By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

We had a killing frost last night-as I left for my watch the temperature was a cold 27 degrees (F) 3 (C) but the sun came up and shone brightly

My first sighting was Dot.Ca (DC) on the Mercury money bag (MMB) at 7:29am. He left soon after flying east across the river and going behind the Hyatt Hotel where I lost sight of him.

I drove to the east side looking for DC but I didn’t find him. At 8am I found a falcon on the northeast corner of the 20th floor of Kodak Office (KO). Parked on State St. near Platt St. I was having trouble identifying it as it didn’t seem dark enough to be Beauty and not white enough to be DC. I ended up tweeting that it was Beauty because I didn’t see a heart shape on the malar stripe.

About 5 minutes later cam watcher Donna (thank you) reported a falcon on the MMB so I drove over to check it out thinking if I found out who it was then I’d know who was on KO. It was Beauty and she flew off going southeast so I returned to KO and parked on Mill St. to observe who I thought was DC.

<Beauty>   

The more pics I looked at of the KO falcon the more doubt I had that it was DC-it didn’t perch like him, there was no heart, it had a very dark helmet and I had never seen DC or any other falcon on this particular corner.

Finally around 8:22am I got the proof I needed when this PEFA gave me some leg shots-there were no bands on either leg.

20 minutes later this unbanded male judging by size walked around the corner out of the sun and into the shade and showing his back. I had to drive down past Brown St. on State St. to find him-he blended in well.

He turned around to face me and stretched, then he got settled for a while.

Suddenly around 9:10am I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye. On the east side (where the unbanded tiercel had been) was 2 pigeons marching toward that northeast corner of the 20th floor on Kodak Office. I’m saying to myself-self, they’re going to walk right in front of that falcon! Sure enough, the lead pigeon hit that corner where they could see each other and off went the first pigeon followed by the 2nd pigeon as the PEFA took off as well. The pigeons were flying in a frenzy as they do when a Peregrine Falcon is within inches of them and the poor tiercel just wanted to get away. He flew right between them heading north and didn’t come back.

I drove down Lake Ave. in that direction and never found him-checked Hawkeye and Seneca Towers as I was close by but found nothing. Drove thru downtown and saw nothing except the Ringling Brothers-Barnum and Bailey Circus is in town and the Court St. Bridge was blocked off for their trucks. On my way to the Brighton site (BS), I witnessed a fender bender accident on Mt. Hope Blvd. Onward to BS where after a few days Pigott was finally gracing me with her presence.  She was perched on the southeast corner of the southeast extension preening.

I shared space with Miss Pigott for about 20 minutes when a double propeller military helicopter came flying toward BS from the east. I zeroed in on a spot to shoot the copter and as I panned it across the building I noticed Pigott was gone and so was the helicopter. It amazes me how close aircraft fly over the BS building (the airport is very close there) and I’m sure that’s probably why Pigott took off. I sure would if I saw something like that coming at me! So after Pigott didn’t return I left for downtown-stopping at a drug store on the way for a couple things when I witnessed a woman stick a candy bar down the front of her shirt. I was having quite the watch-sheesh!

So when I got downtown I searched but came up short on finding a falcon but I found window washers on the northeast side of OCSR to end my watch at 11am. I saw all 3 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons, a bonus unbanded tiercel and some different stuff. After a watch like that how could I not be smiling!?!  🙂

Click on the links below to view more pics and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqi4U

http://youtu.be/JlFITTj4ygI

http://youtu.be/rcn5G42R-_4

http://youtu.be/hO1Yos4DGMQ

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Cold start today at 37 (F) 3 (C) with mostly cloudy skies

So it looks like we have a new routine in the morning-we are hanging around the Times Square area instead of the east side the past few days. We’ve had a couple visits to the nest box and some pair bonding too, making me think Dot.Ca (DC) is getting ready to migrate. We shall see! Anyway, I found Beauty under the northeast wing of the Times Square building for the 3rd or 4th day in a row to start my watch at 7:30am.

I was parked in the hole next to He’s Chinese watching Beauty when cam watcher Annette tweeted there was a falcon on the Mercury money bag (MMB). I turned around to see DC up there but not for long as he flew off after a few minutes and went under the northwest wing of TSB across from Beauty with his back to both of us. He was in hunt mode.

<Click it

2 minutes after arriving DC flew off to the north and I followed right behind. As I was stopped at Fitzhugh and Main St. for a red light I noticed city workers putting Christmas lights up on the trees along Main St.

I continued on down Fitzhugh St. coming to rest in front of the Sister Cities parking garage where I could see DC on the northeast cube of the Frontier Communications tower. Wait-did I just say that!? That cube is Beautys’ perching spot! I took a couple pics to be sure that it was him and then I whipped back to TSB to see if Beauty was still there and she was.

From there I went to Brighton and once again Pigott was not there. I think this is like the 5th day in a row I haven’t seen her there in the morning but she has been seen in the afternoon and evenings by other watchers. I exited thru the back service road so I could check the PEFA tree and cell tower. There was a raptor on the cell tower but it was a Red-tail Hawk.

Returning to downtown I found the Beautyful one still under the northeast wing of TSB. I took one pic to be sure it was her and then took a drive around to look for DC. As I drove down Pleasant St. I spotted this painting on a building. We have some fine artists here in Rochester sharing their talents to make the urban jungle more appealing.

I didn’t find DC and ended my watch at 9:15am as I had a busy day ahead of me. Keep smiling! 🙂

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

http://youtu.be/0ok9hsZIp8Y

http://youtu.be/-pzlKeRVInI

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

It was another wonderful weekend of falcon watching and I am happy to report that all 3 resident Rochester Falcons were seen, plus we are pretty sure we had Billy, the juvie from Buffalo, granddaughter of Mariah and Kaver. We couldn’t read her numbers, but she did have the black over green band.

Watchers that were out during my Watches: Dana, Kathy O, Lisa McK, Joyce & Larry O.

Most of my reporting will be through pictures.  Hope you enjoy!  Oh, and remember to click on any you would like to see in full size.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Pigott at the BS Location

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Billy, the juvie Peregrine Falcon at Russell Station

*

*

*

*

*

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Beauty (Times Square Bldg) and Dot.ca (OCSR) Downtown, Rochester

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Billy on the Antenna at the Coast Guard Station & Hunting at the Port of Rochester on the Charlotte Side.  Dana and I watched her just miss catching a pigeon there.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

It was great seeing all of the Rochester Peregrines doing well.

I’ll leave you with a few other pics I took this weekend.  Goodnight everyone!

*

*

*

*

*

Duck Season Has Started

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

As I started my watch it was partly cloudy and breezy with a temperature of 37 (F) 3 (C) as I ended it the sun was pretty much out of the picture with mostly cloudy skies

I missed Beauty on the Mercury money bag (MMB) by about 10 minutes for the second day in a row as I was searching downtown for her when she was there. I found her under the northeast wing of the Times Square building (TSB) at 7:34am from the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) as I returned from the east side. I went to the hole for a closer view.

10 minutes later Beauty flew off to the base of Mercury and as I turned to watch her I saw why-Dot.Ca (DC) was on the base with a small piece of food and took off as she landed on the opposite side flying to the top ibeam southeast side of the OCSR to finish it off.

<Beauty  <DC

DC finished up eating in about 5 minutes while Beauty made her way to the side of the base of Mercury that DC had been on-most likely looking for scraps.

<Beauty <DC> 

DC cleaned up a bit after his snack and while I watched him the Beautyful one slipped off Mercury without me seeing her. DC turned his back to me and pooped and then I took a ride to find where Beauty went.

I had no luck with that but as I drove around I took pics of a bunch of utility boxes around the east side of the city and then  I set out to check the Brighton site (BS).

There’s more of these in todays album

I had no luck finding Pigott either and on my way back downtown from BS I took some extracurricular pics.

<Click it 

Arriving downtown just after 9am I found DC was still on the top ibeam of OCSR and after looking for and not finding Beauty I decided to look for Billy the juvie.

I didn’t have to go far as there was a juvie on the ladder in the middle of the roof at Hawkeye. Parked at the YMCA on the west side of the Hawkeye plant and too far of a distance for an ID  I drove  to the east side and found a parking lot that allowed for a closer view but she had her back to me there. I never was able to positively ID it as Billy but it certainly looked like her to me.

<From YMCA

Thankfully she did turn her head to give me a look at her face from the parking lot. The juvie flew off to the southwest and then Dana came by to join me. We both went to the YMCA parking lot. Upon finding the juvie on the top roof west side I took a walk on the Driving Park Bridge to the east end to get closer. On my way across I couldn’t help but stop and take some pics of the Genesee river foliage and the many fisherman to the north side of the bridge.

The juvie jumped off the front ledge onto the roof where she couldn’t be seen as well. She poked her head up every once in a while and I thought she might be eating but that wasn’ t the  case. The lower falls were throwing quite the mist across the bridge and it was chilly so I wiped off my camera and walked back to my car.

<Click it

Across the street from the YMCA on Driving Park Blvd. is Maplewood Park known for its beautiful roses-I spotted a Robin and a couple little birdies on the path.

I had a short chat with Dana then I went back downtown. As I turned the corner from Exchange Blvd. onto Broad St. I spotted DC on the base of Mercury. I pulled over by the Blue Cross Arena to observe around 10:20am. He didn’t stay more than a couple minutes when he went across the back of the base showing his wings and making me think he flew off. Well it turns out he was just playing with old MAK as he merely went to the other side of the base where I couldn’t see him until I drove down to the hole. He didn’t stay there for long either, flying north after a minute or two.

I took one final quick trip around downtown but didn’t find any falcons so I called it a watch at just past 10:30am. It was a nice Sunday morning watch that sent me home smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to view my photo album and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqi3o

http://youtu.be/R4RIY5H1QbU
http://youtu.be/z7j0gSZfgyU
http://youtu.be/Y__qILFYLS4
http://youtu.be/9yHFHQqG_04
http://youtu.be/iKi9YhS9TUo

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

As I walked out the door for my morning watch it was 42 degrees (F) 6 (C) and breezy. There’s a high wind alert for today as we are supposed to get 45mph winds. Stay safe all my fine feathered friends!

I had some trouble finding a falcon this morning at first but as I was parked on the Andrews St. Bridge I spotted a falcon fly in from the east and land under the southeast wing of the Times Square building (TSB).

I drove straight over there arriving in the hole by He’s Chinese at 7:50am to find that Dot.Ca (DC) was under the northeast wing. I don’t know if he was the one I saw under the southeast wing or not. I noticed Halloween bags in one of the Philipone buildings windows.

Click it

Less than 5 minutes later cam watcher Annette (thank you) tweeted that Beauty was in the nest box. Would there finally be a pair bonding in the nest box? While I was watching DC Beauty snuck out of the nest box and left as reported to me by cam watcher Donna. I left to look  for her and while I was away she returned to the nest box again told to me by Donna. Thanks D! I went up to the BSB where I could see the Beautyful one on the front ledge of the nest box. While enroute Beauty and DC did indeed pair bond in the nest box as Donna also reported about that to me. WOOHOO!! Thank you very much my friend!

<Click it to see B&DC 

This took place around 8:20am and I left to check for Pigott at the Brighton site arriving there about 9am to find that she was not around. I returned downtown to find that Beauty and DC had not moved-she was still at the nest box and he was still under the northeast wing.

I had to make it a quick watch as I have somewhere to be soon but I was happy to see our downtown duo, and oh what a big smile I had when I heard they met up in the nest box to bond! 🙂

Click on the link below to view a video of Beauty and DC

http://youtu.be/sdNeWRoeKnw

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

While fellow Watchers Larry O, Lisa McK and Kathy O were at the BS location watching who they were pretty sure were Pigott and Dot.ca, Joyce and I were at Russell Station watching a juvie Peregrine with a black over green band. (4:50 pm)  We were pretty sure this was Billy.  Really angry looking clouds were over the lake and overhead and it was cold.  Billy was on the northeast end of the building.  At just before 4:00 pm, Shaky tweeted that there was a falcon on the Frontier Communication Tower, seen on the Rfalconcam cameras.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*
*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Just before 6:00 pm Billy took flight and flew around the stacks.  Landing and taking off again, over and over again.  To me it looked like she was playing.

*

*

*

*

*

Billy eventually headed over to the south side of the building, where Joyce spotted her on one of the lower buildings at the east end.  Just as it started to rain, she took off.  We could not find her after that.

I’ll leave you with a few pictures I took during my Watch.  Be sure to click on any you would like to see larger.  Enjoy and goodnight everyone!

*

*

*

*

*

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

No frost this morning but it was still chilly at 33 degrees (F) 1 (C) and quite windy-sunshine and blue skies one minute and wet snow flakes mixed with light rain the next. Yes, I saw snowflakes today!

So I spotted Beauty on the southeast corner of HSBC from Woodbury St. I drove over to Ajax St. by the post office to observe around 7:30am. She was eating and plucking feathers. She finished up in about 5 minutes then unexpectedly flew off to the west.

I followed after her stopping on the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) where I spotted a falcon on the middle arm northeast side of the Frontier Communications Tower. I first went to Fitzhugh near Church St. and snapped off a pic, it looked like it was Beauty but since she had her back facing me I went to the City Hall parking lot to at least get a side view. As soon as I stopped she took off heading straight toward OCSR.

I made my way down to the hole after spotting the Beautyful one under the southeast corner of the Times Square building (TSB) just before 8am. Buddy the gull stopped by for a visit as Beauty preened a bit.

<Click it 

I left for the Brighton site (BS) after 15 minutes or so, arriving at BS just about 8:20am. Just before I got there Shaky tweeted that there was a falcon on the Mercury money bag.  I had been wondering yesterday when Beauty would start hanging out on this her favorite winter perch. Anyway, I could find no PEFAs at BS but as I scanned the building I noticed beehives in many of the upper window corners. I whipped back downtown to try and catch Beauty on Mercury but she left it while I was enroute as cam watcher Donna let me know. Thanks D! I spotted Dot.Ca (DC) under the northeast wing of the TSB as I pulled over on Exchange Blvd. in front of the Blue Cross Arena.

Then I noticed Beauty under the southeast wing-they both had their backs facing out as I went up on the BSB to get a bookend pic of them. After that I went to the hole and parked on Basin St. behind He’s Chinese where I could see their profiles at least.

<Beauty <DC

For the most part Beauty preened and DC looked to the north as they seemed like they were ignoring each other. They do have a strange relationship but at least they are hanging out in close proximity to each other. It’s funny how DC whines to Beauty (mostly for food) almost acting like a juvie but when he is with Pigott in Brighton she’s the one that does the whining and food is not the issue there. Maybe it’s the age difference-Beauty is older than DC and he is older than Pigott so the younger one does most of the whining!? Just my thoughts.

<DC> <Beauty>

I had to leave them just before 9:30am as I had an appointment to get to thus ending my watch in the bright sunshine looking at our beloved downtown duo which absolutely made me a smile! 🙂

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

http://youtu.be/be2zEgcT1Q0
http://youtu.be/yx9IFp3L1QU

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

There was frost on my car windows when I walked out the door this morning-you must expect that when the temperature is 32 degrees (F) 0 (C). There was also a brisk breeze making it feel colder yet

I found Beauty on the east side of HSBC to start my day-not bad eh? About 5 minutes later she extracted a pellet and flew off circling the building twice. Parked on Broad St. behind HSBC I was able to see Beauty meet up with Dot.Ca near Midtown and then they disappeared as they flew toward Bausch and Lomb.

I drove west, stopping on the Broad St. Bridge for a look around as is my normal routine and I promptly spotted a falcon on the top arm of the Frontier Communications Tower northeast side around 7:30am.  And there was a lovely cloud floating beyond the High Falls.

I went to Fitzhugh St. but couldn’t positively ID this falcon from the angle I had as it attempted to bring up a pellet. So I drove behind the church to have a look from the north end of Montgomery Alley but it left while I was enroute.

You must click on my pics to see the full version

I made my way over to the hole after searching downtown and found the Beautyful one under the northeast wing at 8am. I shared space with her for half hour as she scratched and watched the little birdies below her.

Next stop was the Brighton Site (BS) arriving about 8:45am finding both Pigott and DC after receiving a tweet from fellow falcon watcher LarryO who said there were 2 falcons  on the south side vent. Pigott was on the east end of the vent but I didn’t see DC until I drove around to the east side. There he was under the roof top tree on the southeast corner of the southeast extension.

Pigott spent most of her time preening while DC just relaxed and kept an eye on his surroundings. Then about 9:10am DC perked up and started chirping as Pigott came flying in, coming to rest on an east side window ledge by the east extension where it meets the east side of the building.

<DC  <Pigott

Miss Pigott was her usual animated self as she preened and generally stayed in motion, while DC was content to just stay in one spot.

<Pigott DC>Click it

Next, Pigott took a walk to the other end of the ledge, something she does all the time while DC stretched out a bit.

<Pigott  DC> 

Suddenly around 9:40am they started alarm calling-first Pigott flew off, followed by DC going east as I turned to look I saw a Red-tail Hawk being bombarded by our falcon duo. They chased it back over the roof and to the north leaving my field of vision. Pigott returned and landed on the southeast corner of the southeast extension-DC did not come back.

<DC>RTH>Pigott>

I stayed a bit to see if DC would return and then headed back to downtown arriving about 10:15am. I found DC on the top ibeam of OCSR near the south corner. I figure he chased the hawk and came right straight downtown.

I then set out to find Beauty which I was successful at doing as I saw her from the Andrews St. Bridge. She was on the northeast side of OCSR on the top ibeam so I drove over to Bragdon St. for a closer look and where I could also see DC.

I saw all 3 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons on watch today and ended it at 10:40am with a smile on my face! 🙂

Again, I’m having problems with YouTube so I have links below for 3 out of the 6 videos I shot today and for my photo album

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqi2O

http://youtu.be/gqx28WkVcTk
http://youtu.be/nSlzrMKs4Z4
http://youtu.be/239rVDVITsU

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

It was really cold, in the 40’s (F), and by the end of my short watch, it was sleeting.  No snow yet, but I bet it won’t be too long before we see the white stuff.  Brrrrr!

I was able to get in a short watch after work today.  Downtown, I found Beauty and Dot.ca on  the south side of OCSR on the top IBeam.  Dot.ca was on the left and Beauty on the right.

*

*

*

*

*

Beauty and Dot.ca were the only two falcons I saw today.  I saw no falcons at the BS location, Hawkeye, Seneca Towers, old Medley Center Mall, Charlotte/Summerville or Russell Station.

I was happy to see both Beauty and Dot.ca keeping each other company.

Last night, Lisa McK saw both Dot.ca and Pigott at BS.

So, that’s it for my falcon watch report.  I’ll leave you with a few pictures I took while I was down at the lake (Ontario), looking for the juvie Peregrine.  Be sure to click on any pictures you would like to see larger.  Goodnight everyone!

Buck Pond in Greece, NY.  Dark Clouds moving in.

*

*

*

*

*

Continuing Fall Foliage

*

*

*

*

*

Red Sky at Night, Sailor’s Delight!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Brr- 39 degrees (F) 4 (C) as I left for my watch this morning with overcast skies and a breeze. There’s a freeze warning out for tonight

I found Beauty and Dot.Ca (DC) as I checked the north and east sides of HSBC-she was on the northeast corner and he was a couple feet away from her on the north side.

Click on all my pics for the full version

I took a couple pics then headed over to my spot on Chestnut St. by the Hotel Cadillac and just as I pulled up I heard eechupping followed by DC whining. I looked up just in time to see Beauty fly off the northwest corner of HSBC and head west-DC was now on the west end nearer to the northwest corner. So they had switched corners while I was enroute-sneaky little birdies they are!

<Click it  

Beauty did not return and DC left after a minute or so flying north. That would be all I saw of a falcon for the next 2 hours.

I searched downtown and the Brighton site thoroughly but there wasn’t a falcon to be found so I took pics of mums that the city has displayed around downtown.

Finally as I pulled up on the Broad St. Bridge from checking on the east side just before the 10 o’clock hour I found DC under the northeast wing of Times Square. I went to the hole straight away to click off a few pics of him before I had to leave for an appointment.

I had to smile as I exited downtown for even tho I didn’t see our downtown Rochester pair for long on my watch this morning, I DID see them for which I am blessed!  🙂

One video link below to click and view

http://youtu.be/aLzKvKzLyJU