By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Wow, 3 days before Christmas and no sign of winter weather in sight. It was raining and quite dark with a warm 52 (F) 11 (C) degrees as the day started

Neither Billie nor Seth were on Seneca Towers this morning-however, when I crossed the Veteran’s  Memorial Bridge around noon it looked like Buffalo Billie on the northwest corner below the railing.

When I arrived on the Andrew’s St. bridge I spotted Beauty on the northwest corner of the Crossroads building and she looked like she was eating in the rain.  As I was on my way down State St. to get closer I saw her fly off heading toward OCSR. I thought maybe she went to the elevator shaft so I went over to the Radisson Hotel driveway to look but nobody was on either ledge up there. Again, I went to the Andrew’s St. bridge where I could barely see the back of a falcon on the top I-beam northwest side of OCSR.

I parked down on State St. to check her out thru the rain. I didn’t stay long as I had things to do this morning so I left around 8:45am. I checked around for Dot.ca but had no luck before leaving downtown.

Northbound on Bragdon Place I noticed a tree with bright red berries in it and on the balcony of one of the Andrew’s Place Apts. behind it some nice decorations.

There was no falcons at the Medley Centre when I arrived there but a huge pile of cracked corn was still there in the north side parking lot from yesterday. I had forgotten to mention it yesterday-can’t help but wonder if someone is baiting the pigeons and gulls to bring Big Frank in.

So after a soggy uneventful watch I ended it at about 9:15am. At least the Beautyful one and Billie came out to put a smile on my face! 🙂

Click on the link below to see a very short snippet video

https://youtu.be/JWV6ICkQsBY

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Balmy and breezy with a temperature of 45 (F) 7 (C)

Today was the last watch for Donna and she wasn’t disappointed as Seth finally showed himself to her for the first time since she arrived in Rochester on Friday. Donna saw all 5 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons at some point over the weekend.

We checked from East Ridge Rd. where we could see Billie on the northwest corner under the railing and Seth in his spot on the north window ledge.

<Click

Seth took off to the north at 7:53am and Billie followed a minute later as she appeared to stoop down toward the river.

They didn’t return so we left for downtown. I spotted Beauty on an Irving Place chimney with food-we parked on Basin St. in the hole to observe her.

We couldn’t find Dot.ca today nor did we find a falcon at the Brighton site as I walked Bella around the property. We checked the Medley Centre but Big Frank wasn’t there. After going home to Seneca Towers to load up Donnas’ bags to go home we got a tweet from KathyO that she had a falcon on the glass peak just as we were passing by on Route 104W. We stopped quick to say hello and check out Big Frank who flew off right after we got there.

I had to drive Donna to Geneva,NY where her daughter was waiting to drive them home and after that I visited watchers Lynda and Tim who live on Seneca Lake. They took me for a ride to find a Snowy Owl that they had seen earlier-not only did we find the owl but we also came across a field filled with Snow Geese.

<Click>

From there we went to the Seneca Army Depot where we spotted one white deer but it scampered into the woods before we could get a pic. Last stop was a pond in Waterloo that had some hybrid ducks, geese and gulls.

That’s all she wrote folks-certainly I had plenty to smile about today! 🙂

Click on the link below to view today’s snippet video

https://youtu.be/itnhEkum1Oo

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Both mornings the temperature was below freezing with ample sunshine and blue skies-today it was 29 (F) -2 (C)

My good friend and cam watcher, Donna from New Jersey came to visit for the weekend. Yesterday morning we didn’t have much luck finding falcons as Beauty was the only one we found. She was on the top I-beam southeast side of OCSR in the bright sunshine.

The roads around downtown were being blocked off for the Reindeer Run race so it was difficult to get around.

<Click

We left after unsuccessfully finding Dot.ca (DC) and went over to the Brighton site to check for the unbanded female that has been seen there. No luck finding her or any other PEFA’s at the Medley Centre (MC) or Seneca Towers (ST).

Today we had much better luck-one falcon on the northwest corner of ST below the railing with their back to us. I can’t say for sure who it was as we checked from both the north end of my parking lot and East Ridge Rd.

We headed for downtown and while stopped on the Andrew’s St. bridge I spotted a falcon on the Times Square building under the northeast wing. We went to the hole parking lot  where I could see that it was DC on the wing ledge and Donna discovered Beauty on cam 1.

They seemed pretty content as the Beautyful one looked around the area and DC did some preening above her.

Larry reported being at the Brighton site with no falcon sighting so Donna and I opted for going over to the Medley Centre. No luck at first but as we were making our way to Seneca Towers we got a tweet saying that watcher Dick saw a falcon on the glass peak as he was passing by MC. I turned around and went back to MC where sure enough there was a falcon on the glass peak and her name is Big Frank (BF) aka (Frankie). Donna finally got to meet our newest resident Rochester Peregrine Falcon.

We watched Frankie preen and survey the area for a while then we headed home to ST where no falcons were present. All in all it was a good watch with good company ending on a happy note and a smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to see yesterday and this mornings short snippet videos

https://youtu.be/q53CKNDUNxk

https://youtu.be/MqGmw8YCr7Y

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

It’s getting close to Christmas, but still no snow (except for a few light flurries) here in Rochester (NY).  In fact, they are predicting that we will get up to 60 degrees (F) on Christmas Eve.

My first stop on my Friday Falcon Watch was at the Brighton Site (BS).  I found a falcon on the center section on the north side of the building.  She never turned around or showed me her unbanded leg, but I assume it was the unbanded female we have been seeing there.  She was enjoying the intermittent sunshine with a nice full crop.

After keeping company with our female at BS, I headed downtown to look for Beauty and Dot.ca.  Watcher Pat had texted that Dot.ca (DC) was up on the Times Square Bldg (TSB) and that Beauty was inside the TSB nest box.  This picture was captured by our Rfalconcam main camera.  Hi Beauty and Dot.ca!  🙂

When I arrived, both Beauty and Dot.ca were side-by-side on the ledge under the southeast wing.

I found a spot to park on Broad St to watch from.  Both Beauty and Dot.ca were content to be in each others company.  Both preened, snoozed and chatted softly with each other.  I do love to see them close like this.

Dot.ca moved to the back of the ledge, where both he and Beauty cache prey.  He did a little peek-a-boo and then returned to Beauty’s side (without food).

Both stood up and bowed to each other.  Then first Dot.ca and then Beauty took off heading east.  There was no vocalization and no hurry in their flight.  I did try to find them, but couldn’t.

I continued my watch, searching for Billie and Seth at Seneca Towers (ST) and Big Frank (BF) at Medley Ctr (MC).  I had no luck finding them, but I did find what was left of BF’s meal from Thursday.  It was an adult Ring-billed Gull as far as I could tell.

I hope that everyone is enjoying this holiday season!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Cloudy and overcast with a temperature of 36 (F) 2 (C)

As I was making my U-turn on Seth Green Dr. to check the south and west sides of Seneca Towers I spotted a falcon on the west railing that flew north out of view before I could get parked. I thought it was Seth at the time -I drove over to East Ridge Rd. to find who I now believe was Billie on the north end of the upper roof with her back to me.

She stooped down into the river gorge then returned to land on the northwest corner below the railing.

I left Buffalo Billie at 8am and headed downtown. As I was checking the east side I stopped to check out the pretty wreaths on St. Mary’s church. The reflection in the window is Washington Square Park.

Finally, I discovered Dot.ca (DC) from Broad St. next to HSBC-he was on the east side of Xerox, 6th column over from the southeast corner. He had quite the full crop as he monitored the area which was full of flying pigeons. Let me just assure you that there is no shortage of pigeons in downtown Rochester!

I left DC around 8:45am to look for the Beautyful one, but it didn’t happen and while I was gone DC left Xerox. One more unsuccessful trip around downtown and then I headed over to the Medley Centre. I had no luck there but as I pulled over in my spot on East Ridge Rd. I spotted Billie and Seth on Seneca Towers. He was on the north railing and she was taking off from the northwest corner below him.

Seth stretched his neck to follow where his girl went as she landed on the north end of the upper roof, east corner. Billie immediately flew over to the west end as Seth took off to the north.

Billie followed him as they flew out of sight out over the river together.

I happily ended my watch smiling at 10:05am after seeing the Seneca Towers pair for the first time in 3 or 4 days! 🙂

Click on the link below to see today’s snippet video

https://youtu.be/Lf_KkXBAeYE

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This December weather has been something else as I started my watch with a temperature of 48 (F) 9 (C) and rainy overcast conditions

For the 2nd or 3rd day in a row I didn’t see Billie or Seth at Seneca Towers. I saw Beauty and Dot.ca (DC) for a fleeting moment as I found them on Widows Walk from the hole after checking the rest of downtown. I drove over to Fitzhugh St. to check them out. I arrived just in time to get one pic of the Beautyful one before she flew off the lower north side ledge. DC turned around to watch her fly east before following from the northeast corner below the railing.

I never found them again and as I drove around downtown I took pics of the Times Square tree while stopped at the traffic light at Broad and Exchange Blvd. Then, from the Main St. bridge I took a pic of the lights on the walkway that connects the Radisson Hotel and Rochester Convention Center.

I had to walk Jeanne’s dog, Isabella, so I checked on the Brighton site first and voila, there was a falcon with its back to me on the top window ledge where the north and east extensions meet This where Pigott used to roost before she went to Syracuse to establish a new territory.

I stayed maybe 10 minutes then moved on. After walking Bella I headed over to the Medley Centre-there I found Big Frank (BF) aka (Frankie) on the north side parking lot eating a gull. Watcher Dick was pretty close to her in his car when I got there. I also found a huge pile of bread not too far away from BF with pigeons eating that.

<Click>

Frankie would eat some then move further away from where Dick was parked-she repeated this a few times.

Frankie is quite an impressive female PEFA as she almost dwarfs the gull below her. I was very happy to see BF again but I couldn’t stay to see her finish her big breakfast. I ended my watch just before noon at a falcon-less Seneca Towers. Downtown watcher Pat reported seeing DC on the Mercury money bag at 12:30am. I was smiling for having seen a falcon at the Brighton site and BF at the Medley Centre along with our tried and true downtown pair Beauty and DC! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

https://youtu.be/7goxQRiuBe0

https://youtu.be/hzAbHSKR0yA

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was overcast this morning with a misty rain at the start and a temperature of 38 (F) 3 (C)

Unfortunately, I didn’t see Billie or Seth today. I found Beauty on the top I-beam west corner of OCSR when I pulled over on the Andrews St. bridge (ASB).

For a better view I drove over to State St. across from the Holiday Inn. She was taking in her surroundings.

<Click

After a while, the Beautyful one  attempted to extract a pellet. Something caught her eye and she pooped just before taking off to the Ellwanger & Barry (E&B) building which was on the same side of State St. as I was so I couldn’t really see it that well.

To my surprise, as Beauty landed up on the green strip Dot.ca (DC) came flying off of it with prey in his talons. He flew east across the river and past the Radisson Hotel out of view. I drove over to the ASB and saw that Beauty had left E&B but I could see a falcon on the base of Mercury with food. I drove to the Broad St. bridge to find DC plucking feathers on the green base.

I had to go walk fellow watcher and friend’s dog, Bella, so I checked the Brighton site first where I saw no PEFA’s but I found a Cooper’s Hawk to the south of that site on a railing.

I had some reindeer antlers for dogs that Jeanne and I put on Isabella for a photo op, so these are my Christmas pics for today.

After our walk I left for the Medley Centre where I found Big Frank (BF) (Frankie) on the glass peak around 10:15am. Dana had reported seeing her from a distance but didn’t know who it was. I was able to see the black over black band on Frankie’s left leg and no band on the right which indicated that it was BF.

Watcher Dick came by to join the watch. Frankie didn’t seem interested in some pigeons and starlings that flew past-she likes the big prey like gulls and ducks. lol A real big bird flew behind her but she missed it. haha!

BF did some leg and wing stretches just before I left her. It was great to see her as I haven’t in quite some time.

I ended my watch around 11:30 with a great big smile after seeing a great big Frankie! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

https://youtu.be/BZB3qoty1vk

https://youtu.be/hcqWucl1y1E

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

An unbelievable temperature of 49 (F) 9 (C) on a mid December morning in Rochester, NY with overcast conditions

I didn’t see Billie or Seth at Seneca Towers at the start of my watch. Once downtown, I found Beauty on the southeast side,top I-beam of OCSR near the south corner. I watched her from the Radisson Hotel near Main St. as she preened a little, watched for prey birds and tried to extract a pellet from her crop.

At 8:03am Beauty flew south over the river and chased a flock of pigeons before disappearing near Cornhill. A couple gnarly take off shots as she caught me off guard when she flew off.

I drove to the east side to have a look around and as I was pulled over on Wilbury Blvd. I spotted who I believe was Dot.ca (DC) flying above Legacy Tower. He was riding the strong wind currents and then he flew south toward the river and went into a stoop just before he left my field of vision.

I never saw DC again but as I was crossing the Broad St. bridge I noticed the Beautyful one was back on OCSR perched pretty much in the same spot as before on the top I-beam southeast side. I drove down to the hole where Bank Place and Aqueduct St. meet to watch for a few minutes before leaving for the Medley Centre.

I didn’t find any falcons there but as I was crossing the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge I saw a falcon fly off the north end window ledge of Seneca Towers-probably Billie as there was another falcon on the ledge where Seth usually perches. So I ended my watch at around 9:15am smiling as I saw 4 Rochester Peregrine Falcons! 🙂

Click on the links below to view today’s videos

https://youtu.be/cru490qF0bY

https://youtu.be/2tBO8CWF5Ak

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Overcast and gloomy with a temperature of  48 (F) 9 (C) to start and on our way to breaking a record for the high today

I didn’t see Billie or Seth today either at the start or end of my watch at Seneca Towers. As I was stopped at the St. Paul and Andrew’s St. traffic light I spotted a pretty wreath and lights on the Tapas Lounge.

<Click

When I arrived  on the Andrew’s St. bridge I spotted Beauty on the top I-beam northwest side of OCSR near the north corner. I drove down to State St. for closer viewing.

Beauty turned around to show me her back so I decided to go look for Dot.ca (DC). It wasn’t until I returned that I found him on the I-beam further down from the Beautyful one and he was eating.

DC was done maybe 2 minutes afterwards, so I believe he must have found a small piece of cached food as his crop didn’t seem to have much in it. He and Beauty seemed to be settled in so I left them around 8:30am.

<Click

That was the extent of my falcon sightings as there was nobody at the Medley Centre, St. Ann’s Home, Hawkeye or Seneca Towers. I ended my uneventful watch at 9am. Keep smiling folks! 🙂

Click on the link below to see a short snippet video from today’s watch

https://youtu.be/ZYU_FKBwdAo

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was overcast and damp this morning with a temperature of 44 (F) 7 (C)

I began my day with Billie and Seth, who were on the south end window ledge of Seneca Towers this morning as I checked from Seth Green Dr.

<Click

I promptly went out to St. Paul St. for closer viewing as they both were preening and surveying their territory.

I left them to it as they seemed quite content to just hang out with each other-something they’re very good at!

When I arrived on the Andrew’s St. bridge downtown I spotted Beauty and Dot.ca (DC) on the Mercury statue. She was on the base and he was on the money bag (MMB).

I went straight over to the Broad St. bridge where I could watch from closer quarters. On the way over, I took a pic of a decorated window at Main St. and South Avenue.

For the first few minutes Beauty and DC seemed to be looking around in hunt mode. Little did I know that Beauty was standing over some food as I couldn’t see it on my little camera screen.

<Click

Beauty started eating and DC started looking down to keep an eye on her and at 8:13am he made his first attempt to grab some food from his mate. He was unsuccessful this time and flew back up to the MMB after a squabble with the Beautyful one.

Of course DC kept a close eye on Beauty and her food as he kept straining to look down at her. At 8:32am DC flew off and flew past Beauty before landing on the base to figure out a strategy to get some grub. Beauty continued to eat unfazed as she is used to her mates shenanigans.

DC flew off after a minute or so then back up to the MMB-at that point Beauty dropped a wing down below her with some meat on it, it would seem that she did it just so DC would leave her alone while he munched on it during his next visit. He was really straining his neck to see it from above.

DC flew off at 8:45am, circled Beauty then landed on the heel of Mercury as she watched him. He spotted the wing and flew down to make quick work of it.

<Click

DC then left and headed southwest- less than a minute later Beauty finished eating, did a little feaking then she took off to the southwest as well at 8:54am.

I took off and headed northeast to the Medley Centre where I had no luck finding a falcon. I ended my watch there at about 9:30am. Larry reported seeing a falcon at the Brighton site and Dana reported a falcon on the glass peak at Medley Centre as I was writing this report. We sure do have plenty of falcons in Rochester to keep us smiling these days! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

https://youtu.be/3_Vw1y6FAl0

https://youtu.be/u8gLYMbfO3U

https://youtu.be/kRVwoxZms6Q

https://youtu.be/9gPt3Zfnw3E