Morning watch 2-20-15
By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK
It was a bone chilling -6 (F) -21 (C) degrees when I left this morning with a bit of a breeze. The sun was shining throughout but it didn’t really make much of a difference-sub zero temps are COLD!!
Click on the pics to see the full version
Well let me just say that I had quite the eventful watch this morning starting with my car getting stuck in the parking lot while backing out of my spot. After half dozen tries I got out thankfully. I first stopped to check the OCSR elevator shaft-no falcons seen on either side. I then went over to the east side on Elm St. where I spotted Beauty eating on one of the northeast corners of Bausch & Lomb which has changed owners and is now called Legacy Tower (LT).
Beauty spent about 10 more minutes on her meal then flew off to the northwest at 7:31am.
I left to check the elevator shaft of OCSR as that’s where the Beautyful one had gone after the last time I watched her eat on Legacy Tower. There was a falcon on the north side ledge with its back to me that I thought was Beauty. I left to look for Dot.ca (DC) and found Beauty on the south side arch of Kodak Office (KO). She was sleeping on and off as she watched over her territory. I then drove back to check the elevator shaft and found out it had been DC in the elevator shaft.
Satisfied that I saw both Beauty and DC I left for home to check Seneca Towers (ST). I ended up in the driveway of the Northridge Church at East Ridge Rd. and St. Paul St. after I didn’t see anybody on the west or south side. I was ready to call it a watch when I spotted 99 on a top window ledge on the east side of ST. Less than a minute later he stooped to the south, 99 came back and landed on the 17th floor east side balcony railing 1 floor above mine.
In my excitement I had tweeted that 99 was on my east side balcony-this was the first time I had seen a falcon on a balcony railing at ST. Anyway, 99 didn’t stay there for long, as he flew off to the south end of ST before going into a stoop leaving my view as there was a big snow pile in front of me blocking the view. He didn’t come right back so I left the church to check the other side of ST. He then appeared and flew back around to land on the 18th floor east side balcony this time. I made a U-turn and parked on St. Paul St. to observe.
99 had his back to me at first then he turned around to face me-I thought perhaps someone in the building had spooked him. There was a fascinator on his beak.
99 flew off the balcony up to an air conditioner on the 19th floor at 9am with his back to me.
My feet and hands were really cold at this point so after taking a couple more pics of 99 I decided to go and try to get a look at him from my 16th floor balcony.
There was a road block on the way (literally) as a car was blocking the driveway in my parking lot. It wouldn’t start because of the cold temperatures and another guy in a van was trying to give him a jump. I ended up helping them push the car back into the parking spot so we could all get through. I finally got up to my balcony and looked at the wrong air conditioner at first. Then, just before he flew off I found the right air conditioner and got a snippet of 99. I watched him fly northeast into the trees behind the church I had been parked at and disappear. I ended my watch at 10 am and yes, I was definitely smiling! 🙂
Click on the links below to see today’s videos (especially the very last snippet for a close look at 99)
February 21st, 2015 at 7:13 AM
What a good day.I can feel your smiles from here. Thanks for your efforts.. J.
February 21st, 2015 at 1:51 PM
June, it was a great day! Now I really need to scrape up the money for an air conditioner-can you imagine sitting in your recliner and see a falcon land on your air conditioner!? Hot diggity dog!!! 🙂
February 21st, 2015 at 2:23 PM
Where should I send my donation???