A Very Windy Sunday Falcon Watch – 1/20/13 – Falcons Seen: Beauty & Pigott
By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.
The winds of change were really whipping today. They were ushering in very cold air into the Rochester area that would remain with us for awhile. Brrrrrr!
This is the flag on top of the Powers Bldg. Click on it to see the whole picture.
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Today I didn’t start my falcon watch until 11:00 am. I started out at KP where I saw no falcons. But I did see two Red-tail Hawks soaring above me. They weren’t going to let a little bit of wind stop them. I’m pretty sure that this is the local pair that nest near KP and have raised young in the past. Looks like they would be there again this year. Yes! Love watching the young Red-tails in the spring and summer.
My next stop was downtown Rochester where I found Beauty on the top IBeam on the OCSR, SE side. Her head was in constant motion. At 11:50 am, she stooped off and flew low over the river heading south. I was down on Aqueduct St, so I didn’t see where she went. From the Broad St Bridge, I could see lots and lots of panicked pigeons flying between me and the Cornhill area. They were everywhere, but I couldn’t find Beauty in that mass of feathered frenzy. It wasn’t long before Beauty returned to the top Ibeam of OCSR, very close to where she was before she went off on a hunt. I remained on the Broad St Bridge for awhile before heading out to the BS location where Kathy O was reporting from. She had no falcons there, but there were three deer keeping her entertained. The momma and two young ones that we have seen hanging out there.
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I drove around the building at the BS location and could not find Kathy, but I did find Pigott on the tree ledge on the east side and she had food. Couldn’t tell if it was a fresh kill or if she had retrieved cached prey. Kathy joined me. She had been in the back area near the woods where the deer were hanging out and grazing.
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Pigott did some flying, enjoying the high winds. She returned to the tree ledge where she was buffeted by the winds, causing her to lose her balance now and then. During the time Kathy and I were there, BST did not make an appearance. We were there from 12:30 til 2:40 pm.
On our way home, we both checked the downtown area but had no luck finding Beauty. The temps were dropping and it was getting really cold. It was time to head home to warm up!
I’ll leave you with a picture of the Gannett building which is home to Rochester’s newspaper the Democrat & Chronicle. It was just announced that this building was being put up for sale. It is located just south of the Times Square Bldg. where the nest box is located. Just another sign that things are changing and not always for the best.
REMEMBER TO CLICK ON ANY PICTURES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN A LARGER VERSION. THANKS!
