Morning Falcon Watch/Frankie eats gull in grass 1-14-16
By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK
It was overcast with a bit of snow falling and a temperature of 18 (F) -8 (C) when I started my watch
Seth was in his spot on the north window ledge as I began my day in my spot from East Ridge Rd.
I left him after a few minutes and headed downtown. Beauty and Dot.ca (DC) were up in the OCSR elevator shaft when I arrived at the Radisson Hotel driveway around 8:1oam. She was on the south ledge with her back to me and he was on the north ledge getting ready to take off. He pooped first!
<Click
<Click
DC dropped off the ledge and flew over to the top I-beam north corner of OCSR and the Beautyful one remained in the shaft preening.
That’s how I left them as I had to move along to the Medley Centre. I was just about to leave the mall when I spotted Big Frankie on the snowy grass near the northwest entrance to the mall. She was eating a gull.
<Click
Frankie moved her prize toward me a little, started eating again, then pooped and flew off crossing just a few feet in front of my car on her way to a lamp post. She is a big beautiful bird!
<Click
I didn’t expect her to take off so I was lucky to get most of her in the frame. After she landed on the lamp post I checked the gull remains before driving around to watch her.
<Click
Frankie turned a bit so I went around to the other side of her. She started alarm calling when a Turkey Vulture flew into view from the north-she let it continue on to the south out of the area.You can hear her on one of the snippets from my snippet video. She settled down, did some feaking and preening before I left her.
I was lucky to reach my spot on East Ridge Rd. just in time to see Billie fly from the north roof above Seth, who was in his spot on the north window ledge. He watched his girl as she flew down into the river gorge.
When I ended my watch at 9:30am Seth was preening and as I drove past, Billie returned coming to rest on the north roof again. I saw all 5 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons today, thus putting a big smile on this watchers face! 🙂
Click on the link below to see today’s snippet video
January 15th, 2016 at 12:33 AM
Big Frankie took a ring-billed gull. Unfortunately, it was a first winter juvenile.
January 15th, 2016 at 6:41 AM
Frankie likes them all Joyce! 🙂
January 15th, 2016 at 8:27 AM
WOW !!! Great “watch”
January 15th, 2016 at 11:37 AM
Big Frank(ie)’s name suits her well. I wonder how much larger she is than Beauty?
Really good video, MAK! Thanks for your report.
January 15th, 2016 at 5:25 PM
It sure was Diane! 🙂
January 15th, 2016 at 5:27 PM
Big girl with a big appetite for sure Barb! Beauty is a big girl as well-I couldn’t say if she is as big as BF or not. Would have to have them next to each other and I don’t want to see that-it wouldn’t be a good thing! 🙂