Morning Falcon Watch/and a Merlin as a bonus 10-5-15
By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK
It was partly cloudy with a temperature of 45 (F) 7 (C)
Seth was in his usual spot on the top north window ledge and when I got around to the front of Seneca Towers I found Billie on the top south window ledge. I drove out to St. Paul St. to get the best angle on her.
I left for downtown after a few minutes and from the Andrews St. bridge (ASB) I spotted Beauty on the base of Mercury. I quickly went to the Broad St. bridge to watch her. She was in hunt mode and looking great.
She was watching something below her for a bit and then pigeons started lining up on the east side roof of Thomson Reuters. Beauty backed up, I believe to hide from them, to where I could only see the top of her head.
I stayed with the Beautyful one for about an hour then set out to find Dot.ca (DC). I didn’t have to go far as I found him on the top I-beam north corner of OCSR from State St. I drove to Bragdon Place on the other side of the river to view DC as he had his back to me.
The sun was out at the time and shining directly on his bright white chest making him light up. My camera had trouble photographing anything but white! You almost needed sunglasses to look at Whitey, I mean DC. lol
Around 8:30am while I was taping DC he stooped down toward the river where I lost him in the trees below OCSR.
I looked across at the Frontier Communications tower and noticed Beauty on her northeast cube. I then drove to the ASB where I could see Beauty and also DC, who was now on the west corner top I-beam of OCSR.
I left for the Medley Center about 8:45am but I didn’t find Big Frank there. However, I did find a falcon-a Merlin on a light post in the east side parking lot.
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The Merlin took off soon after I arrived, flew out of sight over the roof of the mall then resurfaced to chase and be chased by a crow.
They flew out of sight to the north end of the mall past Sears. I left for home after another check for Big Frank came up empty. As I stopped on Seth Green Dr. Billie flew off the top south window ledge of Seneca Towers. Seth was on the west side roof near the southwest corner with his back to me.
I ended my watch at 9:30am after seeing our 2 pair of Rochester Peregrine Falcons and to really make me smile, another smaller falcon known as a Merlin! 🙂
Click on the links below to watch today’s videos
October 5th, 2015 at 11:56 AM
Oh that’s so cool when you see a Merlin. There must be more around, because our opportunity to see them has increased. I wonder if it is a juvie. I don’t know how to tell them apart. It’s enough to try and figure males from females. Good catch MAK.
October 5th, 2015 at 12:34 PM
Thanks Joyce! There must be lots around here now cuz that’s like the 3rd one I’ve seen this summer/fall. I never saw any in the past other than the ones we all went to check out in the city a few years back. Can’t remember where that was but I remember how thrilled I was to see them for the first time! 🙂
October 5th, 2015 at 1:10 PM
Oh how cute that merlin is! There was that big clutch in the 19th ward a few months back. I wonder if this is one of them.
October 5th, 2015 at 6:39 PM
Maybe it is Pat! They sure are cute!! 🙂
October 6th, 2015 at 11:46 AM
That was a nice bonus seeing the Merlin, MAK! Thanks for your report, photos and videos.
October 6th, 2015 at 1:10 PM
No problem Barb! Love seeing something different!! 🙂