By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

At 60 degrees (F) 16 (C) and the sun shining I was able to leave for my watch in shirt sleeves for my watch this morning

I had a peaceful watch this morning made possible by our Veterans of war and for that I am grateful to those past and present on this Memorial Day.

As I arrived downtown at about 6:15am I received a tweet from cam watcher Campgee that Beauty was feeding the eyasses. I had not seen Dot.Ca (DC) on my way down the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) to the hole but right after I tweeted as such he showed up on the Mercury money bag (MMB).

I had gone up to Broad St. next to the Blue Cross Arena (BCA) for the best look at our DC daddy and soon after at 6:40am he stretched his wings and flew off out of view behind the Thomson Reuters building.

I love how that last pic looks like DC is flying out of Mercurys’ ear! I returned to the hole parking lot as DC flew from behind me with prey in his talons. He flew over by Widows Walk then made a u-turn and went to the northeast wing ledge of the Times Square building landing at the back of it.

Needless to say this was not a good spot to observe DC from so I went down to Exchange Blvd. in front of the BCA. From there I could see only his back side at first as he had a bite to eat. He eventually turned to cache the leftovers after he had his fill.

DC then walked out to the front of the ledge to do some preening and I returned to the hole for better viewing.

We stayed in our chosen spots for over an hour while DC did some preening, stretching and BYF (Big Yellow Feet) posing.

DC also did some snoozing after turning his back on me-I know this because his head did not move very much during this time.

The police were starting to block off roads for a parade and since DC had his back to me and seemed settled in I decided to call it a watch at 8:15am. Keep smiling everyone-freedom is ours thru the sacrifice of others and we must never forget it! 🙂

Click on the links below to view a couple videos from todays watch

http://youtu.be/7pAjmOLM84w

http://youtu.be/K73Ys3yKlpY

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

What an absolutely gorgeous day it turned out to be.  Near 70 degrees (F), blue sky and sunshine.  It doesn’t get much better than that.

My watch started at the BS location at about 1:30 pm.  I try to periodically check this location, just in case.  Today it was quiet there, with no falcons seen or heard.

I headed downtown and parked on the Broad St Bridge (BSB).  From there I could see a falcon inside the nest box.  Many thanks to Rfalconcam Watchers Annette and Donna for verifying that it was Dot.ca watching his four eyases.  While I was looking around checking for Beauty, I heard a car horn sound behind me.  It was fellow Falcon Watcher Dan.  We moved to the south side of the bridge and set up our chairs, settling in for an afternoon watch.  This was our view from the middle of the BSB.

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We could just make out Dot.ca’s head from our position.

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By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This mornings weather was a carbon copy of yesterday with a temperature of 54 (F) 12 (C)  blue skies with puffy fair weather clouds and sunshine

Be sure to click on my pics to see the full version

When I left home the eyasses were in the nest box by themselves. I arrived downtown about 6:05am and could see no falcons from the Broad St. Bridge (BSB). I went down to the hole parking lot and looked up to the nest box just as Beauty and Dot.Ca (DC) flew to it and then without me seeing C left and went up under the northwest wing of Times Square (TSB).

I drove across Exchange Blvd. to the parking lot next to TSB for a closer view but DC didn’t stay long, maybe a minute before flying northeast over the Wilder building and out of sight. 5 minutes later he showed up on the Mercury money bag (MMB) so I went to the BSB to observe him.

DC stayed there watching some birds below him until 6:40am, then he flew off  and half stooped across the river after a pigeon.

<Click it

DC pulled out of it by the RG&E substation at the corner of  South and Broad St. before flying back to the west side of the Genesee River landing on the east side of the Thomson Reuters building.

DC soon flew off,  flying right over me heading southwest.

I spent the next 40 minutes searching for our fast flyer DC and came across him on the base of Mercury eating. I parked on the BSB and got out to share space with him.

At 7:36am DC flew from Mercury with his leftovers toward the northwest.

At 7:55am while out looking for DC I received a tweet from Annette (thanks) saying Beauty left the nest box and returned with food. I beat feet back to the TSB area to find DC under the northeast wing. I watched him from the hole parking lot as he mostly looked around the area. He walked to one side then turned around and walked back to where he started. It’s like he does his best thinking when he’s strolling along a ledge.

At 8:09am DC flew off into a rocket fast stoop past the Blue Cross Arena down toward the river out of my field of vision and didn’t return.

I spent the next 20 minutes on the BSB looking around and got a split second look at the head of the  Beautyful one up in the nest box to end my watch with a smile at 8:30am. 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos and a photo album

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqjgg

http://youtu.be/y0wwSEJy7So

http://youtu.be/2ixyZ_aUbjg

http://youtu.be/pUPu6HNoquc

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

A very nice morning weather wise with wall to wall blue skies and sunshine and a temperature of 52 (F) 11 (C)

As I passed the Andrews St. bridge (ASB) on my way downtown via St. Paul St. I saw gates up blocking the bridge. Upon further investigation I found out there was a I love PINK 5k race to start on the ASB. As I turned onto the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) from South Ave. I caught a glimpse of a falcon on the base of Mercury with some feathers in the air so it had prey up there. When I pulled over to look it was gone. I then got confirmation from both Annette and Campgee that Beauty had left the nest box and returned at that time but she didn’t bring food. Thank you ladies!

I drove down State St. to check the Kodak Office tower and found the parking lot there was just about full of cars from 5k racers but no Dot.Ca (DC) on the the building. I went back to the Times Square (TSB) area and settled in the hole parking lot-soon I was completely blocked in as the police were blocking all my exits for the race.

Make sure to click on all my pics to see full version of them

<Main and State St. blocked

<Exchange and Broad St. blocked

No problem-I watched starlings, sparrows, pigeons and mourning doves while waiting for DC to show up. Suddenly, just before 8am the Beautyful one flew from the nest box heading south-I lost her quickly behind the Philippone building. A couple minutes later I heard the distinct sound of DC chirping-I looked around but didn’t see anything until Beauty flew from above me and over to the nest box with food.

This is the reason why I named this area surrounding Aqueduct St. the hole-because there are buildings completely surrounding you and it’s like being in a hole where you can only see so much. Anyway, I believe there was a food exchange between Beauty and DC just before she went to the nest box with her talons full of prey. Next, I spotted DC under the northeast wing of Times Square preening.

A minute later DC flew across and landed on the Wilder green strip where he started watching the bird activity in the area and unbeknownst to him a starling was above on the fire escape ladder.

At 8:21am DC flew off the Wilder building and went to the nest box while Beauty went to the base of Mercury to cache food. I thought it was DC on Mercury as I didn’t see him go to the nest box when Beauty flew out-Donna straightened me out on this sequence. Thanks! Then after Beauty returned to the eyasses DC showed up on the back lower roof  north side of the TSB at 8:25am.

DC stayed a minute or two then flew north and that would be the last time I saw him.

There were runners from the 5k race going down Main St. and Broad St. at this time so I took a minute to watch

<Aqueduct at Main St.  <Main and State St.

A few minutes later a train of cars were let thru from Main St. down Exchange to Broad St. so I made a break for it and followed behind, thus ending my watch at 8:35am. I couldn’t help but smile for having seen Beauty for a moment and DC for a few minutes as I was given my freedom to leave the hole! 🙂

Click on the links below to check out todays videos

http://youtu.be/hq4m7GvjlDA

http://youtu.be/6lipeJTS4A8

http://youtu.be/GtFLKDpOVXw

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This mornings weather was overcast with a temperature of 54 (F) 12 (C)

Beauty was feeding the clan when I left home for my watch. I didn’t see Dot.Ca (DC) until just before 7am when I spotted him from the Andrews St. bridge (ASB). He was on the 2nd ibeam northeast side of OCSR plucking feathers. I drove over to Bragdon St. by the Radisson Hotel for closer viewing.

A couple minutes later DC flew off and went to the nest box to make a food delivery as reported to me by Donna. Thank you!

By the time I got to the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) DC was on the heel of Mercury. I pulled over by the Blue Cross Arena for the best view of him.

He didn’t stay there for long either as he flew off and came to rest on the main cam briefly before going down to the nest box. Beauty flew to Mercury with the food gift, cached it on the base and went straight back to the nest box. DC came shooting out and flew to the Wilder green strip (WGS).

DC stayed there taking in his surroundings for 15-20 minutes then he spread his wings and took off flying southwest at 7:37am.

This would be the last time I saw DC  for the next hour and a half! As I was driving down State St. near Church St. I looked to my left at the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) and caught a glimpse of his whiteness take off from the top arm and fly south. I ended my watch at this time-9:15am. I can’t wait until Beauty starts letting DC spend time with their eyasses so I can see her out and about again and so DC can bond with them.

Shortly after I got home at Seneca Towers STJ, the banded female, 67/AR flew past my window on the 16th floor going south and whining very loudly. She then flew back thru heading up to the roof near the west balconies and I believe landed up there because I could still hear her whining. I noticed she was missing a couple wing feathers so she may be molting. Sharing my building with falcons-now that makes me smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/ChApaBvYgOw

http://youtu.be/rpWFWxIX_LM

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

All I could see was fog when I looked out my window from the 16th floor of Seneca Towers this morning. There was a thunder storm knocking on the door and the temperature was 60 (F) 16 (C). I waited for the storm to pass before leaving for my watch

The fog was not an issue downtown when I got there as I could see Dot.Ca (DC) on the top ibeam west corner of OCSR. I knew the Beautyful one was in the nest box with the eyasses because I checked the livestream before leaving. Donna reported that DC had just delivered breakfast. Thank you very much! I took this shot of him from State St. across from the Rochester Plaza Hotel.

DC left 10 minutes later around 7:10am when I wasn’t looking. While on my way to Times Square DC stopped at the nest box briefly then left as reported by Donna. Thanks again! I went to Aqueduct St. in the hole and found DC on the Wilder green strip (WGS).

DC was doing some preening while a starling was perched on the south corner of the building. Not a very smart thing to be doing with a Peregrine Falcon near by.

<Click it

At 7:33am DC spread his wings and flew off to the heel of Mercury.

Even though the sun wasn’t out it still created bad back lighting from the hole so up to the Broad St. bridge (BSB) I went to check out dashing DC.

<Click it

DC flew southeast at 7:43am and that’s the last I saw of him. While I was on the Andrews St. bridge looking for him around 8am I noticed the fog was trying to move in on downtown as the top of the Kodak Office tower was being gulped up by it.

I spent the next hour checking around the usual places and the not so usual places that he hangs out but had no luck finding DC. I drove over to the Brighton site as well to look for him. I ended up on the Court St. bridge marveling at the power of the Genesee River and ending my watch at 8:55am. Even when there’s no falcon to see, there’s always Mother Nature to deliver something else to make me smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/ZdKWxOMgOQ4

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a bit cloudy when I started my watch with a temperature of 57 (F) 14 (C)

I forgot to check the livestream before leaving this morning but thankfully when I got downtown at 6:30am I got a report from Donna telling me that Dot.Ca (DC) had delivered food and Beauty was feeding the family. As I pulled into the parking lot down in the hole I spotted just the head of DC peeking up from the northwest corner of Widows Walk. I drove to Fitzhugh St. for closer viewing but he was gone when I arrived. Upon returning to the hole I saw DC fly overhead and pass above the Thomson Reuters building out of sight.

I wouldn’t see DC for the next hour until he showed up on the Wilder green strip (WGS) for a second then he flew across to Widows Walk long enough to touch down and leave again. This time DC flew to the nest box chirping-all I could see was wings flap a couple times and then he flew out flying northeast.

At this time Donna tweeted that DC had tried feeding the eyasses and even Beauty a foot-needless to say nobody was interested! lol A few minutes later while parked on the Andrews St. bridge I saw DC on the top ibeam west corner of OCSR. I went to State St. just in time for DC to fly off seconds later heading west.

After looking for DC I went to the hole to see if he would show up and while I was there I had a woman stop and ask if the babies were flying. Well, I set her straight on when that would occur among other things and gave her a Rfalconcam business card. She was amazed at how many cameras there are as I pointed to them and she said she was going to look on the livestream as soon as she got to work. I set out to resume my search for the busy one, DC  whom I found on the northeast corner of the Kodak Office launchpad from the Andrews St. bridge.  His whiteness stuck out like a sore thumb so then I drove down to State St. to observe him.

This is one of DCs’ favorite spots for hunting and there was no question that’s what he was there for as he kept looking down most likely waiting for a pigeon to fly out from the building.

DC started picking at his BYF (big yellow foot) and then stretched his wings and flew off at 8:54am going into a stoop down toward the High Falls gorge.

I quickly lost sight of DC behind buildings and when he didn’t return to Kodak I ended my watch at 9am. I wasn’t done seeing falcons tho, for as I was making my way down Seth Green Dr. I spotted a falcon on the northwest corner perched on the railing of Seneca (ST) Towers. I pulled over just before the ST property begins where there’s a clearing thru the trees to view that particular corner of the building. Turned out to be  STJ, the 1 year old female from Pennsylvania with band ID  67/AR black over green.

She was looking around and seemed to be relaxing as I continued  to my apartment on the 16th floor smiling all the way! 🙂

Click on the links below to see todays videos

http://youtu.be/YskC-ClYbsA

http://youtu.be/CWCIARQ8a5c

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It started out overcast but the sun made its way thru to make for pleasant conditions and a temperature of 46 (F) 8 (C)

Beauty was feeding the eyasses when I left for downtown and the Seneca Towers female flew past my window wailing at something. I had a little trouble finding  Dot.Ca (DC) as he was in the grid work above the southeast wing ledge of the Times Square building (TSB). As soon as I stopped in the hole parking lot he took off and went to the nest box. Beauty flew to the Mercury money bag (MMB)-I went to the Broad St. bridge (BSB) to lose the back lighting from the sun.

It was great to see Beauty out and about since she has been spending most of her time in the nest box with her babies since they hatched. It was short lived  as she flew back to the nest box after a few minutes and DC went to the Wilder green strip (WGS) and I went to Exchange Blvd. across from TSB to watch him just before 7am.

DC did some preening on his left wing feathers and took a little snooze. Watched DC for the better part of an hour and missed him leave as I was talking to a girl named Cara about our falcons-gave her an rfalconcam  business card and told her to check out the eyasses on livestream. She was VERY excited about that! I next located DC on the top ibeam northeast side of OCSR from the Andrews St. bridge at 8:14am and he was plucking feathers.

I decided to go to Bragdon St. for closer viewing  but he was gone when I arrived there, so I went to the hole thinking he brought his food to Beauty for a feeding. I found him with his gift on the lower back roof of TSB and he was lined up perfect with the moon behind him.

At 8:25am DC flew off to the deck by the main cam chirping to announce his arrival, with his prey which looked to be a Mourning Dove.

DC stood there for a few moments but Beauty didn’t come out for his food gift. She had fed the eyasses not too long ago so it was too soon for another one. DC then took his meal across to the Wilder green strip (WGS) and started picking at it.

DC stopped nibbling on his prey and flew off 20 minutes later to the lower roof of the TSB and cached it.

A couple Turkey Vultures came flying by above DC on Times Square and he flew off after them-chasing them out of the immediate area quickly. I found him on the top ibeam by the south corner of OCSR and that’s where I left him thus ending my watch at 9:10am. There are 4 new born Peregrine Falcons in downtown Rochester-certainly reason to smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to see more pics and videos from todays watch

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqjgC

http://youtu.be/Wys6kPCrQ8s

http://youtu.be/Nu26a9msRKo

http://youtu.be/kFcBB06t42E

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Very early this morning, our 4th eyas hatched!

I didn’t get out until 5:30 pm.  Started at the BS location.  I hadn’t been there in so long, I really wanted to check things out.  All was quiet there.  No falcons seen.

While I was there, on-line falcon watcher Ei tweeted that both Beauty and Dot.ca left the next box and the eyases were alone.  I headed downtown and met fellow watcher Kathy O there.  By then Ei had reported that both Beauty and DC had returned.  While Beauty was in the nest box with the 4 eyases, Dot.ca was on the green strip on the Wilder Bldg just across the street.  He had his head tucked under his wing and was sleeping.

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Dot.ca took off and while we were looking around for him, we noticed that there were quite a few Turkey Vultures floating over the city. They are such graceful fliers.

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While we were checking out the Turkey Vultures, Dot.ca had returned from a successful hunt and was eating his dinner on the base of the Mercury statue.

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During this time, while hunting to feed his young, it is important that he eats to keep his strength up to hunt.  After eating his fill, he took off and took what remained of his meal up to the nest box platform.

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While Dot.ca was up on the platform, we watched what was happening at the nest box on Kathy’s phone.  There was a lot of vocalization from Beauty, but she did not come out to take the offered food.  There had been a feeding about an hour before this, so maybe it wasn’t time to feed the eyases yet.  Dot.ca remained on the platform with the food until about five Crows flew over the Times Square bldg.  The Crows circled overhead and came closer and closer to the building until Dot.ca took off and chased the Crows away.  While he was gone, Beauty came out onto the nest box platform and grabbed the food that Dot.ca had left.  She took it into the nest box to feed the eyases.  On-line Rfalconcam watcher NCA reported that Beauty had been kakking (alarm vocalization) off and on.  This was probably due to the Crows.

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During the time Beauty was feeding the eyases, Dot.ca flew back and forth overhead keeping the airspace clear around the Times Square bldg.

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After feeding the eyases, Beauty took what was left and cached it on a nearby building.

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While Beauty was gone from the nest box, Dot.ca landed just above the nest box to keep guard over the eyases.

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When Kathy O and I left at 8″00 pm, Beauty was back in the nest box and Dot.ca was on guard above on the south east Times Square bldg wing ledge.

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I’ll leave you with my favorite picture captured by the Rfalconcam Main Camera today.  Dot.ca on guard while Beauty feeds the four eyases behind him.  What a beautiful picture!  Goodnight!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was 45 (F) 7 (C) with mostly cloudy skies to start my watch this morning

I’m happy to report that before I left home I checked the livestream to find out the 4th egg hatched during the night and Beauty has her first full clutch! An added bonus was when a Seneca Towers falcon flew by my window as I headed out the door. When I arrived on the Broad St. Bridge I could see Dot.Ca (DC) on the base of Mercury. I drove down to the hole and as I stopped the car he flew to the deck with a food delivery at 6:33am.

Beauty came right out, grabbed the goods and went into the nest box to feed their 4 eyasses. I missed where DC flew off to and set out to find him.

I wouldn’t find DC until around 7:30am when I spotted him on the Wilder green strip from the hole.  I parked on Exchange Blvd. in front of the Philipone building since that was the best angle on the front of him

DC gave a yawn and then started napping

DC seemed quite sleepy and I thought he better catch sleep when he can because he’s going to be very busy for the next couple months feeding and teaching his kids about being a Peregrine Falcon. He was being very cute  tipping his head to and fro.

And then it was time for more sleep

DC preened a little bit and for a parting shot he pooped then went back to sleep

That’s all she wrote, I ended my watch at 8:15am as DC was sleeping and I had stuff to do. No matter how short a time I spend with our Rochester Peregrine Falcons I drive away smiling! 🙂

Click on the link below to view DC on Wilder

http://youtu.be/bpH8RMgMjnA