By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

The rain finally stopped and the wind took over this morning with a temperature of 48 (F) 9 (C)

We had a bit of a scare yesterday when Jeanne informed the local watchers that she had seen a report on the Monroe County Fire Wire of an injured falcon near West Broad and Fitzhugh streets about an hour before the sun was to go down. Also, neither Beauty or Dot.ca (DC) had been seen on camera at the Powers nest box which is us usually a daily occurrence. I was tied up and couldn’t go check but Lisa and Carol went downtown to see if they could find anything. Lisa thought that she had seen a falcon in the OCSR elevator shaft but they were unsuccessful in finding an injured bird as darkness fell, so I knew I had to get out first thing this morning.

It was too dark to check Seneca Towers (ST) when I left but I had seen both of them together yesterday on the south side window ledge in the pouring rain. I checked the OCSR elevator shaft first as that’s where they usually go for inclement weather. Nobody on either side and after checking all the usual spots I went over to the east side where I found Beauty on the southeast corner of the 5 Star Bank. This is a favorite morning spot for her to hunt from and I was very happy to see her up there in the semi-darkness.

I left to look for DC with no luck and when I returned the Beautyful one was gone. I was starting to get a little anxious for not having found DC at this point. My next trip around downtown bagged Beauty on the top I-beam southeast side of OCSR.

Again, I left her and checked around for DC to no avail. Thankfully, and with a great big sigh of relief I returned to find that DC had joined his mate and was just a few feet away from her.

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Beauty had a bit of food in her crop and DC was clearly in hunt mode as he was looking all around the area.

A few minutes later DC stooped down toward the river and Beauty followed behind him a few seconds later. They re-surfaced in front of the Radisson Hotel and flew northeast out of my view.

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I searched for them but never located them again. I had to be somewhere so I left to check ST on my way through. Unfortunately, after 3 drive by’s during the course of the day I was unsuccessful in seeing Billie or Seth.  It really is a team effort in keeping track of our Rochester Peregrine Falcons and we all were quite relieved this morning to find out that our downtown pair were safe and sound!!! Smiles all around! 🙂

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

https://youtu.be/0K6GW7iCYfs

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

We lost a good friend today.  For all you’ve done for us and the falcons, I thank you with all my heart.  RIP Mike Allen.  Miss you dear friend.  You are soaring with the eagles you loved so much.  🙁

My report will be short and sweet.  I usually go out for a Sunday morning falcon watch, but due to the fact that a storm was heading our way, I decided to get out this morning.

At the BS location I found the unbanded female on the east side tree ledge.  She eventually flew to a window, also on the east side.  Here are some pictures from my visit with her.

Downtown, I found Beauty on the Widows Walk (WW).

<— Beauty on WW.

Beauty took off on a hunt, heading NE past the Hiatt.

While I was searching for Beauty, I found Dot.ca up inside the OCSR elevator shaft.

<— Dot.ca inside OCSR elevator shaft.

From the Andrews St Bridge, I could see a falcon on the base of the Mercury statue.  I parked on Broad St where I had a nice view of Beauty prepping her dinner.

<— Beauty with food on base of Mercury.

<— The Times Square Nest Box.

I left Beauty to her meal.  I was happy to see her have a successful hunt before the bad weather moved into Rochester.

On my way home, I checked Seneca Towers (ST), KP East and Charlotte.  I had no luck finding any falcons at these locations.

In Charlotte, I took a picture of this duck(?) trying to cross the road.  Any idea on what type it might be?

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

What an absolutely beautiful late October day here in Rochester, NY!  After reading Larry O’s tweets this morning, I just had to get out to get in a game of tag with our falcons.  Larry had reported seeing both Beauty and Dot.ca on the Powers Bldg, Frontier Communication Tower and Widow’s Walk.

But first, I wanted to see if I could find our visiting, unbanded female at the Brighton Site (BS).  It didn’t take me long to find her in a bit of shade on the south side of the east extension, two windows down.  A favorite spot for her.

<— Unbanded Female visitor at BS location.

I remained there for about a 1/2 hour, hoping that she would turn around.  But, she was very settled, preening and pulling out small fluff feathers.  After she finished preening, it was nap time.  Time for me to leave her.

My next stop was downtown Rochester.  But, instead of a game of falcon tag, it was more like a game of falcon hide-n-seek!  When I went out looking for the falcons last Sunday, I was unable to find any of them.  This time I was determined to find Beauty and Dot.ca!

After checking all the usual spots and having no luck finding them, I headed over to the east side.  I looked at the west, south and east sides of the Xerox Tower and the surrounding buildings.  Nothing!  Finally, from Elm St, I found our elusive duo!  Both Beauty and Dot.ca were together on the north side (near the NW corner) of the Xerox Tower.  They were on the metal framework of the lights that lit the building at night.  That was a first for me seeing both of them up there.

<— Beauty and Dot.ca on the Xerox Tower, north side.

Now that it’s the off season, I love seeing these two together like this.

I watched them for about an hour before heading out.  They were quite comfortable up there, preening and just enjoying the warmth and sunshine.  All was quiet and peaceful.  Just how I like it!  🙂

On my way home, I did check on the ST pair, but had no luck seeing them from Maplewood Park.  MAK just tweeted that Seth was home and I did see one of them last Sunday morning on the north end window ledge.

A quick check at KP west and Charlotte.  No falcons seen at either location.  It was time to end my very enjoyable Sunday morning Falcon Watch.

Oh, before I go, I took a picture of the Broad St Bridge from the east end.  Looks like they’re getting closer to completing the construction.  I noticed that there are bike path lines on both sides, instead of areas to park.  Not sure if this is how it will remain.  I sure do hope that we will be allowed to park on the bridge after it’s complete.

<— Broad St Bridge from east end.

I’ll leave you with a couple pics of fall.  Enjoy!

<— 2nd pic is of the O’Rourke Bridge.