By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

*Please be sure to click on any pictures to see the full image.*

I’ve been searching for juvies this past week and seeing very little of them.  When I have, it’s been at a far distance and I haven’t been able to positively ID them.  Today, at 6:30 am, as I passed by the Frontier Communication Tower (FCT), I heard the very familiar and much missed wailing of a juvenile Peregrine Falcon.  It’s like a siren song to the falcon watchers.   I first spotted an adult on the middle arm.  It was Beauty.

Finally, I found the source of this beloved sound.  There was a juvie eating on the FCT below the platform.  I was even able to see the 90 black/green BA band on the left leg.  Yes!  It was Sundara!  I hadn’t seen her in such a long time.

I drove over to the south side of FCT to see if I could get a better look.

Beauty took off, heading east and Sundara followed.  Sundara soon returned, landing on the middle arm of FCT.

She moved over to the other side of the arm and I moved back over to the City Hall parking lot.

Sundara took off again, this time heading south and returned a few moments later.  This time landing on the east side of FCT below the platform.  I found a nice picnic table and settled in for a Sundara watch.  🙂

I was really enjoying the cool temps and bright sunshine, sipping my coffee and watching the parking lot fill up with early morning churchgoers. It was a beautiful morning, spent watching a beautiful girl!

We stayed in each others company for quite awhile, before she took off, again heading south.  I looked over at Kodak and saw that Dot.ca was on the NW corner of the playground netting.  He took off on a hunt and ended up on the east side.

I was off again, in search of Sundara.  Love playing tag with the falcons!

As I drove down to Aqueduct St (aka “the hole”), I spotted a small head up on the platform of Rochester’s Mercury statue.

It was Sundara and she was wailing again.  A perfect clue that this was a juvie and not one of the adults.

Soon after I arrived, she took off again, heading northwest.  I caught up with her quickly.  She was up on the SE corner of the railing on top of the Powers building and she wasn’t alone.  She was there with an adult, who had passed over food that she was now mantling.

After parking my car in the hole, I took a walk over to the Powers Bldg where I had a very nice view of Sundara eating her 2nd breakfast of the day.

Sundara quickly finished eating and got down to a good preen.  It was time to make herself pretty.  lol

Soon she was on her way again.  She flew behind the Cross Rds Bldg and ended up on top of the OCSR roof on the south side corner.

About 10 minutes later, Sundara flew around the back of OCSR.  I did not see her come out either side, so I figured she landed over on the northside, in the shade.

I was right!  From the Andrews St Bridge (ASB), I saw that she was now on the top of the OCSR on the northside corner.  Here’s a view of what I could see from the ASB.

Before I ended my watch just before 9 am, Sundara had moved from the corner, walking towards the west corner.  She was gone from view when I left.

I ended my watch with a quick check of the Kodak Tower, hoping to find a falcon there.  No such luck.  But, I did find a bit of road that had been dug up, exposing the bricks that once paved an old road.  I really enjoy seeing stuff like this.  🙂

On my way home, I stopped by Maplewood Park for a quick look at Seneca Towers.  From there, I could see one falcon sitting on the westside railing.  I was too far away to ID this falcon.  All was quiet and peaceful here.  A nice way to end my Sunday morning watch.

This was one of my favorite pictures of Sundara from this morning.  She’s looking skyward.  Sundara would soon master the sky and hopefully find a mate of her own and raise children.  We do love to hear about our young ones after they leave Rochester.  Fair winds Sundara, Letchworth and Mike.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

It’s getting harder and harder to find the juvies.  We did see one yesterday on top of the Kodak Tower, with black/green band on the left leg.  So, it was either Mike or Sundara.  Too far away to positively ID.  Oh, and Dana and I saw an adult and two juvies at Seneca Towers yesterday.  One had food and one was flying around.  It was so good to see them.

This morning I met Dan on the bridge a little after 6 am.  Larry met us a little later with Zeke.  It was another very busy day here in Rochester, NY.  The Jehovah Witnesses were here for a second weekend and people were gathering for the Puerto Rican Festival parade.  There was also some sort of food function near the old Midtown Plaza.  Very busy!

I spotted a falcon on the Rochester Public Library as I joined Dan.  It was Beauty.  So nice to see her complete a meal and fill her crop, without a juvie stealing her food.  She deserved this quiet time.  🙂

I wanted to share some pictures I took while watching Beauty at the library.  Enjoy!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

*Please be sure to click on the pictures to see the full image!*

It was another very warm day here in Rochester, NY.  I got downtown just after 7:00 am and it was already close to 70 degrees. Temps were expected to go up into the high 80’s.  Again, no rain in sight.

Just before I arrived, Larry O and Dan reported seeing Beauty bring in food over the river.  A juvie flew up to her and there was a food transfer.  They saw the juvie go to the southside of the Times Square Bldg (TSB) and Beauty to the Powers Bldg.

I checked the southside of the TSB, but could see no falcons there.  From Aqueduct St (aka “the hole”) I spotted a falcon eating on the NE lower corner of the Widows Walk (WW).

I moved a little closer, to the parking lot on the northside of the TSB.  From there I could only get a quick look at a head and wings now and then.  At one point, a pigeon flew in and landed next to the juvie.  Falcon wings came up to greet it and the pigeon flew off very quickly.  Wish I had gotten that picture! 🙂

After finishing breakfast, the juvie walked down the ledge, heading south.  I finally got a nice view of a red taped silver USFW band.  It was Letchworth!

Letchworth took off heading north and I followed.  I do love playing tag with the falcons. 🙂

I found her in a lower section on the north side of the Frontier Communication Tower.

Further up inside the framework, below the platform, there was a sleeping adult falcon.  Pretty sure it was Dot.ca.

Letchworth took off again, this time heading north.  I followed, but could not find her.  After checking out the whole downtown area, I returned to the Frontier Communication Tower (FCT).  Dot.ca was still there, and I could hear a juvie Peregrine Falcon wailing.  It took me awhile, but I finally found the juvie on the shorter FCT.

This juvie had a silver band, so it was either Sundara or Mike.  After checking my pics, I’m pretty sure it was Mike.

Mike moved around, wailing loudly.  Dot.ca was still dozing above.  After awhile Mike spread his wings and took off, heading east.

It was time to search again.  When I was driving towards the Times Square Bldg, I saw a falcon fly very fast towards OCSR.  It landed on the southside top Ibeam, near the west corner.  From the hole, I could see that it was Dot.ca.

It was 10:00 am when I ended my morning watch.  It had been awhile since I saw Mike and I was happy to see him doing well.

Enjoy the day, and keep cool everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

*Be sure to click on the pictures to see the full image!*

It was a very hot afternoon, but since I couldn’t get out for my usual early morning watch, I ventured out in the heat of the day to check on the falcons.

I immediately found Beauty on the bottom arm of the Frontier Communication Tower.  She was soaking wet, so she probably took a recent bath.  Possibly in the river.

Below Beauty, inside the framework under the platform was a sleepy juvie.

I noticed that the road behind the City Hall parking lot had a change.  The one-way was switched.

This was my view from the southside of the FCT’s.

From here, I had a better view of Beauty on the lowest arm.

Back at the City Hall parking lot, another view of the sleepy juvie.

I kept hearing the wailing of another young falcon, but couldn’t find it at first.  Then one popped up on the platform below Beauty.  There was a black/green band on the left leg, so it was either Sundara or Mike.  Based on size, it was Sundara and she had a very full crop.  She moved around, back and forth, on the platform, vocalizing up to mom.

When she moved out of my view, I moved back over to the southside of FCT.  From there, I could see her on the platform, with Beauty directly above her.

Again she moved where I could not see her.  So back to the City Hall parking lot.  It’s so much easier to move around on the weekends, when no one else is around.

From my position, I could see that there were now two, very close together underneath the platform.  Both were sound asleep and so was Beauty.  The heat was getting to me, so I ended my afternoon watch.

Again basing it on size, I believe it was Sundara and Letchworth on the Frontier Communication Tower with Beauty.

More hot weather coming our way, with little rain.  Hope everyone is keeping cool!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Yet another warm day on the way, with temps of 90 degrees.  It’s been a long time since we’ve had any rain.  Hope we get some soon.

My falcon watch started at about 7 am, just after Larry O signed off.  The first falcon I saw was from the west side of the Kodak Tower.  There was one on the NE corner of Xerox.  It was way too far away to tell who it was.

*Be sure to click on the pics to see the full image.*

I made my way to the north side of the old Midtown Plaza.  From there I could see that it was Dot.ca.

After a quick search, I found Beauty on the antenna on top of the RG&E bldg.

I noticed that Dot.ca had left while I was checking out Beauty, so I didn’t know which direction he had flown.

Beauty then took off, flying low over the buildings to the south.

I searched for her, but couldn’t find her.

It was time to look for the juvies.

Dot.ca was just flying up to the Frontier Communication Tower (FCT) when I arrived there.  He was on the middle arm, looking south.

From the Andrews St Bridge, I could see that there was a juvie lower on FCT, so I headed back over to City Hall.

Dot.ca was gone, but I was able to get a good view of the juvie.  Dana joined me on the watch.

Finally the juvie lifted her leg and I was able to read her black/green band.  It was 90/BA – Sundara!

While I was talking to a passerby, she took off.  Of course!  lol  Sundara headed west, out of sight.

I drove back to the Andrews St Bridge and saw a falcon heading my way from Kodak.  I caught this one picture of the falcon as it flew over.

This was very close to the gorge, so Dana and I decided to check out the pedestrian bridge.  We didn’t see any falcons there, but we did see a juvie Red-tail Hawk flying over the river and landing on the Genesee Brewery.

It was a big girl and she took off, flying over the pedestrian bridge and heading towards the falls.  The hawk ended up landing in the Falcon Sucking Tree.  I guess this tree is not only for falcons.  lol

The hawk took off and flew down the east side of the gorge, snatching at leaves, just like our juvie falcons do.  I really miss seeing them in the gorge.  Wish they’d find it.  🙂

The High Falls Gorge is my most favorite place to watch falcons.  The river is very dry right now due to the lack of rain, but the falls are as beautiful as always.

If you live in or near Rochester, you should visit this magical place.  Enjoy the day and keep cool!  🙂

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Time to catch up and share some pictures from my falcon watches over the past 6 days.  I’m happy to report that all three juvies are doing well.  I even have some videos that I will share with you soon.  But, in the meantime, here are some pictures I want to share with everyone.  Enjoy!  🙂

*Be sure to click on each pic to see the full image.*

7/6/18

7/7/18

7/8/18

7/9/18

7/10/18

7/11/18

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

My main reason for going downtown early this morning was to make sure the Rochester Falcons made it through the evening of downtown fireworks.

I and a few other falcon fans were watching the fireworks on our falcon cams last night.  They were very loud and quite intense.  At one point, we could hear a falcon (we assume it was Beauty) vocalizing loudly.  I really wanted to make sure they were all ok this morning.

At 6:00 am, I joined Dan on the Court St Bridge.  I was overjoyed to see all three juvies flying high above the Xerox Tower, talon tagging.  Beauty was supervising from the SE corner of the Five Star Bank bldg.  We later saw Dot.ca on the RG&E antenna.  All five were safe and sound.  They had all survived the very explosive celebration the night before.  🙂

We were soon joined by Larry O and Dana.

Here are some pictures from the morning watch.  Another very warm day!!!

*Please click on the pictures to see the full image.*

I’m happy to report that repairs are underway on the Cross Rds Bldg.

Dana and I ended our watch at the Seneca Tower location.  Sadly, all was quiet and we saw no falcons there.  Although, Dana and Lou had seen three juvies on the building a couple evenings ago.  We were probably too late to see any activity this morning.

Enjoy the day and keep cool everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Happy 4th of July!

When I arrived downtown on the Court St Bridge at 7:00 am, I was greeted by Dan and Larry O.  Another very warm day was beginning.  Temps are expected to get up to about 93 degrees, and the humidity was rising.  The police were already out, blocking off some of the streets that would be filled with people this evening for the 4th of July celebrations.

Dot.ca was on the Powers camera and one juvie was on the ladder on top of the Civic Ctr.  We assumed, based on size, that this was Sundara.  We’re now pretty sure that she has lost the blue tape from her silver USFW band.  This will make it harder to ID her.

*Please click on the pictures to see the full image.*

Soon after I arrived, Beauty flew in carrying breakfast.  Sundara took off from the Civic Ctr and met her.  We lost sight of both of them, but quickly found one on the Widows Walk (WW).

Dan and Larry said their goodbyes and I headed over to the Times Square Bldg area for a closer look.

Dot.ca had moved over to the OCSR, top IBeam.

<— DC on OCSR

From the hole, “aka Aqueduct St”, I could see a juvie on Widows Walk on the southside railing.

<— Juvie on WW

I drove over to Fitzhugh St on the west side of WW and found a juvie eating on the corner of the Civic Ctr.

<— Juvie on corner of CC

A falcon flew up to the WW.  By the time I drove over for a closer look, the juvie I had first seen there was gone and Beauty was now on the southside railing.

<— Beauty on WW

I met up with Dana and we kept an eye on the juvie eating on the Civic Ctr.  We could see the silver band on the right leg and black/green band on the left leg.  So this was either Mike or Sundara.

Beauty flew over to check to see if there were any leftovers.

<— Beauty  on Civic Ctr.

We spotted a falcon on a lower Civic Ctr Bldg.  Again, either Mike or Sundara.

<— Mike or Sundara on Civic Ctr

We had some flying by the juvies, and they all ended up over on the Jail Communication Tower.  Joyce joined Dana and I at the parking lot near the Blue Cross Arena, aka Rochester War Memorial.  We found a spot in the shade and settled down to watch the four falcons on the jail communication tower (JCT).  There was some flying and we were able to positively ID Letchworth with her red tape covered band.

At 10 am, it was getting hot and we decided to end our watch.

Five Rochester Falcons were seen by Five Falcon Watchers this morning.

A very happy 4th of July to all.  Enjoy the day and stay safe!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

By the time I made my way downtown at 6:30 am, the temperature was already climbing and almost unbearable.  Larry O had reported that he and Dan had witnessed an up close and personal stoop by Beauty from over Xerox to the river on the south side of the Court St. Bridge (CSB).  She missed what she was after and settled on the Jail Communication Tower (JCT).

I decided to check the Frontier Communication Tower (FCT) first.  When I parked in front of City Hall, I could hear the very loud vocalization of a juvenile Peregrine Falcon.  It was Letchworth on the platform of FCT looking up at Dot.ca on the middle arm.

First Dot.ca, then Letchworth and another juvie I hadn’t seen, followed.

<— There goes Letchworth!

Larry O and Dan saw all three heading down Main St. towards downtown.

I joined Dan and Larry on the Court St. Bridge, just in time to see four falcons flying high above the Xerox Tower (XT).

I quickly grabbed my camera and practiced my flight shots, of which there were a lot!

Dan, Larry and I enjoyed the air show by this year’s juvies, Letchworth, Sundara and Mike.  Dot.ca was flying above them, showing them all kinds of impossible maneuvers.  Impossible for us un-winged watchers, but the juvies did their best to mimic their dad.  In between, they had lots of fun chasing each other and talon tagging high above the Xerox Tower.  At one point, we had five in the air, but only for a moment.

Here are some of my favorite flight shots.

*Be sure to click on each one to see the full image.*

This was our view from the Court St. Bridge.

Both Dan and Larry left me, so I headed over to Woodbury Blvd, where I had a closer view of the Xerox Tower.

I only had one juvie in view on top of the light tower on the roof of the Xerox Tower.

and then there were two!  A second juvie flew in and the chase was on!

Both juvies flew west towards the Times Square Bldg.

Back at the Frontier Communication Tower, I found Letchworth on the middle arm.

Letchworth flew down to the platform of the shorter FCT.  There was a lot of wing action up there, so I assume food was involved and at least one other juvie up there.  Of course Letchworth was the loudest.  lol

Letchworth again took off and I found her on the north railing on Widows Walk.  That’s where I left her, when I decided to end my watch.  As I was driving away, I spotted a falcon on the base of Mercury.  It was Beauty!

I was very happy to see her, since we had mostly seen Dot.ca and the 3 juvies during the morning watch.  It was a nice way to end it!

Keep cool everyone!  There are more really hot temperatures on the way!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

A heatwave has started in Rochester, NY and I wanted to go out for early morning watches Saturday & Sunday.  Today is going to go up to 98 degrees with a heat index of 105!

Both mornings, I met Dan on the Court St Bridge around 6:30 am.  Larry O joined us Saturday morning.

Saturday, June 30, 2018

There wasn’t much to see Saturday morning for the first part of my watch.  After Dan left, Larry O and I decided to check the High Falls Gorge.  The only raptors we saw were three Red-tailed Hawks, an adult and two juvies.  Other than that, it was very quiet.  Larry and I said our goodbyes and I headed downtown for another look.  I wasn’t disappointed.  I soon heard that wonderful sound that juvie Peregrine Falcons make when they’re flying with each other and talon tagging.  I could see three at a time flying high above Xerox and B&L.  Yes, I know these buildings have new names, but I’ll continue to call them by the names I remember.  lol

During my Saturday morning watch, I saw all five downtown Rochester Falcons.  Here are some pictures that I took during this watch.

*Be sure to click on all the pictures to see the full image.*

Sunday, July 1, 2018

Sunday Morning Watch started with an outstanding stoop by Beauty!  When I arrived on the Court St. Bridge Dan pointed out that Beauty was soaring high above the Xerox Tower.  As we watched, Beauty started her stoop.  Her wings folded back and swoosh!  At what seemed supersonic speeds, Beauty fell from the sky, hurtling towards the river on the south side of the bridge.  We lost sight of her as the pigeons took panicked flight in all different directions.  When I next saw her, she was carrying a pigeon back towards the Times Square Bldg.  I moved back to get a better look and saw that she brought it to the Widows Walk and she was surrounded by at least two juvies.

Dan had to leave, so I headed over to the Widows Walk.  I spent an hour with Letchworth, Sundara, Mike and Beauty before it got too warm and they were hunkered down in the shade after all getting a share of the meal this morning.

All three juvies are flying high and doing great!  Enjoy this 4th of July week and keep cool!