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Wednesday Evening Falcon Watch – Juvie at Hawkeye & Pigott at BS – 9/4/13

September 4th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

I wasn’t able to start out for my Watch until 6:30 pm.  I knew I didn’t have long before it would be too dark to see anything, but I really wanted to see the juvie at the Hawkeye (HE) plant.  I pulled into the YMCA, which is on the other side of the river from HE.  The last time I was there, the structure the nest box rested on was covered with Crows.  Here’s my pic from the weekend.

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Tonight was different.  There was one lone bird there on the rail.  I quickly took a look through my binoculars.  Definitely the juvie Peregrine.  Before I could get a picture, she (let’s just say she, since we don’t have a positive ID yet), took off.  Thankfully, she didn’t go far.

Juvie at Hawkeye 9-4-13Juvie at Hawkeye 9-4-13*

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I hoped to get closer, but as I was driving across the Driving Park Bridge, she again took off.  As I was stopped at a red light, I watched her come in and out of view.  She was enjoying the light breeze over the building, playing.  The last I saw of her, it looked like she headed north.  I checked the building from the east side and could not find her.  So, I drove north and checked out the tall apartments north of HE.  I could not find her, so I returned to HE for one last look before heading downtown.

I was running out of time, so I quickly checked the downtown area.  No Falcons found.  Next stop, the BS location.

Pigott was on the SE corner of the east extension.  She was actively keeping track of everything happening around her.  Just once she vocalized very softly.  Dark clouds were moving in and by 7:45 pm it was getting dark.  I left Pigott preening to check the Xerox bldg for Beauty, hoping she was there.

Pigott at BS 9-4-13Pigott at BS 9-4-13*

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I parked in my usual spot beside St Mary’s Church to check out the south side of Xerox.  But, it was too dark to see if she was up there.  My camera wouldn’t even focus when I tried to take a picture of the 5th column in.

Darkness Falls on Rochester at 8 pm 9-4-13*

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It was after 8:00 pm and time to end my Watch.  As I passed Frontier Stadium, I could hear the cheers of the Red Wings Fans watching their favorite team in the playoffs.  Good luck Rochester Red Wings!

Low Light Madness 9-4-13*

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I’ll leave you with a few pics I took when I left work yesterday.  A Red-tail Hawk, who was just trying to enjoy her meal, was joined by two unwelcome dinner guests.  Goodnight everyone!

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Morning watch 9-4-13

September 4th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This morning was cool,clear and crisp with a starting temp of 55 (F) 13 (C)- my kind of weather!

It wasn’t until 6:30am that I found  a falcon this morning and it was Dot.Ca (DC) first rather than Beauty. He was on the top ibeam northeast side of OCSR.

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I stayed with him for about 15 minutes when I decided to look for Beauty. From the Andrews St. bridge I spotted a falcon on Kodak Office-northeast corner of launchpad. As I made my way over there from Platt and State St. I saw it take off into a blazing fast stoop toward the river. When it didn’t come back I went back to DC finding him with a visitor-the Beautyful one. They were somewhat close to each other on the top ibeam northeast side-he was by the north corner and she was further down from him.

img_0007-dc<DC img_0015-beauty<Beauty img_0022-bdc Click on pics for full version

I stayed with them for a few minutes and left to check the Hawkeye plant for that juvie I saw there the other day. I lucked out as it was there on the south side railing in front of the nest box. FYI-it’s about 2.5 miles from Times Square to Hawkeye by car-less than that for a flying falcon.

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I could not positively ID it because of the distance I was from it. A couple pics I thought I saw red on the right leg and others looked like blue. If it is one of ours red would make it Voyager and blue-Rosetta. I started walking across the big empty and blocked off parking lot but before I could get even half way the little stinker took off to the northwest. I snapped off a couple pics and made a small video of some of its flight.

img_0031-juvieh<Blue? Red?>img_0036-juvieh img_0037-juvie-h< Click it

I then went to the Brighton location but Pigott wasn’t there. Next was 590 at Blossom and Browncroft Blvd. to look for the juvie that’s been seen over there. Again like yesterday the only birds I saw on the light poles were pigeons. Since I was in Brighton I went back to look for Pigott again but no luck in finding her. KathyO pulled up next to me real quick on her way to work. Back over to Hawkeye again but the juvie was not there. I ended up on the Andrews St. Bridge where I spotted a falcon bump under the platform on the Frontier Communications Tower.

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I drove over to City Hall and observed DC from the south and north ends of the City Hall building because of where he was located at first-immediately under the platform on the east side.

img_0058-dc<Taken from south end img_0065-dc1<From north end

Soon after DC hopped his way out to a north side beam and that’s where I left him, thus ending my watch at 10:00am.

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I saw 3 falcons on my watch today certainly good reason to smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view more pics and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqilk

http://youtu.be/JJPdCMHZmfM
http://youtu.be/ytUSvRXA0qs
http://youtu.be/qsuUwAg2fkc
http://youtu.be/Z8U5D8OhSIM

Morning watch 9-3-13

September 3rd, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

YAY the humidity has left the area and cooler temps prevail today-as I left the house it was 61 (F) 16 (C) and refreshing. Still dark and overcast tho.

I found Beauty on HSBC on her favorite hunting spot lately-the southeast corner. She stayed for 15 minutes before standing up, turning in one direction only to take off in the opposite direction. The sequence of pics below will show you what I saw.

img_0004-beauty img_0007-getting-ready-to-take-off <Beauty starts turning to the northeast img_0008-turning-to-take-off img_0009-getting-into-position img_0010-almost-there img_0011-one-last-turn Then she takes off going southwest img_0012-and-shes-off And off she goes img_0013-on-her-way img_0014-see-ya-mak

I took off after the Beautyful one and found her a few minutes later on the top ibeam south corner of OCSR. I think she was playing games with me today for this is usually the corner Dot.Ca (DC) perches on and that little turn one way and go the other way over at HSBC was different. I drove down to the hole first to check and make sure it was Beauty and not DC.

img_0016-beauty-shot-from-the-hole img_0018-profile-shot-from-hole

I decided to get even closer by going down to Graves St. by Aqueduct Park. She stayed there about 10 minutes whipping her head from one side to the other looking for prey. She flew off around the river side of OCSR and disappeared on the north side.

img_0021-beauty-shot-from-graves-st img_0026-beauty-leaves-me-again< Click it to see Beauty fly off OCSR

I thought maybe she had gone to the Frontier Communications Tower so I headed over there. When I didn’t find her there I drove to the Andrews St. Bridge-lo and behold she and DC were on OCSR top ibeam. Beauty was on the northeast side and DC was at the north corner. I then went over to Bragdon St. by the Radisson Hotel for a closer view. I barely got settled when Beauty took wing heading east leaving me for the 3rd time in less than an hour-funny girl!

img_0027-ready-to-leave-me-for-the-last-time img_0028-later-gator

DC stayed thankfully and after a couple shots from there I went back to the west side of the river on State St. to observe him as he had turned facing that way, plus I wanted to see if  Beauty was on that side which she wasn’t.

img_0031-dc img_0032-dc img_0033-dc-shot-from-state-st

Forum member Christiane had posted that she has been seeing a juvie falcon on a light pole near the 590 exit at Blossom Rd. so after checking both Hawkeye and our Brighton site and finding no falcons I drove out there. I thought she had said the Browncroft Blvd. exit so that’s where I got off 590 and I was glad to because the rush hour traffic was crazy on 590. I checked light poles and trees in the area but didn’t see anything but pigeons. Bobbie from Ireland also posted having seen one near that area while back here in the states a while ago. I will go back tomorrow and check near the Blossom Rd. exit.

Upon returning downtown I could find no PEFAs so I ended my watch at 9:15am. Again, I saw Beauty and DC on my watch today giving me more than enough reason to leave smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to view videos from my watch

http://youtu.be/yWcrFDbjaR0
http://youtu.be/vGaHbIui2f8
http://youtu.be/eX6j8cbnsVE

Rochester Falcon Watch – Labor Day Weekend – All 3 Adult Rochester Falcons Seen – 8/31, 9/1 & 9/2/13

September 2nd, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

I was out quite a bit during the Labor Day Weekend and saw many  of my Watcher friends and all three adult Rochester Falcons.  Most of my Watches took place late morning/early afternoon.  The weather?  Hot and humid, but so worth being outside on these late summer days to see our falcons.  My report will be mostly pictures, because I figured you’d want to see what I saw this weekend.  Rochester Falcons and a  bit of Rochester itself.  🙂

Enjoy!  Oh, and be sure to click on any pics you would like to see larger.  Also, if you hover your cursor over a picture, you can read what it is.

Saturday & Sunday, 8/31 & 9/1/13

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I included a picture of the Hawkeye plant (above) because a juvie was seen there this weekend.

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I went in search of Beauty and Dot.ca.  I found Beauty on the Frontier Communication Tower (FCT).

Beauty on the Frontier Communication Tower 8-31-13*

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Now where could Dot.ca be?  From the Broad St Bridge (BSB), I saw that the OCSR elevator was down.  It is usually at the top of the elevator shaft.  Hmmm.  I drove over to the Radisson and looked up inside the elevator shaft. Yep, there he was!  Both he and Beauty had found nice spots out of the sun.  Smart falcons!

OCSR - I Think I See a Falcon Up There 8-31-13Dot.ca Up Inside the OCSR Elevator Shaft 8-31-13*

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Now it was time to find Pigott at the BS location.  When I drove up to the building, I was happy to see her on one of the lower levels on the west side.

Hello Pigott at BS 8-31-13Pigott at BS 8-31-13Pigott Stretches 8-31-13*

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Pigott Wings Up! -31-13Pigott at BS 8-31-13*

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On Sunday, Dot.ca was hunting off of HSBC.

Dot.ca on HSBC 9-1-13Dot.ca Stoops off HSBC 9-1-13Dot.ca on HSBC 9-1-13*

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Monday, 9/2/13 – Labor Day

I started my watch today by checking out a lot of the areas around the city, looking for the juvie that was seen over the weekend.  No luck sorry to say.  But I did see Beauty, Dot.ca and Pigott, which was a very good thing.

The Hawkeye plant, where the juvie had been spotted, was taken over by a whole lot of Crows.  There has been a nest box on top of this building for a long time, but no falcons have shown interest in nesting there.  Probably too close to downtown.

Crows on the Hawkeye Plant Nest Box 9-2-13*

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Across from where I was parked to view the Hawkeye plant is Maplewood Park, where the flowers were still blooming.

Flowers at Maplewood Park 9-2-13

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My next stop was the pedestrian bridge.  No Falcons or Ospreys seen there.  This was my view of the Kodak Tower and the Genesee Brewery.

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I had totally forgot about the Labor Day parade.  Most of the roads were closed leading into downtown, so I ended up on the Andrews St Bridge.  I parked my car and grabbed my binocs and camera.  My intention was to walk up to Main St to look up into the elevator shaft and to watch the parade for a little while.  That didn’t happen.  Just as I crossed Andrews St, I heard ee-chupping and spotted two falcons.  Beauty was on the SE corner of the Federal Bldg and Dot.ca was flying above.  He flew towards the Frontier Communication Tower.

Beauty on the SE Corner of the Federal Bldg 9-2-13*

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Beauty took off and also headed towards the FCT.  I followed on foot.  Just as I arrived, I heard what I thought was a juvie vocalizing, but I could only see Beauty and Dot.ca.  I circled the whole tower in hopes of seeing a juvie.  It must have been Beauty and Dot.ca that I heard.

Beauty on FCT 9-2-13Dot.ca on FCT 9-2-13*

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The parade was ending and many of the participants passed me.

Labor Day Parade-9-2-13*

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My last stop was the BS location where I found Pigott on the Cubby ledge.  It’s a nice spot where she can keep out of the sun.  It was time for me to head home.

Pigott at BS 9-2-13*

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It had been such a beautiful Labor Day Weekend.  I hated to see it come to an end.

I’ll leave you with a few pics of the Charlotte area.  This is the mouth of the Genesee River where it flows into Lake Ontario.  It’s not Cape Cod June K, but I thought you might like to see it.

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Morning watch 9-2-13

September 2nd, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Another gray and humid morning here in Rochester. I’m looking forward to a cold front coming thru bringing cooler and drier conditions this coming week. Todays starting temp at 6am was 67 (F) 19 (C)

Todays feature is the lack of something to feature! lol I found Beauty on the southeast corner of HSBC and spent about 5 minutes with her before she flew off to the southwest. That would be the last I saw of the Beautyful one on my watch.

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At 6:40am I spotted Dot.Ca (DC) on the top ibeam north corner of OCSR. I observed him from State St. for some of the time on the west side of the river.

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I took a ride across the Andrews St. Bridge stopping at the traffic light at St. Paul Street I took a pic of a cool painting on a building there. I guess this will be my feature today as it’s the only good photo out of the very few I have.

img_0011-cool-painting-on-a-building-at-st-paul-and-andrews-st Click on this to see the full version

From there I drove over to Bragdon St. on the east side by the Radisson Hotel. I took a walk across the Sister Cities pedestrian bridge and positioned myself below DC for a bit.

img_0012-dc img_0023-dc img_0024-dc

I left DC to check near the Hawkeye plant for the juvie that’s been seen there. I did not find it so back downtown I went. DC was still on OCSR only he was a couple feet off the north corner top ibeam now.

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I had taken a trip around looking for Beauty but was unsuccessful so I left for the Brighton site.  Unfortunately Pigott wasn’t home and after searching downtown I didn’t find any Peregrines. And that’s all she wrote-I ended my watch at 9:40am. I saw Beauty and DC and that was enough for a  smile! 🙂

Morning watch 9-1-13

September 1st, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

The humidity continues as we had an overcast morning and a temperature of  69 (F)  21 (C) to start the day at 6am.

Beauty switched things up on me this morning as I didn’t find her on HSBC or anywhere else but I did find Dot.Ca (DC) after half hour on the  top ibeam south corner of OCSR. He had his back to me initially but I observed him from different spots including the hole (Aqueduct St.), Graves St. and at Main St. by the Radisson Hotel. The orange glow of the sun peeking thru the clouds for a brief few minutes gave him an amber look.

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After I switched locations, DC took off stooping  toward the river out of sight. I went looking and found him over on the east side perched on our tallest downtown building Xerox-southeast corner.

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DC didn’t let any moss grow under him there as he flew off like he was shot out of a rocket-I clicked the shutter on my camera when he left Xerox and barely got him in the shot before he went into a super fast stoop around 7:30am.

img_0025-dc-going-after-breakfast He sure does blend in-I almost didn’t notice him in this pic

10 minutes later I found DC back on his spot-top ibeam south corner of OCSR. As I crossed the Broad St. Bridge I saw the cherry picker by Blue Cross Arena-time to clean windows!  I parked below DC on Graves St. as he peeked out from the corner before moving just to the west of it.

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I left him after 20 minutes and went in search of the Beautyful one. Making my way over to the Frontier Communications Tower at 8am I pulled in the Hochstein School of Music parking lot as I spotted Beauty on the tower in the same spot as yesterday when she wouldn’t share breakfast with DC-south side beam in the lower white section. She just perched there looking around the area for 5 minutes then she seemed to spot something. I’m guessing DC, for she vocalized, took off and went directly to OCSR with MAK hot on her tail!

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Beauty went to the top ibeam west corner of OCSR while DC was still down the top ibeam at the south corner and shortly after he would fly out and go to the 2nd ibeam south corner.

img_0057-beauty<Beauty img_0065-dc<DC img_0066-bdcClick on to view full version

I thought this would be a good time to go check on Miss Pigott at the Brighton location. As I drove in the driveway I caught a glimpse of Pigott flying from the west to the cubby area so I stopped there on the west side where it’s located and saw her up on the front edge of the cubby at 8:23am. I grabbed my camera and then she walked into the cubby where she is hidden. I waited about 15 minutes and Pigott came to the forefront for me.

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She did some serious preening in the hour I shared space with her and did some awesome posing for me as well. Pigott is a very photogenic girl!

img_0093-now-let-me-see img_0102-shes-so-cute img_0104-pigott-posing-for-mak<Click it

I left her to it and returned to downtown finding Beauty to still be on the top ibeam west corner of OCSR but DC was gone.  She too did some cute poses for MAK!

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I ended my watch about 9:45am as I left Beauty and looked for DC unsuccessfully. I also took a ride down to the Hawkeye plant to see if the juvie from yesterday was around but I didn’t see it. It was a very tranquil Sunday morning watch as I saw all 3 resident Rochester Peregrine Falcons, each with their own individual personalities to make me smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view more pics and videos of our beloved falcons

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqikC

http://youtu.be/DC-6HaPKy7U
http://youtu.be/uh1trnu5wYA
http://youtu.be/lFpORZ3_22I
http://youtu.be/2X5FDQA-784
http://youtu.be/BRY4VC7b95s


Morning watch 8-31-13

August 31st, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Another soupy day from some very oppressive humidity. It was overcast and dark with a starting temp of 73 (F) 23 (C)

Darkness hung on a long time this morning making for some bad photos but in the darkness I found something bright as I arrived downtown around 6:10am on my way to the east side via the Court St. Bridge. The colored lights on the Rundell Library were still going  so I stopped to shoot a video before continuing on to look for Beauty. I found her on the southeast corner of HSBC .

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She was on the hunt as she stooped twice and returned to the same spot with nothing to show for her efforts. At 7am the Beautyful one flew off to the west above Xerox out of view. As I was looking for her from the Andrews St. bridge I spotted Dot.Ca (DC) on the top ibeam at the north corner of OCSR. I drove to State St. across from the Rochester Plaza Hotel to observe.

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DC took off at 7:19am after a short stay on OCSR. As I stopped at the intersection of Church and Fitzhugh I noticed 2 falcons on the northeast corner of City Place. I got very excited-thinking juvie since that’s where our juvies hung out a lot. It was actually Beauty and DC.

img_0020-dc1<DC img_0021-yes-dear-i-have-food<Click on my pics for a full version

They flew off soon after I landed in the Hochstein parking lot to watch. Beauty had prey in her talons and DC wanted it-he tried to take it from her by flying under her and inverting himself which is classic food exchange form. Beauty thwarted his attempt and they both flew over to the  Frontier Communications Tower (FCT). Beauty landed on a south side beam in the lower white section and DC came to rest directly above her in the lower red section.

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Beauty began plucking feathers and eating while DC could only watch from above and let out a little whine now and then.

img_0044-aw-honey-please-share img_0042-hey-beauty-you-gonna-save-me-some DC-Hey save me some will ya?

img_0037-get-off-me1 img_0051-nom-nom1 Beauty- No way I’m hungry!

I looked up and couldn’t see DC-I didn’t know if he left or just moved in where I couldn’t see him but I decided to go to Brighton and look for Pigott around 7:45am. I found her easily as she was on the south side roof at the west end of the building. I shared space with Miss Pigott for about 10 minutes when she stooped to the southeast.

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I had somewhere to be so I ended my watch at that time but as it turned out my watch was extended because while driving across the Driving Park Bridge I spotted a falcon. Of course I had to investigate-I pulled over and put my hazard flashers on and started clicking away. It was a juvenile Peregrine Falcon and it was eating on the west side roof of the Kodak Hawkeye plant on St. Paul Blvd. Distance and darkness did not work in my favor in ID’ing it but I don’t think it was banded. I believe it was female judging by the size and quite dark.

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Several crows started harassing it and it was squawking at them before it flew off to the south onto a lower roof. The crows left it alone after that.

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The juvie really looked dark and I thought that if it was one of ours it had to be Rosetta but I couldn’t see any bands so I can only speculate. It walked to the south end of the roof it was on and I whipped down to the east end of the bridge where I thought I could get a close up pic and ID it. No such luck-I had time for one pic before it flew off after an Osprey to the south. It was 9:20am and now I really had to end my watch.

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I had noticed one particular window that stood out on the building and so I will end my report with a pic of it.

img_0107-smile Keep smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to view more pics and MANY videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqij8

http://youtu.be/noX28fmiVb8
http://youtu.be/gKpuqHwGfj0
http://youtu.be/wTK9J_qa4KE
http://youtu.be/ga04RYK0ixI
http://youtu.be/zKVjubPPZYA
http://youtu.be/KodqCHGOc2Y
http://youtu.be/kTpBAhJCPjI
http://youtu.be/Es0xTl2DyBo
http://youtu.be/CyCFk0cAqeA


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Morning watch 8-30-13

August 30th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon watcher MAK

A much better morning than the last couple days with clear skies,still humid and a temperature of 65 (F) 18 (C) to start

As I was making the rounds on the east side I spotted Beauty fly in from the east right above me and land on the northeast corner of HSBC and I thought she had a small package in her talons. I drove to Chestnut near Broad St. to observe as she just stood there crouched  for at least 20 minutes with her back to me. Finally the Beautyful one stood up and revealed her treasure then started plucking feathers.

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She ate some and then stood over it again for a few minutes before flying off to the northwest leaving the leftovers behind. I stopped on the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) to check out the river for activity and found the usual-a Great Blue Heron hunting,ducks swimming and dunking their heads under the water and gulls flying every which way and hanging out in the shallows. And I had a ladybug on my windshield.

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After a few minutes I made my way over to the Andrews St. bridge where I spotted a falcon on the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT). I drove over to City Hall and found that it was Beauty on the northeast cube. She had her back to me from the parking lot so after a while I went to Church St. where I could see the front of her.

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Beauty did some preening and ever so softly whined from time to time. She also pulled out a few of her small white feathers as she is still molting and pooped. She moved toward the inner beams under the platform and it was at this point I left to check out the Brighton Site around 8:30am.

img_0079-beauty img_0080-poop-shot img_0081-moving-over

No luck in Brighton-Pigott was nowhere to be found so back downtown I went. I spotted Beauty on the north side when I heard her call out. She soon started moving toward the west side where she ended up.

img_0082-beauty img_0089 img_0087-beauty-moving-in img_00891

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed movement on the other side of the tower. It was DC directly across from Beauty on the east side, both under the platform of the FCT. They could see each other if they wanted to but Beauty was napping and DC was busy preening.

img_0091-bdc <Click it      DC>img_0094-dc img_0098-dc img_0099-dc

I called it a watch and left them to it just past the 9 o’clock hour. I was happy to see DC up there sharing space with Beauty-made me smile! 🙂

Click on the links below to view more pics and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqije

http://youtu.be/zoXNbOIPwys
http://youtu.be/uvUKvxAvT-M

http://youtu.be/75yY-tUQ9fs
http://youtu.be/ysfbqlEbi2s
http://youtu.be/dR8eqh4g5qg

Thursday Evening Falcon Watch – Dot.ca Takes on City Hall and Beauty on FCT! – 8/29/13

August 29th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Just as I was approaching City Hall (6:45 pm), I heard Peregrine vocalizations filling the air.  I looked up in time to see a Falcon zip up to and land on the west side, south end of City Hall.  I quickly parked my car and looked up.  Just above me on top of the roof line was an adult Peregrine.  After getting some good looks thorough my binoculars, I verified that it was Dot.ca.  He spent a lot of time walking along the roof and looking down.  I had to wonder if he had been on a hunt and that his prey had escaped by landing on the ground nearby.  I looked around and could not see anything.

Dot.ca was vocalizing quite a bit and he was being answered by Beauty, who was about 1/2 way down the Frontier Communication Tower on the south side.  I love to hear them “chat” with each other.  lol

Here are a few of the pics I took of DC on City Hall.

DC Takes On City Hall 8-29-13DC Takes On City Hall 8-29-13DC Takes On City Hall 8-29-13*

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DC Takes On City Hall 8-29-13DC Takes On City Hall 8-29-13DC Takes On City Hall 8-29-13*

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DC Takes On City Hall 8-29-13DC Takes On City Hall 8-29-13*

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Crows were coming through and landing on nearby buildings.  CAW CAW CAW! Dot.ca watched their every move, but did not give chase.  A bee was buzzing right in front of him and he was fascinated with it.  Finally about 7:15 pm, he took off heading northwest past the FCT, where Beauty remained.  It wasn’t long before Dot.ca returned and landed on the top arm of the FCT.  Now both B&DC where there. Larry O joined me at the Hochstein parking lot on the south side of the Frontier Comm Tower, with his dog Harold.

Beauty and Dot.ca on FCT 8-29-13Beauty on FCT 8-29-13*

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Dot.ca on FCT 8-29-13Beauty on FCT 8-29-13*

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Just before 8:00 pm, first Beauty and then Dot.ca took off, heading SE towards downtown.  Once the Falcons had left, Harold decided it was time for he and Larry to leave too.

Harold Ready to Leave Beep! Beep! 8-29-13*

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Even though it was getting dark, I decided to drive around the downtown area before I ended my watch, hoping to find Beauty and DC before heading home.  I did not find Dot.ca, but I did find Beauty at one of her nighttime roosting spots.  She was on top of the Xerox Tower on the south side, 5th column in from the SE corner.

Beauty on Xerox South Side 8-29-13Beauty on Xerox South Side 8-29-13*

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It was time to end my evening Watch.  Happy to have seen both Beauty and Dot.ca.  Oh, and one more thing.  Larry O reported seeing Pigott eating out at the BS location at 4:30 pm.  Good night everyone!

Morning watch 8-29-13

August 29th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Another warm, humid start with a temperature of 63 (F) 17 (C) -it started out kinda clear but fog moved in and changed that.

I was on my way leaving the east side after not seeing Beauty on HSBC when I decided one more check around it was in order. It was a good call because I found the Beautyful one on the northwest corner with food. I parked on Chestnut St. to check her out.

img_0005-beauty1 img_0010-beauty1 img_0011-its-raining-feathers

The air was so moisture laden that I had to keep my wipers going, and when I got back in my car I  had to turn on the defroster to clear the inside. Beauty had flown off without my seeing her and when I got to the Broad St. Bridge (BSB) the fog was quickly taking over at the surface more so than the building tops at first. As time went on everything was enveloped in fog and from the BSB at around 7am I couldn’t see anything beyond OCSR or Times Square. The jail tower was hard to see too.

img_0016-fog-moving-in-behind-times-square img_0018-foggy-jail-tower <Jail towerimg_0019-fog-moving-in-behind-ocsr Click on pics for full version

I took a ride and found Beauty on the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT) just before the fog took it over. She was on the beam that crosses between the southeast and northeast cubes with her back to me. The fog took over quickly in a matter of 5 minutes as you can see in the next sequence of pics.

img_0020-beauty-in-fog-on-fct img_0025-beauty-in-fog img_0028-beauty-as-fog-gets-worse img_0029-try-finding-a-falcon-in-that-mess

Since Beauty had eaten I figured she would settle in to digest her meal so I decided to leave for the Brighton site (BS). I met up with DebbieH briefly before I left.  On the way down State St. I stopped and took a pic of OCSR which was looking quite eery. And as I crossed the Ford St. Bridge off Exchange Blvd. to Mt Hope Ave. I took a pic of the sun that was trying to burn thru the dense fog.

img_0030-ocsr-from-state-st img_0031-sun-trying-to-burn-thru-fog

Upon arriving at BS the fog had taken over there as well but I was able to spot a white chest on the west end of the south side vent. I thought this has to be Dot.Ca (DC) and as I scanned the rest of the vent I could barely make out the shape of a falcon on the east end who was Pigott.

img_0034-pigott-in-the-fog<Pigott img_0037-dc-in-the-fog<DC

They both slipped off when I wasn’t looking or maybe while I was watching and just couldn’t see them thru the fog.  At any rate shortly after I heard Pigott whining and then I saw her fly across the back of the building real low from west to east. I think she was looking for DC hence the whining. I checked around the building 3 times and determined that they had both left the premises. With that I ended my watch around 8:30am. Tho it was a dismal watch I still saw all 3 Rochester Peregrine Falcons and for that i had a little smile cross my face! 🙂

Click on the links below to view videos from my watch

http://youtu.be/_MjrOPq3FvY
http://youtu.be/LLBLIQvJgqg
http://youtu.be/3Ujm-YFfvtw


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