Morning watch 10-4-14
By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK
I’d say fall has arrived here in Western New York as a cold front dropped some rain and temperatures with a strong wind out of the west. The starting temperature this morning at 6:45am was 59 (F) 15 (C) -we’re heading down, as of right now at 3pm it is 55 (F) 13 (C)
Click on my pics to see the full version
As I was leaving my parking lot at Seneca Towers I saw Billie fly off the top window ledge on the south end of the building. When I got to my spot at the beginning of the visitor parking where I can see the south and west sides of the building thru an opening in the trees, I spotted her on the north side roof railing.
I wasn’t sure it was her because the darkness of the dawn sky would not allow for a clear picture. After getting my pics on the large computer screen I could see that there was no yellow tape on the right leg band, when she ran over to the northwest corner and showed some leg when she flew off to the south a couple minutes later.
As I had to make it a quick watch this morning I couldn’t stay with her as she flew back and landed on the north side railing again. It started to rain lightly as I left for downtown. On my way down St. Paul St. I spotted a falcon (looked small-maybe Mr. Yellow Tape) flying from the east side of the river by me and crossing to the west side near Lake Tower Apartments on Lake Ave. From the Andrews St. bridge I spotted a falcon on the base of Mercury around 8am, so I whipped down to the Broad St. bridge to see who it was-Beauty.
From the north side of the bridge I watched a bunch of pigeons fly out from under it and go over to their hiding spot below the Rochester Convention Center. I wasn’t the only one who watched them and the next lone pigeon that came out to join his friends got hit by a stooping falcon named Beauty. She didn’t hit it very hard and it escaped her clutches as it flew east. The Beautyful one circled above the river then went back behind the Thomson Reuters building and landed back on the base of Mercury.
I stayed to share space with Beauty until about 8:30am as she continued to look for breakfast to present itself.
Larry tweeted that he was on the other end of the bridge-I looked to see him and his dog Harold. I had to end my watch as I had a busy morning ahead but I drove down to say hi and bye before leaving. It’s a rarity to see other watchers out so early, especially in the off season, so I was happy to see them. I left downtown at 8:30am with a smile as I saw Rochester’s 2 female falcons and 2 of its male falcon watchers! 🙂
Click on the links below to see just a couple videos from todays watch
http://youtu.be/DY_zwHfRl0o
