Morning watch 3-11-14
By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK
It was 36 degrees (F) 2(C) and overcast when I left for downtown at 7:10am but the sun broke thru the thin clouds and it was partly sunny for the remainder of my watch
As I made the u-turn on the Broad St. bridge (BSB) to face the Times Square building (TSB) I spotted a falcon on the Mercury money bag (MMB). I drove down to the hole and stopped at Aqueduct and Bank Place to face Mercury. Dot.Ca (DC) was on the MMB and Beauty was behind me under the southeast wing of TSB.
DC flew off headed toward TSB and I whipped over next to Keybank at Aqueduct and Basin St.-on my way over I could hear the sound of falcons mating and saw them under the southeast wing as I looked that way. As I came to a stop, so did they with DC flying off to the northeast-I lost sight of him behind the buildings. Beauty then flew down to the nest box. Donna texted me that they were both in the nest box at that time. I saw Beauty fly out and go to the MMB but I missed DC-this was around 7:30am.
Beauty left Mercury heading northwest. I took a ride but didn’t find her or DC until I returned to Exchange Blvd. 20 minutes later and spotted Beauty back under the southeast wing . I parked in front of the Blue Cross Arena to get a better look at her-she was looking Beautyful in the sun up there.
I left at this time to check out the Brighton Site (BS) arriving there at 8:22am and finding a kestrel on the west side. Just as I got my camera up it took off-they’re quick little falcons! Larry stopped by and said hello on his way to work. He saw the kestrel too on the back of the building and while we were watching it fly off DC came in and landed on the south side vent landing on the east end and then ran to the middle of it.
DC saw Pigott fly in and he flew to the southwest extension opposite from where she was then he flew off to the north and I lost sight of him until he reappeared on the southeast extension.
I backed up to find Miss Pigott peeking over the roof edge above the cubby. Meanwhile, DC was scratching his head and thinking about his next move which came a half minute later.
<Pigott DC>
Pigott flew out and back going into the cubby where some loud echupping took place and I didn’t see DC the little sneak go in but I heard him chirping.
A minute later Pigott came flying out then DC appeared at the front of the cubby a few seconds later then he flew off. He returned to the cubby and then left again flying southwest in the direction Pigott had gone.
I waited a couple minutes for them to return and then took a ride around to the front of the building where I spotted DC up on an antenna on the top of the building. As I stopped the car he flew northwest toward downtown so I left too. I drove all over downtown searching and as I parked the car on the Andrews St. Bridge I spotted a falcon on the east side platform railing of the Frontier Communications Tower. I got my camera just in time to get the take off and judging by size I believe it was the Beautyful one. I watched as she flew south past the Powers building and then I lost sight of her when she turned left and flew east behind OCSR.
A quick ride around the city with no more sightings brought a close to my watch around 9:30am. I saw all 3 Rochester Peregrine Falcons including some serious courting of DC with Beauty(copulation) and Pigott (bonding in the cubby). The 2014 season is in full swing without the drama of the last 2 springs making for lots of smiles! 🙂
Click on the links below to see todays videos
http://youtu.be/ASBeac4tDkY
http://youtu.be/yMpwnsRL5lA
http://youtu.be/P_FzKsJe4h8
