By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Happy New Year! Today the Rochester Falcon Watchers gathered on Broad St in front of the Blue Cross Arena where we made our yearly toast to a successful falcon season in 2013.  This has become a tradition for us over the years.  I can’t remember what year we started.  Each year it becomes more techie thanks to Shaky.  This year he recorded the whole thing on his IPhone so that the folks on the RFalconcam UStream could watch the festivities live.  We’ve come a long way from using radios for keeping in contact with each other on Fledge Watches to where we are now, leaving tweets that other Watchers and folks on the forum can read.  So, today we all gathered and toasted to a successful 2013.

Toasters included: Brian H, MAK, Kathy O, Lisa McK, Dana, Lou, Dan, Larry O & Harold (his dog), Jeanne, Joyce, Steve, Lynda, Tim, Shaky, Carrie, Suzanne, Don, John and me, Carol P.  I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone.

Brian was the first one to arrive.  He texted at 12:25 pm “Aunt B has shown up.  Yea.  She’s just come to top I beam OCSR.”

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I arrived soon after this.  It was a bitter cold day and we decided to wait under cover at the Blue Cross Arena.  At least we could get out of the cold wind.

During the time we were waiting, Beauty took off and flew towards the Times Square bldg where she engaged in battle with a Red-tail Hawk that flew way too close to her nest site.  She did some amazing flying and maneuvers as she drove the RTH from the area.  She ended up returning to the OCSR top Ibeam, SE side.

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Over the next hour, all the Watchers arrived, including Joyce who had recently broken her ankle.  We decided to join her at the bottom of the stairs because it would have been almost impossible for her to climb them with all the snow and ice.  This is where we did our toast.

While we waited, I missed a call from Barb from LA and Donna from Florida, who called to wish us all a Happy New Year.  Sorry ladies!  Happy New Year to you also!

Lynda brought a wonderful layered jello that looked way to pretty to eat!  Thanks Lynda!  That deserves a big Nom Nom!  🙂

Also, a very big thanks to Kathy O for supplying the drinks and New Years Eve napkins!

After we toasted, because it was so cold, everyone said their goodbyes and headed out.  Some of us decided to head over to the BS location to check on Pigott & BST.  While we were there, we were only able to find Pigott who moved around the building a few times while we were there.  No sign of BST, who had been seen by MAK early this morning.  So all three current Rochester Falcons were seen today making it a very good first day of 2013.

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Lisa McK then took us to a spot in Highland Park where she had found a Screech Owl.  She has been keeping an eye on it and we were all able to see the little one this afternoon.  From the road, we had a pretty nice view of the little owl sleeping in a small hollow in a dead tree in the wooded area.

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By this time it was 3:00 pm and I had to leave, first dropping Brian off at his apartment.

It had been a wonderful day spent with my Watcher friends.  Very nice seeing everyone!

I’ll leave you with a few pictures from today’s Watchers Toast gathering.  Remember to click on picture you would like to see in a larger format.  Thanks!

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 1st, 2013 at 10:15 PM and is filed under Falcon Watch. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.