Fledge watch 8-12-13
By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK
Another gem of a day here in Rochester with clear conditions and a starting temp 0f 61 (F) 16 (C)
No falcons on the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) when I drove off 490 but right around the corner on Kodak Office (KO) I found Baron and Voyager on the cupola in the semi darkness as the sun was on its way up to greet us.
Please click on my pics to see the full version
Voyager walked around to the front where she could see her brother and they took turns whining for a few minutes. It was like they were trying to one up each other as one would display its wings and then the other. Oh I’m gonna miss them when they’re gone-sooo entertaining! They kept this up for 20 minutes and then Voyager took off followed by Baron going after a great Blue Heron above me on Mill St. breaking it off and then flew south.
<Click it 
I went to the City Hall parking lot and found them on the FCT-Baron was on platform railing north side and Voyager was under the platform at the southeast corner.
<Baron Voyager>
A starling came flying thru and Voyager took off after it and Baron did too, going into a stoop and I lost them behind the church. I next saw them flying around above City Place so I drove up to the top of the Sister Cities garage to get closer. As luck would have it they both landed across from me on the north side of the City Place roof and Voyager had prey. I wish I could say for sure that she caught it but I missed the end of the chase so for all I know this could have been cached food since they eat frequently up on that roof.
<click it
<Baron
<Voyager
Voyager picked at the prey item for a bit then she made her way over to Baron and then he had it. She flew off after a few minutes chasing another small bird around the FCT and vanished on the north side of the tower so i believe she must have landed somewhere over there where I couldn’t see her.
<Click it
Around 7am Baron flew over to the small tower with the food and while I checked my pics for leg bands so I knew who I was watching he left.
A minute before that I saw Voyager shoot out from the tower and fly west. After Baron was no longer in view Larry tweeted that he could see a falcon on the small tower dish-reporting from the pedestrian bridge with Dan. I took a look and could just barely make out Barons head.
<Click it
I then looked south and spotted a falcon on the 2nd arm of the jail tower southeast side. I walked to the south end of the garage roof to get a closer shot of it and from the posture and head I believe it was Beauty.
From this end I could now see Baron as he moved over a bit on the dish. 10 minutes later he slipped off the dish flying north past KO until I could no longer see him.
I turned around and looked at the jail tower which was now falconless. I decided to go to Brighton at this time. I found Pigott on the west end of the south side vent and it was apparent she had just finished eating as there were feathers blowing in the breeze on the edge of the vent next to her,she had a full crop and was picking at her bloody big yellow feet.
10 minutes later she flew around to the west side landing on a top window near the cubby. She had her back to me so I left her to roost and digest her meal.
Miss Pigott would be the last PEFA I saw as I returned downtown and looked everywhere and couldn’t find one. I ended my watch on the Pont De Rennes pedestrian bridge where all I saw were gulls. I only saw 3 out of 6 of our Rochester Peregrine Falcons but that was more than enough to send me on my way with a smile on my face! 🙂
Click on the links below to view my photo album and videos from this mornings watch
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqidI
http://youtu.be/8ih7kgKCjDo
http://youtu.be/tazBvxeCZ4k
http://youtu.be/KD3cVthshh4—
