By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

2:30 to 5:30 pm

This is the time of year, where we have to keep a closer eye on the downtown nest site.  Lots of migrants are passing through. When Kathy O reported to me that she had not seen any falcons downtown yesterday afternoon, I knew I had to check on Beauty and Dot.ca after work.  Only a couple of us usually write up watch reports, but there is a great group of falcon watchers that keep an eye on the Rochester Falcons.  But first I checked out the Kodak Park West area for the falcon I had seen there yesterday.  There was no falcon seen there today.

Downtown, from the Broad St bridge, I found Dot.ca up on the Times Square Bldg (TSB) under the southeast wing.  Beauty was on the south side of OCSR on the top IBeam.

Dot.ca took off and did not return.  I went down to Aqueduct St (aka “the hole”) to see if I could find him.  While there, loud falcon vocalizations filled the air.  Dot.ca flew to the nest box with food and Beauty followed.  Dot.ca flew out of the nest box area and landed on the base of Mercury, still clutching his offering.  Beauty remained on the corner of the platform.  I could see that she had a full crop, so she probably wasn’t hungry.

Dot.ca flew off with the food, heading north.  I’m sure he cached it for later.

Beauty returned to the top IBeam on OCSR.

After awhile, Dot.ca returned, zipping back and forth in front of the Times Square Bldg.  He flew to the Wilder Bldg. and landed on the green strip.

All was quiet for awhile.  Then Dot.ca became agitated and started to vocalize looking up.  I looked up to see Beauty flying after a smaller falcon, which I do believe was a Kestrel.  She flew to the nest box and Dot.ca followed.  Beauty flew out and landed on the Wilder Bldg green strip, while Dot.ca remained at the nest box.  I never did see where the Kestrel went.

It was again quiet.  But not for long.  Beauty started to vocalize and look up at the nest box.  Dot.ca was on his way down to her and I witnessed my first copulation of 2015.  Beauty remained at the east end of the green strip and Dot.ca went to the west end. This is where I left them at the end of my afternoon watch.  All was peaceful and quiet.

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