By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

3:40 pm – 4:30 pm

This afternoon it was bitter cold with temps in the 20’s (F).  I made it a quick watch because I was hoping to find all three Rochester Falcons before it got dark.  My first stop was the Radisson where I was able to see Dot.ca up on the south side of the OCSR, top IBeam and Beauty up inside the OCSR elevator shaft on the south side ledge.  I just got one picture of Dot.ca before he started to vocalize.  He took off and circled the OCSR building once and then headed northeast.  Beauty remained where she was.

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I quickly drove over to the BS location and found Pigott on a south facing window on the east extension.  She had her back to me and she was intently watching the flow of Crows flying by.

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On my way home, I checked downtown again and Beauty was still up inside the elevator shaft.  No sign of Dot.ca.  I was happy to have found all three Rochester Peregrine Falcons during my short late afternoon falcon watch.  Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

25 degrees (F) -4 (C) and overcast with a biting wind that made it feel even colder

I found Beauty on the Mercury Money Bag (MMB) as I arrived on the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) about 7:25am  after checking the east side. I drove down to the hole to see the front of her. I stopped at Bausch&Lomb to take a pic of their atrium.

<Click it

Less than 10 minutes later she flew off to the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR  and joined Dot.Ca (DC) who had snuck in under my radar.

<Click it <DC <Beauty

About 15 minutes later DC flew off and I thought went up in the elevator shaft but when I looked he wasn’t up in there. Beauty flew east a minute later.

A few minutes later I watched the Beautyful one return to the same spot on OCSR only to fly off and go over to the Times Square building under the northeast wing.

I left Beauty to look for Pigott over in Brighton but she wasn’t there-however, I did see Miss Pigott on an east side window this afternoon when I was walking Jeannes’ dogs.  I got back downtown around 8:35am and found Beauty and DC back on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR and DC was just finishing up eating something. I started in the hole on Bank Place then drove over to the Radisson Hotel by Main St. to watch our downtown duo as DC cleaned himself up and Beauty rested with her back facing out.

<DC        <Beauty

<Click it   <DC>

They seemed settles so I ended my watch a little after 9am. After seeing all 3 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons, a smile appeared on my face! 🙂

Click on the links below to view some videos

http://youtu.be/tjMjLQa-xoU

http://youtu.be/XdxxMzqnNu0

http://youtu.be/9HxdG3B6AfY

http://youtu.be/oAz2ARIzduA

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

We got an inch of snow covered by some freezing rain over nite with a starting temp 0f 34 (F) 1 (C) and overcast skies

As I stopped on Woodbury St. to check Xerox and HSBC I spotted a falcon on the southeast corner of HSBC -I drove to Broad St. and got one shot of it then  it flew off. I next found a falcon and I’m assuming it was Beauty in both incidents circling and hovering above Xerox and Bausch&Lomb (B&L) area. My heart sank and I got a knot in my stomach thinking there was another battle setting up. Thankfully that didn’t happen!

Lots of flying going in and out of view around the east side just like battle day and at one point another falcon came into the mix but with no aggression toward each other and the obvious size difference I figure it was Dot.Ca (DC).

DC flew south in a stoop and never came back-Beauty did a stoop of her own that was like supersonic fast toward the river and that was the last I saw of any falcons during my watch.

I left after unsuccessfully looking for Beauty and DC to check out the Brighton Site-no luck there and no luck after returning to downtown either. I did see some peaceful flying  on the east side of downtown which had me smiling after I was sure there was no kind of battle going to take place and I ended my watch at 9:30am. 🙂

Click on the links below to view some flying videos

http://youtu.be/d6Wj-Auw4-E
http://youtu.be/r95puNNKQDw
http://youtu.be/ES428DPESHw

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

My watch started with a Red-tailed Hawk and ended with a Snowy Owl, with three Peregrine Falcons in the middle.  Not a bad way to spend a cold, mostly cloudy Sunday.

I started my watch today at 11 am, heading out to the BS location first.  On my 2nd circle around the building, I ran into Joyce and Brian.  They told me that they had seen a falcon zip around the building heading south. Guess I just missed her.  lol  I stayed there for about a 1/2 hour and when she didn’t return, I went downtown, where I found Beauty eating on the northeast corner of the Widows Walk (WW). (11:35 am)

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At 12:25 pm, Beauty finished eating and Dot.ca joined her.  Dana joined me on the watch.

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After awhile, Beauty continued her meal and filled up her crop.  Dot.ca had a full crop himself and just remained nearby watching over Beauty.  Every now and then they would softly “wail” to each other.  By 1:35 pm, Beauty finished her meal (again).  Dot.ca took off heading south and Beauty took off heading north.   Dana and I looked for Beauty, but could not find her.  We decided to head over to the BS location.  There we found Dot.ca on the southwest corner of the southwest extension and Pigott was finishing a meal on the southeast corner of the southeast extension. (1:50 pm)

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Both Pigott and Dot.ca started to alarm call – kak-kak-kak and they both took off heading south, fast.   We could not see what they were after.  A few moments later they flew back to the west side of the building.  We found both of them in the cubby and they were vocalizing by ee-chupping to each other.

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Dot.ca flew out of the cubby and landed on the northwest corner of the northwest extension.  After a few moments, Pigott flew up to the southwest corner of the west extension.

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At 3:00 pm, we left Dot.ca and Pigott at the BS location, both with very full crops.  I wanted to find Beauty before I headed home, so I went through downtown, finding her on the north side of the OCSR on the top IBeam at 3:20 pm.

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While I was driving around looking for her, I saw this beautiful Christmas Window on St Paul St.  I’ve passed it many times, but was never able to get a picture of it.

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So, with all three Rochester Falcons seen and all with very full crops, it was time to head home.  I took the lake route home, hoping to see Billy or the Snowy Owl that Joyce and Brian reported seeing on Buck Pond.  This is the pond that I’ve been getting such beautiful sunset pictures.  Sorry to say that Billy was not seen, but Dana and I did find the Buck Pond Snowy.  So, like I said in the beginning, my watch started with a Red-tailed Hawk on a no pigeons allowed light pole and ended with a gorgeous Snowy Owl on Buck Pond.

I’ll leave you with a few pics from the beginning and end of my day.  Remember to click on any pictures you would like to see larger.  Goodnight everyone!

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Snowy Owl on Buck Pond

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was 21 finger numbing degrees (F) -6 (C) when I stepped out for my watch today with virtually no wind and overcast conditions

I spotted Beauty on the southeast corner of HSBC  from Woodbury St. to start the day. As I approached on Chestnut St. I spotted the Liberty Pole over at Main St. between buildings.

I watched her from below on Court St. I love looking straight up a building to see a falcon at the end of the view.

Less than 10 minutes later she flew off to the southwest and when she didn’t return right away I left for the Broad St. bridge (BSB).

A few minutes later Beauty showed up under the northeast wing of the Times Square Building (TSB) and Dot.Ca (DC) was on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR. Their backs were facing out so I had to get closer to ID them-I went to the hole.

<DC   <Beauty

DC left the building 10 minutes later so I thought I’d go check on Miss Pigott. On my way I stopped to check out the tree in the TSB lobby.

<Click it   

I found my way to Brighton and found Pigott on an east side window where it meets the northeast extension 2 levels down at 8:10am. I’ll just let the pictures tell you what she did while I shared space with her.

And of course she had to get a walk in.

She stopped and turned her back to the world and that’s how pretty Pigott stayed the rest of the time I spent with her. When I got back to downtown I searched in vain to find Beauty and DC. I ended my watch at 10:30am with a smile for having seen all 3 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons!  🙂

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

I arrived on the Broad St Bridge just before 10:00 am to find both Beauty and Dot.ca on the south side of the OCSR, top IBeam.  MAK was reporting from the BS location that she had Pigott there, so all three Rochester Falcons were seen today by the Watchers; Beauty and Dot.ca downtown and Pigott and Dot.ca  at BS.

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At 10:55 am, Dot.ca took off heading south towards the jail communication tower and Cornhill.  Soon after Beauty took off.  I checked all over downtown twice before ending up at the Broad St Bridge.  From there I could see that Beauty had returned to the OCSR top IBeam, but I could not find Dot.ca.  So, I headed out to the BS location where Lisa McK was reporting that a falcon had just arrived there and was plucking feathers.  (10:50 am).

I joined Lisa and found a falcon on the SE corner of the east extension.  At first I thought it was Pigott, but after checking my pictures, I believe it was Dot.ca.

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Dot.ca took off and chased a Red-tailed Hawk to the south.

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I headed back downtown and found Beauty still on the south side of OCSR, top IBeam and Dot.ca was up on the Times Square Bldg southeast wing ledge.

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At noon, Beauty flew up to the nest box.

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First Beauty and then Dot.ca took off and flew northeast over the river.  To me it looked like they were in hunt mode.  There was no vocalization, although they had been “chatting” with each other earlier.

They did not return, so I went back out to the BS location and again had no luck finding Pigott.  Back downtown I went.  I found both Beauty and Dot.ca on the south side top IBeam of OCSR.

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Just as I was tweeting that I was ending my watch, Dot.ca took off and successfully hunted.  He ended up on the southeast wing ledge on the Times Square Bldg and started plucking feathers.

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I ended my watch at 2:30 pm.  It was nice to have a nice peaceful falcon watch today.  Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

The day dawned at 28 degrees (F) -2 (C) with a beautiful sunrise and blue skies-that changed when lake effect snow showers and dark skies moved in and out

My first sighting was a colorful light show on State St. near the High Falls district. I am greeted by it every morning as I get off of 490. City Hall on Fitzhugh St. looks nice too with lights in the trees!

Click on my pics to see the full version

I found Beauty at 7:12am on the southeast corner of HSBC  in the semi-dark looking for breakfast to show up.

She didn’t stay long after I arrived on Chestnut St. south of HSBC to watch her. She flew northeast prompting me to go to the Broad St. Bridge (BSB). I found her next on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR. I set up in the hole (Aqueduct St.) to observe the Beautyful one.

I left to check for Pigott since I hadn’t seen her yesterday and wanted to have a good look at her to see that she was doing ok since she most likely was Beautys’   foe in the battle on Wednesday and Thursday. As I approached from the northeast I saw a falcon on the southeast corner of the southeast extension. As I came around from the south side of the Brighton site (BS) it flew off to the north and didn’t come back. As I waited for a return I couldn’t help but notice the gorgeous sunrise.

<Click it

I returned to downtown where I spotted Dot.Ca (DC) under the northeast wing of the Times Square building (TSB). He finished eating something as I arrived in the hole.

It started to snow and after 10 minutes I went looking for Beauty-when I came back I found DC now under the southeast wing and Beauty on the top ibeam of OCSR near the south corner. I just barely caught DC land near Beauty as he soon joined her in a snow flurry.

<DC  <Beauty

I left our downtown duo in a flurry to check for Miss Pigott one more time-she was there this time when I arrived around 9:1oam. She was on a top window ledge in  a corner where the east side meets the northeast extension. She had her back to me but in ususal Pigott style made plenty of head movements as she kept track of her surroundings. The next series of pics shows her being herself in the hour I spent with her.

<sticks out her tongue

A little after 10am Miss Pigott flew off to the southeast and didn’t return.

CarolP had Beauty and DC on the OCSR so I didn’t need to check on them thus ending my watch. It certainly put a smile on this watchers face to see all 3 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons  looking and flying good! 🙂

Click on the links below to view more pics and videos from my watch

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqi_I

http://youtu.be/oNi8GxKnNpM
http://youtu.be/Ml8gxn7NlTg
http://youtu.be/ehXZiQQxYK0
http://youtu.be/QgjBS9n7Lf0

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Joyce (wnyfalconfan)

Checked on Pigott the day after the downtown battle. Although we are not sure who the second female was, just wanted to make sure she appeared okay. Here she is with a full crop.  Pigott definitely eats well!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was 20 degrees colder this morning than yesterday at 34 (F) 1 (C) less windy but just as dark and overcast

I arrived downtown half hour before first light like yesterday and in my travels to find a falcon I came upon a nicely lit tree in front of the South Ave. garage.

Click on my pics to see a larger version

At 7:15am I found a falcon up in the elevator shaft of the OCSR on the north side-I checked out the pic and when I looked back up there it was gone. Falcon watching is a game of split seconds-one second you see them and the next you don’t.

I could not say who this was but I had a falcon.  I went to the Broad St. bridge (BSB) and spotted the tiny bump of a falcon on the northeast corner of Xerox. While stopped at a red light on Broad St. at Chestnut St. I grabbed my camera and a split second before I pushed the shutter button it flew off and I got the tip of the tail feathers in the frame. Anyway, it stooped toward the river and so I drove straight ahead to the BSB where I spotted a falcon on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR. Upon closer inspection from the hole I easily identified it as Beauty. I went to Graves St. for an even closer view.

Beauty was keeping a watchful eye on the Xerox area in between looking for breakfast. As I was tweeting Beauty left. Donna reported to me that she saw her leave. Thank you for your support!

So I drove up to the BSB again and noticed one falcon circling above Xerox-my heart sank and I thought we were in for another long day. It flew over to the Chase building and back very non-chalantly so I suspected it was Beauty scouting the area for prey or foe. She stooped toward the south and I lost her behind buildings-soon after she reappeared empty-taloned and alone! Phew!! Beauty flew around the east side a bit more and left my field of vision. I went and looked for her but didn’t find her until I returned to the BSB. She must have been feeling confident that there was no other PEFA around for she was out in the open on the Mercury money bag (MMB).

I went to the hole to see the front of her and get a good look at her for any sign of injury-thankfully she looked in tip top shape and Beautyful as ever.

I shared space with her for 5-10 minutes then she stooped down in the river and came back up empty-taloned and flew west out of sight.

10 minutes later she turned up under the northeast wing on the Times Square building (TSB). I hung out by He’s Chinese food restaurant for 15-20 minutes then went searching for Dot.Ca (DC). From the Andrews St. bridge about 9:15am I could see a falcon under the southeast wing of TSB and when I returned to my spot by He’s I could see that DC was perched there across from Beauty.

<Beauty

DC had a very full crop and was picking at something that was stuck to one of his talons. Now KathyO had checked the Brighton site and found a falcon which had its back to her so she didn’t know who it was maybe half hour before DC showed up with his full crop. Hmm… I wonder. lol

Beauty flew east half hour later and DC remained to digest his food. I took off looking for Beauty on the east side with no luck in finding her. When I got back to the BSB Dan was there-I caught him up on the events of the last couple days and then I left to look for Beauty again. As I was at the Radisson Hotel checking the elevator shaft I saw Beauty fly up to the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR and land.

She had eaten a meal for her crop was full. I returned to BSB with Dan. LarryO walked up with Harold as they were out for a hike. Dan and Larry left after a few minutes and I decided to check for Pigott. I came up empty at the Brighton site-I so wanted to see Miss Pigott and check her out for injuries in case she was the female Beauty was fighting yesterday. On my way downtown Ei reported 2 falcons on OCSR. Thank you! DC was with Beauty just a few feet away from each other on the top ibeam southeast side.

Beauty was napping on and off as DC preened. All was calm and peaceful in downtown Rochester as I ended my watch at noon to go to an appointment. Smiling-you bet I was!  🙂

Click on the links below to see my videos of the day

http://youtu.be/PH2XafzaiYA
http://youtu.be/Rgc6AlFm9Zw
http://youtu.be/VCd95RPJAI4
http://youtu.be/PCmcXVd7kN0
http://youtu.be/AGS_cGxSSZk

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

I’ll just add a little bit and a few pics from my watch today.  Most of our watch was spent staring up at the sky and watching Beauty and the other female flying between Xerox, B&L, HSBC and points east.  That’s why MAK, Dana and I ended up at the Strong Museum parking lot.  Now and then they would land, but never for too long.  They would be up again and flying.  When there was an opening, one or the other would stoop on and hit the other.  The battle has now entered its second day.

If you’re wondering why Dot.ca has not joined the battle, it’s because the male (tiercel) is much smaller than these females and will usually not become involved.  He could easily be injured by the females.  He is usually nearby watching.  Now we just watch and wait to see how this will all turn out.

Here are some pics I took during today’s watch, just to give you a taste of what we were seeing all day.

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*  Remember to Click on Any You Would Like to See Larger

I would like to thank all the Rochester Falcon Watchers that joined the Watch today to keep their eyes to the sky.  MAK, Dana, Kathy O, Larry O, Lisa McK, Pat, Debbie H, Joyce & Brian. Your help was greatly appreciated.

We will continue to keep an eye on the situation and report what we see.

Goodnight Everyone!