw her eye lid closed as well.

I was content in knowing they survived the storm and were doing well up in their hideaway so I ended my watch at 8:45am. I wish I had seen Billie and 99 but they were nowhere on Seneca Towers either before or after my downtown watch. I did see one of them yesterday afternoon outside my apartment window flying south to north. I’m sure they both made it through the storm just fine. These falcons sure do make me smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view today’s videos

http://youtu.be/_yzv2GMeRLQ

http://youtu.be/8su7CzVrTVw

http://youtu.be/fQYRtWnrO38

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Rochester is under a Winter Storm Warning which stays in effect from 4 pm this afternoon to 7 pm tomorrow.  They are calling for a possible foot of snow by the end of the storm.

My watch started at 11 am and ended at 1 pm.  It was snowing.  It was cold (17 degrees F).  A typical winter day in Rochester!  lol

OK, on with the watch.

My first stop was the west end of Kodak Park.  I checked the stacks the best I could in the snow, but I could not find any falcons.

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Since I had no luck at KPW, I headed downtown.  Both Beauty and Dot.ca were up inside the OCSR elevator shaft, one on the south ledge and one on the north ledge.  They both had their backs to me. so I was not able to tell which was which.  I was just happy to find both of them safe and out of the weather.

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I stopped by Frontier Field, which is next to the Kodak Tower and couldn’t help hoping for spring to come soon.  Play Ball!

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My next stops were Hawkeye (no falcons seen there) and Seneca Towers, where I found two falcons on top of the window ledge at the south end of the building.  I assumed them to be Billie and 99.

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I continued my search for falcons.  At Russell Station, I found no falcons, but from there I could see that the ice on Lake Ontario was a lot further out from the shore than it had been last weekend.  The waves were crashing against the ice.

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I checked the ponds on my way home.  All were totally iced over.  First Buck Pond.  Then Long Pond and Cranberry Pond. which was be used by people ice fishing and playing on the ice.  Looked like they were having a lot of fun!

I was very happy to have found all 4 Rochester Falcons safe and sound during my Sunday watch.

Keep warm and safe everyone!