Morning watch 8-27-14
By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK
Well it was bound to happen-the string of nice sunny mornings came to an end today as it was dark and overcast with a starting temperature of 72 (F) 22 (C)
Click on the pics to see the full version
I came across both Beauty and Dot.Ca (DC) on Widows Walk around 6:45am this morning. Beauty was on the southeast corner and DC was up on the east side of the railing. I was parked in the parking lot next to Times Square.
Again, I can’t say how pleased I am that they are spending so much time together. Most Peregrine pairs go to their nest site to bow and renew their bond after the kids leave home. I think these 2 have been seen at the nest box only twice to bow-all this togetherness must be their way of bonding. If it works for them, it works for this falcon watcher!Beauty didn’t stay long before flying off to the east and DC stayed so I elected to stick with DC since I didn’t see him yesterday. He soon flew across to the north side railing and I went over to Fitzhugh St. where I had a front view of him.
DC made several attempts to extract a pellet and finally was able to get a couple small chunks up and out-I got it on video. He was watching some starlings above and below him when suddenly he started to whine and took off heading north.
40 minutes and 2 trips around downtown later I came across the happy couple on a chimney below Widows Walk. Beauty had food that she was preparing and DC was right next to her watching and whining. They stayed maybe 2 minutes then the Beautyful one flew off with her package and DC followed right behind as they headed west then turned north.
10 minutes as was coming down Fitzhugh St. from Main St. I spotted tail feathers on the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) large disk. It was DC and he was eating, so he had managed to charm Beauty out of some of her catch! He brought his prize to the front edge for a second giving me a look-I believe it was a pigeon, then he went out of sight to the other side of the disk.
I drove down to the City Hall parking lot thinking I could see him on the north side but he was only showing tail feathers again. While en route Beauty showed up and parked herself under the southeast cube on FCT right across from DC. It was her turn to whine at him even though she had a full crop.
DC flew west and snuck back without me seeing to land back on the disk while Beauty kept whining at him off and on. This is how I left them at 8:45am ending my watch because I had a 9 o’clock appointment. It was a successful watch as I saw both of our downtown Rochester Peregrine Falcon pair and they both had eaten making me smile! 🙂
Click on the links below to view todays videos
http://youtu.be/c9EMHuulE3A
