By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Rochester Weather:  Here we go again.  Rochester is under a Winter Storm Warning From Tuesday Night through Wednesday Evening.  Snow and cold coming our way.  Brrrrr!

As usual, my first stop after getting out of work was Kodak Park.  I was unable to find a Peregrine Falcon, but I did find a smaller falcon, a Kestrel.  Love these gorgeous little birds!

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At the BS location, I found Pigott on a west facing window on the southeast extension where it meets the south side of the building.  She was looking around and preening.  I circled  the building a couple of times, but could not find Dot.ca.

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Downtown, I found Beauty up inside the elevator shaft of the OCSR on the south ledge.  Seems to be her spot at the time I make my way downtown in the late afternoon.  I drove around the downtown area a couple times looking for Dot.ca or any other falcons, but could not find him.

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As I type this, the temperature has dropped to 14 degrees (F).  The sunset at 5:24 p.m.

I drove home via my lake route.  No sign of Billy, but the views over the lake and the sunset at Russell Station and Buck Pond were absolutely gorgeous.  I’ll leave you with some pictures I took along the way.  Enjoy!  Goodnight everyone!

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<–From Russell Station

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<– At Buck Pond

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

The weather this morning was overcast with snow flakes in the air and a temperature of 22 (F) -6 (C)

I was a bit unsettled when I spotted a falcon on the southeast corner of  Xerox that I didn’t recognize around 7:20am. The last time I saw a PEFA on that corner was during the epic battle Beauty and an unidentified female had for 2 days back in the fall. I first saw it from Woodbury St.-too far away to have a good look I went over to Chestnut St. by Martin Luther King park.

This falcon did not look like any of our Rochester falcons so I drove over to Broad St. right behind Xerox to get even closer. Judging by the one good shot of the malar stripe area that I got I was positive it was a stray falcon.

Around 7:45am I received a tweet from Shaky that he thought he had Beauty on the southwest corner of the Wilder building. I left to check it out and had quite a time finding a good place to view from as she had her back facing out and she was in off the edge. The best spot ended up being on the Broad St. Bridge by Thomson Reuters.

I left the Beautyful one to check on the mystery falcon but it was gone when I returned to the east side so I went back to Beauty. She finished eating and flew off around 8:25am-I went north looking for her and from the Andrews St. bridge i spotted her under the southeast wing of the Times Square building (TSB).

I found a spot by the Democrat & Chronicle on Broad St. that gave the best view of  Beauty as she had her back facing out again.

Click on my pics to see the full version

I decided to check the Brighton Site (BS) and as I was stopped at the traffic light below TSB I snapped off a shot of Beauty above me before I left.

Arriving at BS at 9:10am I found Pigott on the west end of the south side vent. It was obvious she’d had a good meal for her crop was sticking way out!

I had trouble seeing her head over that full crop at times. lol Miss Pigott did some preening and watched a Blue Jay down below in a tree.

I left to return to downtown wondering if the mystery falcon was still around. I found Beauty to be in the same spot I left her on TSB.

Since the Broad St. Bridge parking was all full from the boat show that’s at the Rochester Convention Center I went over to the Court St. bridge. While there, I noticed a falcon flying up high in the southern sky-it never came toward downtown before disappearing in the dark gray clouds.

I never saw that falcon again as I made a trip around our fair city looking for Dot.Ca who was a no show this morning. I ended my watch at 10:15am smiling for the fact that both of our Rochester female Falcons had eaten and all seemed to be quiet! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/dimTq7Y3s_I

http://youtu.be/Nu3KkOq_ogI

http://youtu.be/sZpy4P16Et0

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Temps around 30 (F) degrees and overcast.  I spent a couple hours with Pigott and Dot.ca out at the BS location.  When I went downtown, I could not find Beauty.

Dot.ca and Pigott were quite active, flying around the building and landing on different spots.  They both went after some Crows that flew too close.

Here are a bunch of pictures from my late morning, early afternoon watch.  Enjoy and Goodnight!

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By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Another overcast,dark day in the flower city with a starting temperature of 32 (F) 0 (C)

It was a singular morning watch as Beauty was the only Rochester Peregrine Falcon I saw today. As I was by the Radisson Hotel at Main St. checking up in the elevator shaft of the OCSR building I spotted the Beautyful one on the south corner top ibeam. While I was in transit to the hole (Aqueduct St.) to see her better she flew off to the money bag hand of Mercury (MMB).

Click on my pics to see full version

She did some preening in between keeping a watchful eye on her territory. Notice how her chest feathers get darker as it gets lighter out.

Around 7:55am Beauty prepared for take off and flew northwest.

<Click it

As I made my way forward toward Exchange Blvd. from the hole I noticed Beauty perched under the southeast wing of the Times Square building. Her back was facing out so I went down in front of the Blue Cross Arena to see her from the side.

It was at this time I decided to go check the Brighton site. Arriving there about 8:30am I could find no falcons. I waited around 10 minutes and when nobody showed up I left to check downtown once more. I could find nothing there either and so I ended my watch at 9am. Having seen just Beauty was good for a smile but I always like to see them all so I know they’re ok. 🙂

One link below to check out

http://youtu.be/JnlL658JY2M

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Another afternoon watch for me.  My watch started at Kodak Park, where I had no luck finding the KP Falcon.  But I did find a beautiful juvenile Red-tail Hawk.  It was raining, sleeting and snowing all at once with temps in the 30’s (F).  It was the first day of February and the sun set at 5:21 pm.

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After finding no falcons at KP, I headed over to the BS location.  Both Pigott and Dot.ca were there on the west end of the building.  It started snowing harder and then it changed over to an icy rain.

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<– Pigott at BS

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<– Dot.ca at BS

Dot.ca took off and flew east.  Pigott followed and then flew around to the north side of the building, landing on the northwest corner of the northwest extension.  Dot.ca did not return.  It was time to head downtown.

My timing was bad.  There was an event at the Blue Cross Arena (aka the Rochester War Memorial) letting out and there was a lot of traffic around the area.  The Harlem Globetrotters are in town.

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I slowly made my way around the downtown area.  You’ll never guess where I found Beauty.  Yep, you guessed it!  She was up inside the OCSR elevator shaft on the south ledge.  lol

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I ended my watch after seeing all three resident Rochester Falcons.  As I usually do, I drove down to the lake and looked for Billy.  Always hoping for a glimpse of her.  I had no luck finding her today.

I’ll leave you with a picture of the Charlotte Lighthouse.  Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This mornings starting temperature was 28 (F) -2 (C) with dark  overcast skies

Ive been having trouble finding Beauty first thing in the morning the last few days and today was no different-so after an hour with no success I drove over to the Brighton site (BS). Arriving around 8:30am I didn’t find a falcon there either, at first. I drove around the building  with no sightings and as I sat in the east side parking lot I saw a large bird flying over in the trees of Highland Park. When it landed in a tree I drove over to have a look/see. I didn’t find it but when I got back to BS a few minutes later there was a falcon on the south side vent plucking feathers. It was Dot.Ca (DC) and he was pulling out feathers in large amounts.

He got to the meat of the matter and ate it pretty fast -spending only about 20 minutes on it.

Larry and his dog Harold came by and welcomed me back from my trip. As we were having a chat a few Blue Jays came thru and entertained us for a couple minutes.  DC flew off and around to the west side. Larry drove over to check and I followed behind to find DC was now on the northwest corner of the northwest extension.

<Harold

We stayed a few more minutes then Larry and handsome Harold left and I followed suit a minute later around 9:10am. As I made my way down Exchange Blvd. past the Times Square building I glanced over at Widows Walk and spotted Beauty on the northeast corner. I pulled into the parking lot next to Times Square and barely had a chance to take a couple pics before she shot off to the north.

I drove down State St. thinking the Beautyful one had gone to Kodak Office (KO) but as I passed by the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) I could see her on the northeast cube. I had troubles getting a good view of her because of how she was situated on it so I took pics from behind the Open Door mission on Montgomery Alley and from the City Hall parking lot.

Around 9:45am Beauty started whining as DC came flying in and came to rest on the northwest 2nd arm of FCT-he flew east after a few seconds and didn’t return.

Beauty started turning and looking east-she ended up facing north looking toward KO and then turned back around showing me her back.

Taking Beautys’ lead I drove over to KO and found DC on the northeast corner of the launchpad-he was facing north when I arrived.

I watched him for a few minutes then ended my watch at 10am with a smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view todays videos

http://youtu.be/Rv815zoJ174

http://youtu.be/DJR5N1Dz234

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

The sunrise and sunset get wider apart and frigid, cold January is gone!  Bring on February!  Today the sun set at 5:19 pm and the temperature remained close to 30 degrees this afternoon.

At KP, I did check sporadically during the day, but never saw the KP Falcon.  I checked one more time as I left work, but again could not find a falcon there.

At the BS location, I found both Pigott & Dot.ca on the east end of the building.  But, before I could turn my camera on, first Pigott, then Dot.ca took off heading to the north side of the building.  By the time I drove around to the north side, they both returned, Pigott landing on the NE corner of the east extension and Dot.ca on the SE corner.  The looked like falcon bookends up there.

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I parked where I could keep an eye on both of them.  They were preening and actively watching all the activity around them.  Dot.ca kept bobbing his head until he finally took off and zipped around to the south side of the building.  Pigott watched him and then launched herself from the building and followed.  They both flew back and forth diving down on the lower roofs.  There are starlings that hang out among other small birds and I have a feeling that Dot.ca was on a hunt with Pigott lending support.

Dot.ca disappeared around the west end of the building, where I could hear a short burst of ee-chups and Pigott returned to the NE corner of the east extension.  Dot.ca returned clutching something very small in his talon.  He landed on the tree ledge on the east side and got down to eating.  I have no idea if he had a successful hunt or if he had found a small cache that Pigott had hidden on the building.  Whatever it was, it didn’t take very long for him to finish it. (4:40 pm)

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Fellow Falcon Watcher Kathy O joined me on the watch.  While we were chatting, Watcher Pat tweeted that Beauty was up on top of the Times Square Bldg. (4:46 pm) So all three resident Rochester Falcons were seen this evening.

At a little after 5:00 pm, Dot.ca took off and flipped around to the north side of the building.  We looked over to where Pigott was and she was also gone.  Kathy and I drove around to the north side and found both Pigott and Dot.ca on north facing windows on the east extension where it meets the NE extension.  This is a spot that Pigott uses frequently as a nighttime roost.  I’ve seen Dot.ca join her there before.

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The sun had set and it was time to end our watch.  I did check the Times Square building on my way through the city, but Beauty was not there.  I suspect she was probably tucked up inside the OCSR elevator shaft.

Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was down right balmy as I stepped out the door today with a temperature of 33 (F)  1 (C) and overcast skies

With my second trip to the east side of the city I spotted Beauty on the northeast corner of  Bausch & Lomb eating as I was waiting for the traffic light at Chestnut and Broad St.  around 7:40am.  I viewed her at first from behind the Hotel Cadillac and Midtown but it was too great a distance for clear pics.

So I left there and parked behind some hazard cones on Broad St. next to Xerox which was a better spot to observe the Beautyful one.

She finished her meal off in about half  an hour then cleaned herself up by doing some feaking  before flying off to the north.

I drove to the Broad St. Bridge where I could see Beauty on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR. I went down to the hole and then over to the Radisson Hotel for closer viewing.

I shared space with  Beauty until about 8:30am and then left for the Brighton Site (BS). I found Pigott on the northeast corner of the east extension and Dot.Ca (DC) under the roof top tree on the southeast extension. They both had full crops and were just chillin’ on their spots.

<DC <Pigott>

DC did some leg and wing stretching while Miss Pigott watched over her territory.

<DC> Pigott>

DC mostly just perched motionless in one spot while Pigott did a little preening, stretching, rousing (shaking her feathers) and she pooped too!

<Click it to see DC

<Pigott

I left them to digest their meals and checked OCSR on my way thru downtown and could see that Beauty was still on the top ibeam digesting her breakfast as well. I ended my watch at 9am content in knowing that all 3 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons were seen and had substantial meals in them. Keep smiling! 🙂

Check todays videos by clicking on the links below

http://youtu.be/UqsXrNvBWxU
http://youtu.be/dHxluTy1Uag
http://youtu.be/4E4cThQSCz8
http://youtu.be/P53xjiUcFSo

By Rochester Falcon Watch Carol P.

The temperatures are rising and the sunset is being pushed out farther everyday!  During my watch today, the temperature was close to 30 degrees (F) and the sun set at 5:19 pm.

At 10:30 am, I spotted the KP Falcon on its favorite spot on the east stack.  This is the 3rd morning in a row that I saw it there.

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This afternoon, I could not find the KP Falcon, but I did find Pigott at home at the BS location.  She was up on the northwest corner of the northwest extension.  Preening and just enjoying the milder temperatures, just like her Watcher.  lol

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Downtown I found Beauty tucked up inside the OCSR elevator shaft on the south ledge.  Same spot that I found her yesterday afternoon.

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I looked at both locations for Dot.ca but I wasn’t able to find him.

On my way home, I checked along the lake but was unable to find Billy or any Snowy’s along the way.

Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

More manageable temps today with a starting temperature of 11 (F) -12 (C) and warming up into the 20’s for a high-I’ll take it! With bright sunshine and barely a breeze it felt like a heatwave

The weather cooperated but the falcons did not on my watch this morning. I checked out the High Falls hoping Beauty or Dot.Ca (DC) would show up on Kodak Office (KO) but no such luck. The sun was rising in the eastern sky and the falls were in a mostly frozen state.

Click on my pics to see the full version

After searching for nearly an hour I gave up on downtown and drove to the Brighton Site (BS). Arriving there around 8:10am I discovered Pigott eating on the east side roof of the southeast extension. She was just finishing up and started feaking and seemed to smile after she was done.

Miss Pigott turned around and suddenly flew across to the east extension landing on a top window ledge.

After landing she stuck her tongue out at me and got cinched in to digest her meal while kept an eye on her territory.

I was happy to see a full crop on this girl and at 8:45am I left her to it and went back downtown.  Just before I landed at BS a tweet came in from Shaky that Beauty was on the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) so I was hoping she would still be there. I made it just in time to get one pic before she flew north off the northeast corner of the platform railing.

I drove north thinking the Beautyful one had gone to KO but after checking the whole perimeter I came up empty. I then went north down State St. to the Driving Park Bridge checking the Hawkeye Plant where she’s been known to hang out  but not there either. While I was there I checked the Lower Falls to find them just about completely frozen like there big brother (High Falls) down river.

<Click it

I made a couple more trips around downtown but was unable to find Beauty or DC  so I called it a watch just before 10am. Some days are like that but as long as I see at least one Rochester Peregrine Falcon I leave the city smiling! 🙂

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

http://youtu.be/FYmv-Cn5yjw

http://youtu.be/kP01HUZQJE0