By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a little warmer this morning from yesterday as I began my watch at 6 degrees (F) -14 (C) with overcast conditions and a fine light snow falling. The sun broke thru around 9am and the temperature rose to 11 degrees when I ended my watch at 10:30am

I arrived downtown about 7:10am-it was still a bit dark out and initially I wasn’t finding any falcons. Eventually as I made my way down Broad St. from checking the east side I spotted a falcon on Mercurys money bag (MMB). About 2 seconds later cam watcher Donna reported Beauty on the MMB-thanks for the assist! So I drove down to the hole (Aqueduct St.) for a closer look. Ah, it was good to see her up there looking around for breakfast.

Less than 10 minutes later the Beautyful one flew north and so I checked Kodak Office (KO) to find that she had gone there as has been a pattern of hers recently.

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

Unfortunately because of the long distance,dark overcast conditions and cold temperature my camera was not focusing very well as Beauty was perched on the west side of the south side arch of KO.

I hung out with Beauty for a while and left her all settled in to check on the Brighton Site (BS).  When I arrived at BS nobody was home, but after making a stop, I returned to BS to find both Pigott and Dot.Ca (DC) present. They had there backs to me and were on kiddie corner top window ledges-Pigott was on the east extension and DC on the southeast extension.

<DC       Pigott>

DC kept falling to sleep on and off and Pigott did not show her face much but I managed to get a couple shots of her.

<DC> <Pigott

<DC>

I spent about half hour with them and left to re-check downtown for Beauty. I stopped on the Broad St. Bridge to have a look before continuing on to see that she was still on the south side arch of KO but she was now on the west side.

<Click it

I left her to it at 10:30am thus ending my watch after having seen all 3 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons which always puts a smile on this watchers face! 🙂

Click on the links below to see todays videos

http://youtu.be/ZIO3mv1kE_8

http://youtu.be/r2qlAgOrPTw

http://youtu.be/HWTMJLOL56c

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

There was a big fat zero on the thermometer when I walked out the house this morning-as I approached downtown the light snow looked almost like fog enveloping the tops of the buildings. The sun had to work hard to break thru the clouds and snow but it made it out for a while

My first sighting of a PEFA was around 7:30am when I spotted one taking off from Midtown as I came around from behind HSBC. 15 minutes later I found Beauty on the south side arch of Kodak Office (KO). She was on the east side of it all foofed up to keep warm as the temperature had risen to 1 degree (F) -17 (C). The cold gave me problems getting my camera to focus so I had to trash most of them but you get the picture anyway!

I left the Beautyful one to check on the Brighton site (BS) and on the way I took a pic of the sun trying to rise above the snow and clouds, plus a first for me-a snow rainbow also known as a Sun Dog.

I found Pigott on the south side vent at the west end of BS. She too was all foofed up to keep warm. She did some preening and flew off to the south after 10  minutes or so.

Little did I know that she was flying out to greet Dot.Ca (DC).  I drove around the building looking for Pigott and when I got to the south/back side of the building I spotted DC on an east facing top level window ledge on the southwest extension. He quickly flew off with a couple of his famous chirps and landed on the east end of the south side vent,his back facing out, as Pigott had returned to the west end.

<DC   <Pigott

5 minutes later DC flew south followed by Pigott a few seconds later-they disappeared beyond the tree line into a wall of snow. I left to return to downtown where Beauty was still on KO in the same spot I found her.

I was thrilled to have seen all 3 Rochester Peregrine Falcons on my first watch in a month as I returned from a stay in Arkansas yesterday, but there was a bonus 4th falcon sighting after I ended my morning watch at 9:20am. I was running some errands that brought me near the Kodak Park (KP) power plant about 90 minutes later, so I stopped to have a look/see. On the east side stack, lower catwalk I spotted a falcon whom I believe is probably the one that’s been seen there since I went away in December. First from Mt. Read Blvd, then from parking lots on the KP premises.

The smoke from the stacks kept blocking my view so I had to take my shots in between. Judging by size I would say this is a male but from that distance looks can be deceiving.

Not bad at all for a welcome home watch that made me smile from start to finish! 🙂

Click on the 5 links below to view todays videos-sorry they are not in focus for the most part, because of the very cold conditions

http://youtu.be/vrTE94L80lQ

http://youtu.be/oBA3UanINo4

http://youtu.be/OwmA7lyCXpU

http://youtu.be/nxDDOQ8L28c

http://youtu.be/YTVRuu-ighA

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Sunrise at 7:35 am.  Sunset at 5:06 pm.

Currently (9:30 pm) 5 (F) degrees; feels like -7 (F) degrees.

Other Falcon cities:  Buffalo – Currently 4 (F) degrees.  Toronto – Currently -2 (F) degrees.

During my short late afternoon watch the sign downtown said it was 6 degrees.  Plus it was snowing, making it hard to see up into the elevator shaft of the OCSR.

But first I checked Kodak Park after leaving work.  I could find no falcons there. (3:30 pm)

My next stop was the BS location.  I first found Pigott on a west facing window on the southeast extension.  As I was taking a couple pictures of Pigott, Dot.ca arrived, landing on the southwest corner of the southeast extension. (3:50 pm)

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Dot.ca took off and I was not able to find him again.

My last stop was downtown Rochester.  I ended up looking up into the OCSR elevator shaft.  It was snowing, making it very hard to see.  I was just able to make out one falcon on the north side ledge. (4:20 pm)

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I cannot be sure it was Beauty, but it probably was.

Be careful of this extreme cold everyone!  Keep warm and be safe!  Goodnight!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

During my weekend falcon watches, I found all three Rochester Falcons, Beauty, Dot.ca and Pigott.  I also saw the falcon that has been hanging out at Kodak Park.

Here are some pictures from my weekend watches.  Enjoy!

Saturday, January 18, 2014

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Sunday, January 19, 2014

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Cold air will be moving into Rochester over the next few days.  Keep warm everyone!  Goodnight!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

When I walked out of work today, there was this very strange, bright orb in the sky.  Is this what the sun looks like?  It had been so long.  lol

Sunrise at 7:37 am. Sunset at 5:00 pm.

It was 33 (F) degrees during my watch.

I found all 3 Rochester Falcons during my hour Watch.  Pigott was on the north side of the northwest extension at the BS location.  Dot.ca was on top of the Times Square Bldg on the southeast wing ring.  Beauty was on the Frontier Communication Tower on the top arm looking south towards the Times Square Bldg.

Pigott at the BS location.

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Dot.ca on the Time Square Bldg SE Wing Ring.

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Beauty on the Frontier Communication Tower, top arm.

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So, all three Rochester Falcons were again accounted for this mid-January day.  Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

The temperature was 31 (F) degrees when I started and it dropped to 30 (F) degrees when I was leaving the downtown area at 4:50 pm.

Sunrise at 7:37 am.  Sunset at 5:00 pm!  Yay!

When I got out of work, I did my normal falcon watch route.  1st Kodak Park, no falcons seen.

Next I headed over to the BS location.  I found both Pigott and Dot.ca on the east side of the building.  Dot.ca was eating on the east end higher roof.  Pigott flew in and landed next to him.  She grabbed the food and there was a short tug-o-war.  Dot.ca was able to get a piece of the meal.  He then flew up to the tree ledge to continue to eat.  Pigott finished eating first and flew up to ledge above Dot.ca.  A Crow flew too close and Pigott took off and chased it through the trees on the northeast side of the bldg.  There was no vocalization.  The Crow narrowly escaped by diving into the wooded area with Pigott hot on its tail.

She broke off the chase and returned to the east end roof she had been on when I arrived.  Dot.ca finished his meal and just watched as Pigott walked around the roof, picking at leftovers. She flew around the building and ended up on the tree ledge to the right of Dot.ca.  This is where I left them to go downtown to look for Beauty.  Here are some pics of Pigott and Dot.ca

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I left Pigott and Dot.ca at BS and headed downtown to look for Beauty.  I found here up inside the OCSR elevator shaft on the south side ledge.

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It was getting close to 5:00 pm and the sun was setting, so it was time for me to end my watch.  I did check out the Charlotte area and Russell Station on the way home, but could not find Billie or any other falcons or Snowy Owls.  I was very happy to have seen all three of the Rochester Peregrine Falcons.  Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Sunrise at 7:39 am.  Sunset at 4:58 pm.  Oh, so close to 5:00 pm!  Full Moon too!

Temps were in the upper-30’s (F) and it was cloudy.

I didn’t have much time for my afternoon watch today, so I was happy to find both Beauty and Pigott.  I did look for Dot.ca, but could not find him.

No Falcons at Kodak Park.  There were two Red-tailed Hawks, one on the tallest still and one in the trees.  Probably a good indication that the adult Peregrine that we’ve been seeing there was not home at the time.

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My next stop was the BS location where I found Pigott on the east end of the building on a lower roof with a very full crop.

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Downtown I was unable to find Dot.ca after a quick search, but I did find Beauty up on top of the Mercury statue.

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I had to end my watch earlier that I would have liked.  But I was happy to have found Beauty and Pigott doing well.  Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

51 (F) degrees and rain on Saturday and mid-30’s (F) and ice pellets on Sunday.  Hey at least the days are getting a little bit longer each day!

Today:  Sunrise at 7:39 am.  Sunset at 4:56 pm.

Watchers that were out this weekend:  Kathy O, Pat, Larry O, Dana, Lou and me Carol P.

Dot.ca was busy, going back and forth between downtown and the BS location.  There was a lot of activity at both sites.

I’ll start with the falcon we’ve been seeing at Kodak Park.  This falcon was spotted by Joyce, Brian and I on Friday.  I checked both Saturday and Sunday and the falcon was in the same spot, on a silver box just to the left of a red light on the east stack catwalk.  Is this a wintering falcon just passing through?  We’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this location.

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Saturday, January 11, 2014

It was raining hard most of the day and Dot.ca was busy going back and forth between both downtown and the BS locations.  Here are some pictures from my Saturday Falcon Watch.  Kathy O joined me that day.

Beauty & Dot.ca at Kodak Office

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Pigott & Dot.ca at BS

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Pigott and DC flew to the north side of the building and sat in the pouring rain.

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They both took off and went on a hunt!

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Dot.ca returned first with food.  We found him eating on the slat window on the south side of the building.

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Pigott flew in and landed on the southeast corner of the southeast extension with food.  Dot.ca grabbed his meal and flew over to the east side tree ledge, just below Pigott.

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After Dot.ca finished his meal, he flew to the north side of the building and Pigott joined him there.

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Kathy and I decided to head downtown to check on Beauty.  We found her on the Mercury statue.  She started to vocalize with a wailing sound, which usually meant that Dot.ca was somewhere nearby.  Yep, there he was on top of the Times Square Bldg on the southeast wing ring.

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At the end of our watch, Kathy and I decided to go over to check out the High Falls area.  There was a lot of ice on the river and due to the higher temperatures, there was a lot of water flowing through.  Here are some pictures from High Falls.

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A couple more pics from my Saturday Watch.

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Sunday, January 12, 2014

Today it only went up into the mid-30’s (F).  Ice pellets fell for much of the afternoon.  Dana and Lou had reported that they had Pigott at the BS location at the same time I found both Beauty and Dot.ca on the Kodak Office tower. Beauty was on the south side arch ledge, just above the old M&K nest site location and Dot.ca was on the south east corner of the 19th floor.

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I went over to the BS location, but could not find Pigott.  So, I returned to Kodak Office to find that Dot.ca had moved up to the south east corner of the launch pad.  Beauty was still on the arch ledge.

On my way home I checked out Charlotte and Russell Station.  I didn’t find any falcons, but I did find fellow Falcon Watcher Pat at Russell Station.

I ended my weekend watch after seeing all three Rochester Falcons plus one at Kodak Park.  Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Sunrise at 7:40 am.  Sunset at 4:56 pm.

It is currently 21 (F) degrees, but it feels like 14 (F).

When I left work today, I decided to head over to the south side of Kodak Park (KP) to check the stack catwalks.  During the day I had noticed that the neighborhood pigeons were antsy.  They were doing a lot of flying, like they were being spooked by something.  When I checked out the smokestacks, I could see what may have had them airborne so much today.  There was a Peregrine Falcon on the lower catwalk on the east stack.  Looked like a big bird, so I’m going to guess that it was a female.  Joyce and Brian joined me for a few moments.

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Since I didn’t have much time, I headed down to the lake (Ontario) to see if I could find Billy or any other falcons.  Nothing at Charlotte, so I continued on to Russell Station (RS).  I checked out both sides, but again could find no falcons.

Earlier in the day, Shaky had posted this picture taken from the Rfalconcam Camera, showing two falcons on the Kodak Office Tower.  Probably Beauty and Dot.ca.

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Joyce reported seeing Pigott at her nighttime roost late this afternoon at the BS location.  So, all of the Rochester Falcons had been seen today by the Watchers.  Plus, a 4th falcon that I saw at Kodak Park.

After looking for Billy, I parked in the small parking lot on the north side of RS and walked across the street to take a look at the icy lake.  It was a beautiful sight!  What looked like small icebergs were floating just off shore. They were surrounded by all kinds of water birds, ducks and geese.  A family of Mute Swans (I believe), floated by.  The whole scene took my breath away.  It was surreal.

I’ll leave you with a few pictures from my trip to Lake Ontario this afternoon.  Enjoy and Goodnight!

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Sunset over Russell Station

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I so wanted to take a dip!  lol

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Sunrise at 7:40 am.  Sunset at 4:54 pm.

Watchers out today were Larry O, Joyce, Brian & me Carol P.

Today temps in Rochester, NY, went up into the teens and the sun was out for a little while.  A nice change from the single digit temperatures and below zero windchill.

I headed downtown after work, stopping first at the Kodak Office Tower.  This is my view as I come off of Rte 390, showing the west side of the tower. (3:50 pm)

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While I was checking out Kodak Office and not finding any falcons there, I received a tweet from Joyce.  She was downtown on the Broad St Bridge.  Joyce texted that she had watched Beauty chase off a Red-tail Hawk and that Beauty was now on top of the Mercury statue.  I joined Joyce and Brian down on Aqueduct St. (4:10 pm)

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At 4:30 pm, Beauty took off and flew up into the OCSR elevator shaft.  I drove over there and found Beauty on the north side ledge.

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We could not find Dot.ca downtown, so I headed over to the BS location.  Pigott was on the northeast corner of the east extension.

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I parked where I could keep an eye on Pigott and watch the east end of the building.  As the sunset and I was quickly losing light (approx 5:07 pm), Dot.ca flew in from the east and landed on the tree ledge on the east end of the building.  He had successfully hunted and landed next to the tree with his meal.  While Dot.ca prepared his meal and feathers were flying, Pigott took off and flew around to the north side of the building.

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I drove around to the north side of the building and found Pigott on a north facing window on the east extension.  She was 3 windows down.  We believe this is her nighttime roost.

It was going on 5:30 pm when I left the BS location.  Dot.ca was eating and Pigott was tucked into her nighttime spot.  With Beauty up inside the elevator shaft, that made all three of the Rochester Falcons seen t0day.

I am always very happy to see all three of them doing well, especially after such harsh weather.  Keep warm everyone and goodnight!