By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Yes, the humidity has left us and the temperature has gone down. 54 (F) 12 (C) to start the day with sunshine and breezy conditions

Happy Flag Day!  SALUTE!

I spotted Beauty on the main cam as I drove across the Broad St. bridge (BSB) around 6:30am and  after I stopped my car in the hole parking lot she flew off heading southeast.

Click my pics to see full version

The Beautyful one flew out to chase Dot.Ca (DC) back to the deck where she grabbed the food he had brought with him and took it to the nest box to feed their family of 4-then he flies off. This is their regular morning ritual.

This time DC flew to the 2nd ibeam south corner of OCSR-sometimes he goes to the statue of Mercury. He was still looking to catch more food and at 7:05am he stooped off OCSR and ended up on cam 1 empty taloned.

DC was very alert turning his head very quickly and very often-still in hunt mode.

I had to quit early today at 7:50am so, that’s all she wrote for this short but sweet morning watch in which I saw both downtown adult Rochester Peregrine Falcons doing their thing which includes making me smile! 🙂

Click on the link below to view my one and only video today
http://youtu.be/j79KxJMFaG0

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was dark, humid and overcast with a temperature of 68 (F) 20 (C) during my watch today

I spotted Dan as I turned onto the Broad St. Bridge sitting  in his chair with an umbrella at his side all ready for the rain that was in the area. I pulled over, got my chair and joined him. He promptly gave me the scoop-Beauty was in the nest and Dot.Ca (DC) was on the Mercury money bag (MMB). He said there had been a food exchange over the hole earlier.

At 6:44am Beauty left the nest box and flew to the top ibeam west corner of OCSR. DC remained on Mercury and I could see an eyas at the front of the nest box. Light rain started falling and Dan got out his umbrella to cover my camera as we huddled on the bridge.

Soon after DC flew south until he became a speck in the air and vanished. Dan left and I went down to the hole to watch Beauty. DC appeared on the top ibeam near the south corner and Beauty was gone. DC looked like he had food but I believe he was actually picking tidbits off his talons for Annette (thanks) tweeted that Beauty had brought food to the nest box and was feeding the kids. So I had missed the food transfer at 7:14am. I decided to go over to the Radisson Hotel near Main St. where I could see DC on OCSR closer and could also see the nest box on Times Square where Beauty was feeding the eyasses.

Around 7:20am DC flew east crossing the river only to return and come top rest on the top ibeam south corner.

Next time I looked toward Times Square around 7:45am Beauty was up on the column above the nest box, so back to the hole I went to share space with her. She slept a little and preened a little and slept a little and, well… you get the picture.

Meanwhile, DC was still on OCSR probably dozing off too! Beauty was cracking me up as she was looking around with her eyelids shut-she did a few poses and a real good rouse (shaking her feathers).

This made me smile as I ended my watch at 8am and left a peaceful falcon scene! 🙂

Click on the links below to watch todays videos

http://youtu.be/AcQh6TXC_oo

http://youtu.be/VITNS3jn9HI

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

A beautiful 70ish degree (F) evening with a nice breeze.  Darker clouds to the west, but it never rained during my 6:30 to 8:30 pm watch.

When I arrived downtown, I had just missed Larry O and Brian and the Broad St Bridge was lined with parked cars.  Lauryn Hill was playing at the Blue Cross Arena aka Rochester War Memorial.  I looked for a spot to park, but could not find one.  No watchers were in sight, so I headed down to Aqueduct St aka “the hole”.  Viewing from there is not the best.  It was good for viewing the Times Square Bldg and surrounding buildings, but once the falcon flies over and past those buildings, you lose sight of it.  That’s what happened today.

I was getting a good look at Dot.ca up on the northeast wing ledge, when Kathy O pulled in behind me.

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Just after Kathy arrived, Beauty flew over us low, heading towards the Times Square Bldg.  She landed on the front (east) side of the building and landed on a narrow ledge below nest box level.

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Beauty soon took off and flew up to the nest box.  Dot.ca remained on the north east wing ledge.

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At about 7:05 pm, first Dot.ca took off heading east fast.  Beauty took off and followed him.  We waited for him to return, but they didn’t.  They had to be out on a hunt, but still close enough to keep an eye on the nest box.  This is one of the drawbacks of watching from the hole (Aqueduct St).  Kathy and I waited for close to an hour and Beauty and Dot.ca did not return to the Times Square Bldg.  At 8:00 pm, Kathy headed home and I decided to drive around the city to see if I could find them.  On my way back down Broad St, I heard a familiar voice yell out my name.  It was Dan.  He had found a place to park and was watching from his favorite spot on the south side of the Broad St. Bridge.  I was able to find a parking spot further down.  When I was walking towards where Dan was sitting I saw that there was a falcon on the northwest corner of the library.  It was Beauty and according to Dan she had been there for close to an hour, buzzing the ducks and flying over the river.  This is where we had seen her feeding Orion before he left.

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About 5 minutes after I joined Dan, Dot.ca flew in from the south and he was carrying prey.  He went straight for the nest box.  Beauty took off and landed on the nest box platform right behind Dot.ca.

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Beauty grabbed the food from Dot.ca and took off with it.  Dot.ca also took off and headed towards the Mercury statue landing on the top.  Beauty circled around and flew directly into the nest box to feed the eyases.

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When Dan and I left at 8:35 pm, Beauty was still in the nest box and Dot.ca was still on Mercury.  Here is a picture showing where Beauty was located on the library.  Oh, and that’s Dan!  lol

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Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This mornings weather was pretty much a carbon copy of yesterday-overcast,humid,light rain on and off and a warm 69 (F) 21 (C)

Initially, I didn’t see a falcon as I started my watch on the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) so I took a ride down to the Andrews St. bridge (ASB) to check out the north end of  downtown. I just happened to be looking at Mercury with my binoculars when a falcon appeared from the east and flew to the south side of OCSR. I went straight away to the hole to find Dot.Ca (DC) on the 2nd ibeam southeast side of OCSR at 6:39am.

DC was in hunt mode and stooped down toward the river out of my field of vision and I didn’t see him come back up so I went up to the BSB for a look around. From there I could see the Beautyful one perched in front of the nest box but DC was nowhere in the vicinity that I could see.

So I went for a ride down State St. for a look and I found big daddy DC on the 2nd ibeam north corner of OCSR with his back to me so I drove over to the Radisson Hotel by Main St. to watch. DC was definitely looking for a meal to fly under his radar and I could see Beauty perched out in front of the nest box from my location as well.

DC flew off to the northwest out of site at 7:09am and when he didn’t return I left to go back to the hole-as I arrived I saw Beauty fly out and back to land on cam 1.

Little did I know that DC had snuck in a minute or so later and landed under the northeast wing directly above Beauty as I just happened to look up and spot him there.

For the next half hour or so Beauty posed for me on cam 1 and just before she pooped it looked like she was yelling look out below!

Beauty left cam 1 when I was watching DC-Donna let me know that Beauty had gone down to the nest box. Thanks D-you’re always a big help to me. Not to be out done by his lovely mate, big daddy DC also did some posing as well.

With all things peaceful, I ended my watch at 8:20am-how can I not smile after sharing space with our beloved downtown Rochester Peregrine Falcons! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/h-KFQPzz7Vg

http://youtu.be/S30wyxgryR0

http://youtu.be/TQZ1CaU-3gs

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

When I started my watch at 6:45 pm, it was near 80 degrees, when I ended it at 8:00 pm, it had dropped to 71 degrees (F).

Kathy O and Dan were on the Broad St Bridge when I arrived.  Dark storm clouds were gathering all around us, but for the moment all was calm.  Both Beauty and Dot.ca were on the top IBeam of the OCSR.  Beauty on the west end and Dot.ca on the south corner.  We could catch glimpses of the eyases at the nest box.

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It started to thunder and lightning lit up the northern sky.  Larry O and Harold joined us as the sky grew darker and darker.

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When the thunder and lightning increased, Beauty and Dot.ca both flew to the Times Square Bldg.  Dot.ca on the northeast wing ledge and Beauty on Camera #1 aka pan cam.

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Beauty flew to the heal on the Mercury statue and we did not see Dot.ca take off.

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It started to lightly rain, so I had to cover up my camera.  Larry and Harold headed out and soon after that Kathy left.  It stopped raining, so Dan and I set up our chairs to continue the watch.

Beauty moved around a bit, first to the ledge directly above the nest box on the Times Square Bldg and then out to the jail communication tower.

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Dan and I were explaining about the falcons to a nice gentleman from Houston, TX, when the sky opened up on us.  We all ran for our cars.  By the time I got into mine, I was soaked!

Dan decided to call it a night, so I turned my car around and parked on the north side of the bridge facing west.  This way I would have a good view of the Times Square Bldg and Beauty on the jail tower.  The rain didn’t last long and some sun tried to break through the clouds.  I went down to Aqueduct St (aka “the hole”) hoping to find Dot.ca, but I didn’t.  By the time I went back up to the Broad St Bridge, Beauty was gone from the jail comm tower.  I checked the nest box and was pretty sure she was up there with an eyas at her side.  I tweeted out that I thought Beauty might be up there and received texts back from Kris G and Kathy O saying that yes, she was in the nest box on the perch.  Thanks Kris and Kathy!

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At a little after 8:00 pm, I ended my watch and headed home.  All was quiet and peaceful downtown.

On my way home, I made a quick stop at Maplewood Park and looked across the Genesee River at Seneca Towers.  I could see a falcon on an antenna on the north end of the roof.  That was a very nice way to end my day. Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a very humid morning, overcast with a temperature of 67 (F) 20 (C)-it rained lightly on and off throughout my watch

I had to go looking for our beloved falcons this morning-it was just about 7am when I found one on the east side. From Woodbury St. near the Geva Theater I spotted Beauty on the southwest corner of HSBC and she had food. I drove over to Court St. for a closer view but she left before I could get there. While on my way to the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) I got a tweet from Annette saying Beauty was feeding the eyasses. Thanks!

Around 7:10am I saw Dot.Ca (DC) fly in from the north with food and land on the deck by the main cam so I went down to the hole. DC stood there most likely waiting for Beauty to come out of the nest box and grab the food but after a couple minutes he took off with his small package in tow taking it to the base of Mercury and started eating.

At 7:24am Beauty flew over to join DC bringing a leftover wing with her-they had a bit of a conversation and 5 minutes later at 7:29am DC flew off to the deck with what was left of his prey followed by Beauty who then took the chunk of food from him and went into the nest to feed the kids.

<Click it>

<Click it>

DC flew northeast and when I looked around I spotted who I thought was DC on the top ibeam west corner of OCSR but it turned out to be Beauty.

At 7:43am DC came flying past Beauty from the north heading to the Times Square building and she took off right behind him. Beauty went in the nest box and DC flew over to the Mercury money bag.

While I was watching DC, Beauty-as reported by Annette, went up to cam 1. When I got the tweet at 8:01am I looked, but Beauty was gone already. As I watched DC on Mercury from Broad St. next to the Blue Cross Arena I glanced over at OCSR and could just barely make out the head of Beauty on the top ibeam north side of the west corner.

I left them at 8:30am as they had the nest box and this part of their territory well guarded. Keep smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/1h-DOo1Q8uk

http://youtu.be/h22wruYDCFg

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Remember this day as it started out calm, warm and sunny with a temp of 59 (F) 16 (C)

Little did we know that this would be banding day for the Rochester Peregrine Falcon chicks! I started my watch in the hole watching Beauty and Dot.Ca (DC) on the top ibeam of OCSR-they chose opposite corners with the Beautyful one on the west corner and DC on the south corner.

They hung out in these spots for a while until DC pooped and  took off and when I looked Beauty had left as well.

Having trouble with site so I’ll just narrate and provide a link for pic and videos at the end of this report.

Any way, DC went to the northeast wing ring on the Times Square building (TSB) and I don’t know where Beauty went as I was watching DC at the time of departure. DC flew northeast at about 7:24am only to return a minute later coming to rest on the northwest wing ring. I stepped out to get some coffee and while I was gone chatting up our falcons and website Annette reported That a falcon who she thought might be Beauty was on the main cam then went to cam 1 and saw 1 eyas flee and return to the nest box from the front porch. Thank you Annette!

DC showed up on cam 1 around 8:42am and 10 minutes later flew off to the northwest. Right around this time I was wondering where Beauty was hiding. At the 9 o’clock hour to my surprise I spotted Jenny Landry (DEC) walking into the Times Square building-I knew that meant the banding of the eyasses was going to be real soon. I set out to look for Beauty and DC but quite frankly my heart wasn’t in it. I ended my watch at about 9:09am and hung around to observe our Peregrine Falcon adults as they stressed over people being at their nest box invading their territory and getting too close to their family of 4. I took no pics or videos of the banding events from the ground- I just took it all in and when it was over I left downtown.

I got some calls and messages from people who were afraid that something was wrong with one of the eyasses as it was on its back and not moving. I tweeted it out to bring it to the attention of the banding group who were still in the Times Square building. They were monitoring the situation as I called June Summers, president of the Genesee Valley Audubon Society (GVAS). She assured me that they were watching and that the eyas had a very full crop which made it very sluggish when they took it from the nest and that they were confident all would be ok, which it was as the eyas got right up when Beauty came to the nest box. Phew! A good reason to smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view my photo album and videos from this mornings watch

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqjkw

http://youtu.be/aFbBEnUavBA

http://youtu.be/i61ojsRhvxo

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Sun and blue skies ruled once again this morning with a temperature of  58 (F) 15 (C)

I spotted the white spot on the top ibeam south corner of OCSR as soon as it came into view  from my turn onto the Broad St. bridge (BSB) from South Ave. I knew it was Dot.Ca (DC) as I drove down to the hole.

I then drove down to Graves St. next to Aqueduct Park for a closer view of  daddy DC after he flew northeast and returned to the same spot.

At 6:46am something caught his eye and he quickly spread his wings, took off and went into a stoop to the northwest along the southwest side of OCSR and out of sight.

I went back up to the hole to see DC return a minute later with a fresh catch taking it to the top ibeam southwest side of OCSR and started plucking feathers. Soon after that Beauty showed up on the south corner to supervise. She was whining to him and after a few minutes he flew off to the Times Square building with Beauty following right behind.

<DC     Beauty> 

Click it to see Beauty and DC  <Beauty in hot pursuit

DC landed on the deck and Beauty promptly landed and took his small package into the nest box to feed their little darlin’s at 6:59am. DC flew over to the west corner top ibeam of OCSR .

DC had a feather or two stuck to his beak. Beauty flew up to cam 1 at 7:13am and promptly started napping while DC hung out on OCSR. Around this time Annette sent out word that an eyas was out of the nest box-Beauty didn’t seem too concerned as she continued napping with her back to the nest box area. She did look over her shoulder to check at times.

DC left OCSR around 7:30am or so and after a trip to the north to look for him I returned to the hole where I found him on the Wilder green strip with his back to me. He turned his head every now and again so I could have a look at his handsomeness!

I called it a watch with a smile at 8am as our dynamic downtown duo were relaxing in the morning sun! 🙂

Click on the pics below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/x8VvwP3XFkw

http://youtu.be/oBnB4V9HEvE

http://youtu.be/9iBxa9tFWZw

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK
What a gorgeous morning for a watch with a temperature of 57 (F) 14 (C) and blue sun shiny skies

As I rounded the corner from South Ave. to the Broad St. bridge (BSB) I spotted a falcon watcher on the south side of the bridge sitting in his lawn chair. It was Dan and he had his binoculars up to his face watching Dot.Ca (DC) on the top ibeam south corner of OCSR. As I made a u-turn to pull up behind his car I got that big beautiful smile of his-a great way to start my watch! Make sure to click on my pics to see larger version

At 6:30am DC flew over to the heel of Mercury and seconds later Beauty appeared out of nowhere and knocked him off taking his place while he went over to cam 1.

At about 6:50am Beauty flew east crossing the river going behind the Chase building and continuing on past Bausch & Lomb, circling above Xerox then flying over Midtown and vanishing on the east side. Meanwhile DC remained on cam 1 watching over his offspring. I had tweeted this but for some reason it didn’t get sent. Around 7am DC flew up to the northeast wing ledge and soon after stooped down toward the Wilder building out of view. A minute later I noticed DC on the top ibeam south corner of OCSR.

At 7:15am Dan left and I went for a ride to look for Beauty-as I was coming up on the BSB from the east side I saw a falcon fly to the base of Mercury from the OCSR building where I had left DC. I reported that it was DC but it was actually Beauty as I could plainly see when I was checking my pics for this report. She was catching her breath before pulling feathers out of a fresh kill and then she  had a few bites as I observed her from the hole.

At 7:41am the Beautyful one flew off Mercury with her package and took it over to the Times Square building (TSB) lower back roof north side after DC came off cam 1 met her over the Philipone building then flew back to cam 1. At the time I thought there was a food exchange but they faked me out!

Beauty had a few bites then cached the remains and flew around to knock DC off cam 1. Larry was up on the BSB with Harold at this time reporting what he could see from there. DC flew to the Mercury money bag (NNB) and Beauty flew down to the nest box. I then went up to the BSB to join Larry.

It quieted down after that so I checked out the Genesee River-the water level is down to where shore birds can enjoy it again. The only birds down there were ducks at the time-hopefully we’ll start seeing herons again soon.

Larry and I decided to head out as all was calm in the Rochester Peregrine Falcon world-we were both smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to see more pics and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqjkS

http://youtu.be/CWtBFam6PQM

http://youtu.be/9L72HDTKZYo

http://youtu.be/MtXUQS1-rGc

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

The sun was shining bright under blue skies and a temperature of 49 (F) 9 (C)

As I turned onto the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) from South Ave. I spotted movement on the green base of Mercury. I pulled over and got out of the car to see that it was Dot.Ca (DC) eating and plucking a feather here and there.

At 6:28am DC flew over to the Times Square building (TSB) landing on the deck with a nice red chunk of goodness for his family-he went promptly into the nest box to feed them.

I went down to the hole parking lot to watch after taking a look around for Beauty. At some point DC snuck out the nest box because at 6:45am I noticed him under the northwest wing of TSB with his back to me.

I went across the street to the parking lot next to the TSB for a better angle and 5 minutes later Beauty flew in from the northeast and landed on cam 1. I returned to the hole as I couldn’t see anything but her back as well.

At 6:58am the Beautyful one flew northeast only to return half a minute later and DC was gone from the northwest wing ledge.

Both Campgee and Larry reported an eyas was out on the platform-thanks! Now the nervous watching starts for all of us as the kids start venturing out of the nest box and give us fits when they get close to the edge! This was sleepy time for Beauty and as I turned to look at Mercury I discovered DC up on the money bag.

They seemed to be settled in preening, napping and watching over their territory. The police started to block off roads for a Fast and Furriness 5&10K run in town this morning so I decided to end my watch early at 7:30am so as not to get blocked in.

Joyce was asked to go to Buffalo and try to ID a couple falcons there-she asked if I would join her, so hence the early departure this morning. I left smiling as usual after seeing both of our downtown Peregrine Falcons! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/lUTsVfuaooU

http://youtu.be/5DtuLuYHtpY