By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

It was cold (temps in the 20’s), really, really cold!  My watch started with a bit of sun and clouds and ended with a blizzard.  C’mon Spring, move over Winter!  I’m really ready for some warmer temperatures.

I could see on my phone that Beauty was on the eggs.  I looked everywhere for Dot.ca, but could not find him.  So, I parked on the Broad St Bridge, where I had my best view of the area.

At 10:05 am, Dot.ca flew in with food and brought it to Beauty at the nest box.  Beauty came out and grabbed it.  She took it to the base of the Mercury statue.  Dot.ca went into the nest box to take his turn on the eggs.

<— Beauty with food on base of Mercury.

It took Beauty about 10 minutes to eat her fill.  She cached the remainder of the prey on the base of the Mercury statue and then flew over to the top Ibeam on OCSR.

<— Beauty on OCSR.

10:50 am – Beauty returned to the nest box and Dot.ca came bombing out, kakking.  He chased something around the Wilder Bldg, but I couldn’t see what it was.  After chasing it away, Dot.ca returned to the top of the Mercury statue.

<— Beauty to the nest box.

<— Dot.ca on Mercury.

It started to snow, really hard.  It quickly went from sunshine to white out conditions.

<— Dot.ca in a blizzard!

It was snowing so hard, I could hardly see Dot.ca.  Of course that’s when he decided to take off, heading west.

I waited until the snow stopped before ending my watch.  Before leaving, I saw that Dot.ca had returned to the top IBeam on OCSR.

<— Dot.ca on OCSR.

On my way home, I drove along the lake.  There were huge amounts of Turkey Vultures flying through.  Some high, some low.  Some landing in trees and some on the ground.  I love watching the migration.  It’s a beautiful sight!

<— Turkey Vulture migration!

By Rochester Falcon Watch Carol P.

*Click on any pictures to enlarge them.*

It was a very cold Easter morning.  This is a day I always like to check on our falcons.  Bad things have happened in past years.  Thankfully, all was peaceful and quiet this morning.

When I first arrived downtown in the hole, aka Aqueduct St, I spotted a falcon up on the Wilder green strip.  The bird was facing away from me and I thought it was Dot.ca.  It wasn’t until the falcon turned around that I was able to see the black over green band.  It was Beauty.

<— View from the hole aka Aqueduct St.

<— Beauty on Wilder green stip.

<— Beauty on green strip.

Beauty took off, first heading east, over the river.  She looped around and landed on the nest box platform.

<— Beauty on the nest box platform.

She entered the nest box and Dot.ca left.  It was her turn to be on the eggs.

Dot.ca flew overhead and landed on the top Ibeam on OCSR.  He did a hunting stoop over the river and returned.  It was time to preen.

<— Dot.ca on OCSR.

It was time to end my Easter morning watch.  At 11:oo am, I texted that I was leaving.  Just as I was pulling out, Dot.ca took off and flew over to the Times Square Bldg.  He landed under the northeast wing.  Directly above the nest box.

<— Dot.ca on the NE wing ledge of the TSB.

As I was leaving, I could hear him softly wailing from above.  Letting Beauty know he was nearby.  Everything was peaceful and quiet for our downtown falcons this Easter sunday.

On my way home, I quickly scanned the Seneca Towers area, but could find no falcons there.

Yesterday, Kathy, Lisa and I drove to Syracuse to spend the day with Pigott and George.  I hadn’t seen them since last year.  Their nest box was relocated due to renovations on the State Bldg.  They have not been see at the new location.  We found them over on an abandoned apartment bldg.  They were hanging out on different balconies, hunting the neighboring pigeons.  We did not see them mate.  Due to their behavior, we don’t believe they have laid any eggs.  Here are some pictures from our visit.  Enjoy!

<— The State Bldg, Pigott and George’s relocated nest box.

<— Pigott

<— Black over Black Banded Pigott

<— Unbanded George.

<— Pigott, George and the Neighbors.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a sunny brisk morning with a temperature of 37 degrees (F) 3 (C) and a cold breeze

Click on the pics to see the full version

This will be my final Falcon Watch report as I will be moving to Arkansas this week. It’s been an honor and a privilege to share space with our resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons Beauty, DC, Billie and Seth and all the rest that have graced me with their presence over the years. I’ve met a lot of wonderful folks through our shared love for the birds and I will miss everyone more than I can express.

Last weekend I got some shots of Billie and Seth on the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge-she was eating and he was watching her.

<Seth> Billie>

Today, as I started out at the Northridge Church at East Ridge Rd. and St. Paul St. I spotted Seth on his favorite north window ledge spot. He was looking down toward the river  a lot and when I broke away to tweet out my findings he flew off without me seeing him. I have seen very little of him and his mate Buffalo Billie as of late since they are no doubt sticking close to their nest.

Seth didn’t return so I headed downtown where some watchers met with me in the hole. Joining me for the last time were Dan, Larry and his dog Zeke, Linda King (Braveheart), Jeanne, Joyce and her dogs Casey and Abby, DebbieH with her dog Blaze. I do love dogs!!!

Dot.ca (DC) was under the northeast wing of the Times Square building (TSB) and Beauty was with her eggs in the nest box.

DC did some alarm calling a couple times and flew off after a Red-tailed Hawk. We watched him dive bomb the hawk over in front of OCSR before chasing it to the north and out of sight. He returned to the wing ledge. Beauty came out to the deck and was nibbling on something before flying off to the north. DC being egg incubating lover that he is went down to the nest box to be with his eggs. The Beautyful one returned and landed under the northeast wing ledge.

<Beauty

Beauty flew out and came to rest on pan cam. DC flew out from the nest box and back up to the northeast wing ledge. They both gave me a final rouse (shaking their feathers).

<DC

Beauty then went down to the nest box and that was all she wrote. I ended my watch at high noon feeling fulfilled for both Beauty and DC gave me a wave goodbye during the watch. Keep smiling everyone- I know I will once I get past the sadness of leaving these magnificent creatures and all my peeps! 🙂

Click on the links below to see snippet videos of Billie and Seth and Beauty and DC. Also, the final solo video of my girl the Beautyful One 😉

https://youtu.be/9ctyh_1Ybdw

https://youtu.be/dsou87VvwUw

https://youtu.be/5Ht2cFKkhXc