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Eyes to the Skies

Sunday Falcon Watch – 3/9/14 – Beauty, Dot.ca, Pigott and the KP Falcon

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Our time sprang ahead one hour today.   Sunrise at 7:31 am and Sunset at 7:08 pm.

Temps just made it into the 30’s today.  It was windy and cold, but the sun was out for much of the day making it a very nice day here in Rochester, NY.

I started my watch at 11:00 am at Kodak Park where I found the KP Falcon (KPF) on the east stack catwalk.

KP Falcon 3-9-14KP Falcon 3-9-14KP Falcon 3-9-14*

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KPF flew around a bit and landed on the south side of the catwalk.  I still believe that based on size, this is a male (tiercel) and have to wonder if this is the unbanded tiercel (UT) that hung out with Beauty last week for awhile. There is no way to know for sure.  I lost sight of the KPF just before fellow Falcon Watcher Dana joined me.

At noon, we decided to go over to the BS location.  After circling the building a couple times, we could not find Pigott.  Next stop, Downtown Rochester.

Beauty was up on the southeast wing ledge of the Time Square Bldg (TSB).

Beauty on TSB SE Wing Ledge 3-9-14Beauty on SE Wing Ledge TSB 3/9/14*

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I looked all over for Dot.ca, but could not find him.  I joined Dana on the Broad St Bridge (BSB) and we kept an eye  on Beauty while watching the activity on the river below.  There were lots of ducks and lots of gulls.  Sadly, we saw two dead male Red-breasted Mergansers on the ice.  I was really hoping that they were doing ok here.  This Winter has been so hard on them.  This beauty seems to be doing good.

Male Red-breasted Merganser 3-9-14*

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At about 1:00 pm, Beauty took off heading southeast.  She headed towards the Xerox building where we saw a 2nd falcon stooping on a larger bird.  I only got a quick glimpse, but I do believe that Dot.ca was going after a Red-tailed Hawk and Beauty was joining him.  First Beauty and then Dot.ca flew back towards us.  Beauty landed in the nest box and Dot.ca landed on the OCSR south side top Ibeam.

Beauty flying over us on way to TSB 3-9-14Beauty at the Nest Box 3-9-14Dot.ca on OCSR 3-9-14*

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Beauty took off and returned to the south east TSB wing ledge.

Beauty on TSB SE Wing Ledge 3-9-14*

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She took off again, heading east over the river where we lost sight of her.  While Dana stayed on the BSB, I drove around looking for Beauty and found her on the SE corner of the B&L building.  She was eating up there, but not for long.  I headed back to the BSB because there was no where to park.  When I arrived, Beauty was up on the lower southeast corner of the TSB.  Just after I joined Dana, Beauty again took off and flew up into the OCSR elevator shaft.

Beauty on SE Corner B&L 3-9-14Beauty Flying up into the OCSR Elevator Shaft 3-9-14Dot.ca on OCSR 3-9-14*

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It was going on 2:00 pm, so we decided to head over to the BS location again to see if Pigott had returned.  When we arrived, she was on an east facing window on the southeast extension, one floor below the tree ledge.

Pigott at BS on East Side 3-9-14*

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Pigott hunched down like a cat ready to pounce and started to vocalize with a high pitched wailing sound.  That was our first hint that Dot.ca was arriving.  lol  He landed above her on the corner just above the tree ledge. They both chatted a bit and looked at each other.

Pigott Watches DC Coming In 3-9-14Dot.ca Lands on Corner Above East Tree Ledge 3-9-14*

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Pigott Poops 3-9-14Dot.ca Above Tree Ledge at BS 3-9-14*

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Dot.ca stayed at BS for about a little over a 1/2 hour.  He flew to the northeast corner of the east extension.  Then both of them took off.  We could see Dot.ca flying over the building.  When we got to the west side, Pigott was inside the cubby and she was ee-chupping loudly.  She flew out and landed on the southwest corner of the west extension.  Dana and I weren’t sure if Dot.ca joined Pigott in the cubby or not.  We’re pretty sure he probably headed downtown at that time.

Pigott took off.  When we caught up with her, we found her on a east facing window on the northeast extension.  I left Pigott at BS at 3:30 pm after receiving a tweet at 3:19 pm from cam watcher NCA that Beauty had left the nest box ee-chupping.   Many thanks to Camp, Annette and NCA for tweeting what they were seeing on camera at the nest box during my watch today.  It is very helpful to the Rochester Watchers.

After checking all over downtown, I found both Beauty and Dot.ca on the Kodak Tower.  They were both on the south side of the launch pad.  Beauty was eating and Dot.ca was watching.

Beauty and Dot.ca on the KO Launch Pad 3-9-14Beauty and Dot.ca on the KO Launch Pad 3-9-14*

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At 4:00 pm, it was time to end my Sunday Falcon Watch.  The weekends go way too fast!

When I got home, I was greeted by many Robins in my yard.  Spring can’t be too far away!!!  Goodnight everyone!

A Sure Sign of Spring 3-9-14

4 Responses to “Sunday Falcon Watch – 3/9/14 – Beauty, Dot.ca, Pigott and the KP Falcon”

  1. Kris G. Says:

    Nice pic of that Robin! DC is a busy boy these days, and, if both mates produce eggs/babies, he’ll certainly be busier! So sad about all the ducks, geese that aren’t surviving this winter…it’s been a tough one. Thanks for your report and pics.

  2. Carol P. Says:

    Thanks for your nice comment Kris!

  3. patsy6 Says:

    Perfect poop shot, Carol!

    Sadly, I witnessed the death of a red-breasted Merganser at the Irondequoit Bay outlet a week ago. I think it was a male. He was thrashing around, trying to get up onto the ice, then he suddenly went limp, rolled onto his back in the water and never moved again. I felt so helpless.

  4. Carol P. Says:

    Thanks Pat. Poor RBM’s. 🙁


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