Thursday Afternoon Falcon Watch – 2/6/14 – All 3 Seen Today by the Rochester Falcon Watchers
By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.
The roads were finally cleared after a snow storm hit Rochester, NY. We received over a foot of snow yesterday. Now it is going to get really cold again.
As I type this report, it is 14 (F) degrees and feels like 2 (F) degrees. Sunset was at 5:28 pm.
My watch started at Kodak Park. It was snowing lightly. After getting out of work, I checked the smoke stacks and found an adult Peregrine Falcon on the small silver box, next to the red light, above the lower catwalk on the east stack. (3:30 pm)
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MAK had tweeted at approximately 2:20 pm that Pigott was at the BS location. I headed there next hoping to see her. But, when I got there at 4:00 pm, Pigott was gone. I circled the building twice and watched for awhile, but she did not return. So, I headed downtown.
I drove around the downtown area and ended up checking the OCSR elevator shaft. Not one, but two falcons were up there, both with their backs to me. Beauty on the left (south ledge) and Dot.ca on the right (north ledge). (4:30 pm)
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After verifying that there were two falcons up inside the OCSR elevator shaft, I headed back over to Kodak Park to see if the KP Falcon was there or not. I could not find a falcon there. (4:50 pm)
Keep warm and safe everyone! Goodnight!
February 6th, 2014 at 10:01 PM
Hmmm…time for some sleuthing by watchers! I’m glad Beauty was finally seen as she wasn’t earlier. I find it strange that Peregrines all over are returning to their nest sites and some have even been seen mating yet neither Beauty nor DC have made any visits yet this year. I looked back and Beauty was seen at the nest last year in early January. Anyway, thanks for your report!
February 7th, 2014 at 7:47 AM
So glad you saw all three! Great pictures and report. 🙂
February 7th, 2014 at 8:38 AM
They’re getting closer to the nestbox, though. We’re starting to occasionally see them on the Times Square Building again, where they hadn’t been at all for several weeks. I look for them several times per day from the windows at work. Also, I wonder if at times it’s just been so cold that they’re doing what they can to keep warm (i.e. the OCSR elevator shaft). `Or perhaps there haven’t been as many migrating falcons around this year, so Beauty and Dot.ca may feel less of a need to defend the nest. For example, Beauty was near the nest under the SE wing of the Times Square Building when MAK spotted that unfamiliar falcon on Xerox this past week.
Who knows, I guess. Every year is different with these two. 🙂
February 7th, 2014 at 10:02 AM
Thanks for the comments Kris, Nora and Pat! It is ALWAYS an interesting time with our three Rochester Falcons. Always learning something new. 🙂
February 8th, 2014 at 8:25 PM
I would imagine it would hard to be in the mood when there is a snow drift in your nest box.
February 9th, 2014 at 8:17 AM
I am so glad to be back following the Falcon Watches. Lots of exciting things happening!
February 9th, 2014 at 9:37 AM
BC – I would not want to sit in a pile of snow either! lol.
Nora – So glad you are back!