Morning Falcon Watch/Big Frank eats a gull 10-17-15
By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK
There was lots of sun and occasional clouds to block the warmth of it as the temperature was only 36 (F) 2 (C)
Billie and Seth have definitely changed up their morning routine as I didn’t see them on Seneca Towers again this morning. As I arrived downtown and didn’t find anyone there initially, I thought I was going to get skunked. On my second trip around I spotted Beauty and Dot.ca (DC) on the top I-beam southeast side of OCSR from the Broad St. bridge. I drove down to the hole for a closer view.
The angle wasn’t the best so after the Beautyful one flew off to the south I went looking for her to no avail and returned to watch DC from the Radisson Hotel by Main St. He had quite the full crop!
I figured since he had eaten he wasn’t going anywhere except maybe to his man cave in the OCSR elevator shaft so I took one more ride around to find Beauty and left for the Medley Centre after an unsuccessful search. I circled the mall once and when I came around to the north side on the second trip I stopped to check out a row of pretty yellow trees.
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As I was rounding the corner I noticed lots of white feathers and when I looked to the end of them I found Big Frank (BF)-she was eating a juvenile gull. She sure does like a big breakfast!
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At first I wasn’t sure if it was BF because I hadn’t seen her for a long time but when I saw no band on her right leg and the black over black band on her left foot I was convinced. She then moved her prey and showed me her identifying left leg band showing the S/39 for a positive ID.
On my little LCD camera screen it’s hard to see details so I couldn’t decide whether she had a pigeon or a gull as I was seeing brown on the wings. Frankie likes to move her prey from one spot to the other-I noticed that when I witnessed her eating a duck a few weeks ago. She is a formidable opponent and if I were a Peregrine I would not mess with her!
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I noticed a couple pigeons on a light post above BF watching her and probably saying how happy they were that she was in the mood for gull this morning. They didn’t stick around to see if she wanted pigeon for dessert.
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Frankie had her fill and flew off at 9:13am circling around to the glass peak roof where she landed to digest her meal. Dana came by and confirmed that it was a juvie gull as she had checked the remains. I left for home at that point finding no falcons at Seneca Towers again. I ended my watch at 9:45am with a big old smile after having seen Frankie for the first time in almost 3 weeks! 🙂
Check out today’s videos by clicking on the links below
October 17th, 2015 at 1:13 PM
Thank you again for finding Frankie! I love that last photo of her smiling at you! Lol..look at her, just like her mama! <3
October 17th, 2015 at 1:41 PM
Kathy, she’s an O’Connor the second for sure! I’m all about the smiles! 🙂
October 17th, 2015 at 2:02 PM
WOW!! Is all I can say to the videos and pictures of today’s watch.Great job MAK.
October 17th, 2015 at 3:58 PM
I’m glad you liked them Diane. I always worry that people will be upset by the feeding pics and videos. Thanks for your comment! 🙂
October 17th, 2015 at 9:29 PM
Amazing pics of Big Frankie MAK, I was so happy to hear you had found her. She is one spectacular pefa & I hope I see her one of these days
October 17th, 2015 at 9:38 PM
Oh my!! Poor gull!!! I’m sure it wasn’t a quick kill!!! Does she stoop or pounce???
October 17th, 2015 at 10:49 PM
Thanks Linda, I was happy to see her! She is a force!! 🙂
October 17th, 2015 at 10:50 PM
I don’t know if she can stoop from that mall it’s not very tall-I’m sure some pouncing is being done Donna! 🙂
October 18th, 2015 at 12:36 AM
MAK,
Love the pictures and videos of Big Frank – all those feathers – Thank you.
October 18th, 2015 at 6:52 AM
Somewhat dangerous for a peregrine to eat on the ground, but possibly the gull was too heavy for her to fly it up to a safer place (for me, taking a gull is another indication that Big Frank is female). Since she left the remains for Dana to inspect, it would seem she has not gotten into the way of caching leftovers for a hungry day.
October 18th, 2015 at 7:15 AM
You’re welcome Annie, glad you liked them! 🙂
October 18th, 2015 at 7:18 AM
Alison, Big Frank is definitely female. She has been seen eating a gull on the ground before and she caught a duck a few weeks back and was eating that on the south side of Medley Centre in the parking lot. 🙂