By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

I wanted to make sure that all of our current Rochester Falcons were coping with these bitter temperatures before I headed home after work today.  Between 4:00 and 5:00 pm, I was able to find all three, Beauty, Pigott & BST.

I drove through downtown first.  Brian had reported seeing Beauty on top of the Times Square Bldg under a wing.  When I got there, she had moved over to the top IBeam on the OCSR, SE side.  She had her back to me and was all poofed out against the cold.

Next stop, the BS location, where I found Pigott on a window two down from the tree ledge, near the corner of the east extension, facing SE.  I continued to loop around the building and found BST already hunkered down at their nighttime roost, on the north side of the east extension, three windows down.  Both were facing into the building and poofed up like Beauty.  All three were actively looking behind them, keeping an eye on everything going on.

It was so cold out, unbearable to be outside of the car for more than a few moments at a time.  I didn’t stay long.

On my way home, I again drove through downtown one more time to see if Beauty was still on OCSR.  Nope, she was gone and I had a feeling I knew where I would find her.  I was right.  Beauty was up inside the OCSR elevator shaft on the south ledge.  She was out of the cold wind.  Smart girl.

As of 10:30 pm on 1/22/13, according to the National Weather Service, Rochester is under a Lake Effect Snow Warning until 10 am Wednesday morning.  We can get anywhere between 4 – 8 inches, with low visibility at times.  It is currently 8 degrees (F), but feels like -5!  Tomorrow it will only get to a high of 12 degrees (F) with continued snow showers.  Welcome to the frozen tundra aka Rochester, NY in the Wintertime.  Remember to bring in your pets and don’t forget your backyard feathered friends too.  My feeders are filled, and I put suet out too.

Keep safe and keep warm everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

As I opened the back door to go on my watch this morning the cold hit me in the face and my eyes immediately started to water. 8 degrees fahrenheit is -13 celcius and any way you look at it that is COLD! No worries-my car started and by the time I got downtown there was heat coming out of the vents.  Just a few minutes passed as I was parked on  the Broad St. bridge(BSB) when I spotted Beauty on the top ibeam of OCSR southeast side.

I drove down to Aqueduct Park for close viewing as she was in hunt mode looking to and fro for a her breakfast to come flying by. 10 minutes later Beauty left when I wasn’t looking so the search was on. 15 minutes later I found her on the northeast side of OCSR top ibeam and she didn’t have a full crop so I knew she hadn’t been successful in finding a meal.

I watched her bring up a pellet making room for food. I believe it was too cold for my camera as it was having a lot of trouble keeping focused this morning. 25  minutes went by when the Beautyful one decided to take off to the east side crossing over the river and out of view as I was parked by the Radisson Hotel. I had no luck in locating her so I left for the Brighton Site. BST was on the top south facing window ledge at the inside corner of the east extension.

He was wide awake today and spent the entire time I observed him preening except for when planes flew overhead. They fly very low over the building and I’ve noticed BST always checks them out. Today 2 flew over us and his cute little head looked up at them.

I stayed for over an hour hoping to see Miss Pigott but for the second day in a row she didn’t grace me with her presence. I left just before 10:00am returning to downtown to look for Beauty. She was no where to be found so I ended my watch. I hope all 3 of our current Peregrine Falcons are able to grab themselves something to eat today so they can stay warm in this bitter cold spell we’re having. I left downtown in bright sunshine which didn’t do much for warmth today but it did put a smile on my face! 🙂

Click on the links below to view 3 videos from todays watch

http://youtu.be/fJ3ZafDxw-o
http://youtu.be/qdCeQM3AwwM
http://youtu.be/Wup0FdKBm7M

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Joyce (wnyfalconfan)

It had been a week since Steve took me on a falcon watch. We were able find all three peregrines in the brief time we were out. Beauty was in the same spot on OCSR north side as previously seen by Carol two hours earlier. Arriving at the Brighton Site (BS), Dana and Carol’s lenses were pointed up at the east side of the building. The tiercel (BST) was near the roof-top tree on the SE ledge and Pigott on the corner of the east extension. Pigott was the active falcon today. She moved within 8 ft of BST, flew around to the south side, harrassed some geese, and returned to the east side.

Check out the Brighton duo – click on link to my album below. As done previously, some of the pics have been arranged to give the impression of a slow-motion picture show.

Picasa (wnyfalconfan): Falcon Watch Jan 19, 2013

Enjoy!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a cool 18 degrees out with a dusting of snow on my car when I left for downtown. 10 minutes after I landed on the Broad St. Bridge the Aqueduct pigeons came whipping up from under the bridge.Flying fast like a blue streak across it barely clearing the railing like usual and down on the other side. The only thing that came back up was our resident downtown Peregrine Falcon we affectionately call Beauty and she had prey in her talons.  She flew above the bridge out over the river and coming to rest on the base of Mercury.

I thought Beauty was resting cuz she didn’t tear right into it but there was something out there bothering her as she kept looking up and around. For 10 minutes this went on and then she flew off fast without  her catch to the southwest toward the jail. A couple minutes later Beauty returned and still wasn’t ready to start preparing her meal as she landed on the money bag hand to look around and make sure the coast was clear.

When she was ready it was all business-flying down to the base and making the feathers fly.

Still Beauty seemed uneasy as she wasn’t fully into the task at hand. Just past 8:00am without warning she suddenly flew off the green part of the base out a few feet and back to the concrete part of the base of Mercury.

It was at this time that the Beautyful one started in earnest to pluck feathers and consume her fine feast. She had something to say to a gull that flew past and when she was finished she situated the leftovers in her talons and slipped off the base flying out over the river and disappearing behind OCSR.

It was just before 9:00am when I went looking for her without any success so I left to check the Brighton Site. I could see BST as I stopped on the east side of the building and the little cutie was fast asleep with his head tucked back into his left wing.

A little while later Pigott flew thru right past BST, waking him up. She never stopped as she flew north over Highland Park above the tree line until I lost sight of her. I assume she was hunting over there. The little man was awake and looking for her in between preening, sleeping and squawking at her and some crows who were in the area.

I waited  about 30 minutes for Pigotts’ return and left BST to his preening when she didn’t. A quick look before heading home I found Beauty on the northeast side of OCSR on the top ibeam.

She was just relaxing and looking around nonchalantly. I was smiling as I pulled away at around 10:45am for having seen all 3 current Rochester Falcons! 🙂

Click the links below for more pics and 5 videos from my falcon watch

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrT8g

http://youtu.be/1_X4_ve6j3I
http://youtu.be/SK7PycfboT8
http://youtu.be/U1RebtwtOfk
http://youtu.be/f9c5yZja0Xk
http://youtu.be/QDtI2N-maMA

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

The winds of change were really whipping today.  They were ushering in very cold air into the Rochester area that would remain with us for awhile.  Brrrrrr!

This is the flag on top of the Powers Bldg.  Click on it to see the whole picture.

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Today I didn’t start my falcon watch until 11:00 am.  I started out at KP where I saw no falcons.  But I did see two Red-tail Hawks soaring above me.  They weren’t going to let a little bit of wind stop them.  I’m pretty sure that this is the local pair that nest near KP and have raised young in the past.  Looks like they would be there again this year.  Yes!  Love watching the young Red-tails in the spring and summer.

My next stop was downtown Rochester where I found Beauty on the top IBeam on the OCSR, SE side.  Her head was in constant motion.  At 11:50 am, she stooped off and flew low over the river heading south.  I was down on Aqueduct St, so I didn’t see where she went.  From the Broad St Bridge, I could see lots and lots of panicked pigeons flying between me and the Cornhill area.  They were everywhere, but I couldn’t find Beauty in that mass of feathered frenzy.  It wasn’t long before Beauty returned to the top Ibeam of OCSR, very close to where she was before she went off on a hunt.  I remained on the Broad St Bridge for awhile before heading out to the BS location where Kathy O was reporting from.   She had no falcons there, but there were three deer keeping her entertained.  The momma and two young ones that we have seen hanging out there.

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I drove around the building at the BS location and could not find Kathy, but I did find Pigott on the tree ledge on the east side and she had food.  Couldn’t tell if it was a fresh kill or if she had retrieved cached prey.  Kathy joined me.  She had been in the back area near the woods where the deer were hanging out and grazing.

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Pigott did some flying, enjoying the high winds.  She returned to the tree ledge where she was buffeted by the winds, causing her to lose her balance now and then.  During the time Kathy and I were there, BST did not make an appearance.  We were there from 12:30 til 2:40 pm.

On our way home, we both checked the downtown area but had no luck finding Beauty.  The temps were dropping and it was getting really cold.  It was time to head home to warm up!

I’ll leave you with a picture of the Gannett building which is home to Rochester’s newspaper the Democrat & Chronicle.  It was just announced that this building was being put up for sale.  It is located just south of the Times Square Bldg. where the nest box is located.  Just another sign that things are changing and not always for the best.

REMEMBER TO CLICK ON ANY PICTURES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN A LARGER VERSION.  THANKS!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

When I left the house this morning one thing was evident-the strong winds that were forecast to usher in a bitter cold front had arrived. I didn’t really expect Beauty would go up on Mercury given the windy conditions so I drove around to look for her. I checked the elevator shaft first but she wasn’t up there taking shelter so onward I went to the east side. There was a very interesting sky as the sun was coming up in the east.

Click on all pics for a full version

Making my way back to the Broad St. Bridge I parked and waited as one by one the pigeons flew up from under the bridge. Less than 5 minutes later I spotted Beauty on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR.

I drove down to the hole to observe her as the sky opened up with a burst of snow making it difficult to do so.

Within 15-20 minutes the snow stopped and the sun tried to come out from behind the clouds.  The Beautyful one was looking for a possible meal to come thru as she was turning her head to and fro.

Beauty had left the building when I wasn’t looking. I took a trip around our fair city but didn’t find her. I suspect she was hunting near the Liberty Pole for I saw pigeons in fright flight near there in my travels. It was off to our Brighton Site to look for Pigott and BST her winter companion. There were no falcons present, in fact there were no birds of any kind around as the wind was worse than downtown. I noticed the parking lot markers and an outhouse had been blown over as I pulled into the east side parking lot.

Click it

Larry came by shortly after I arrived for a quick update and off he went with  his dog Harold. I stayed for a bit to see if a falcon would show up and then I returned to downtown. While I was in the parking lot at City Hall checking the Frontier Communications Tower for Beauty I discovered a speed limit sign on a fire escape.

That was one of the stranger things I’ve come across on a falcon watch. Unsuccessful in locating our resident downtown Peregrine Falcon Beauty I ended my watch just before 10:00am. It is my hope that all 3 of our falcons will have themselves a nice big meal before the days out so when the temps plummet to the teens and single digits they can stay warm. I’m not looking forward to the cold coming to us this week but I will keep smiling thru it! 🙂

2 Links below to view Beauty during and after a snow squall

http://youtu.be/q7SmPjqXIe0
http://youtu.be/ORfhvCSh8fc

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

While MAK, Larry O and Dana were at the BS location this morning, I decided to start my watch downtown.  I found Beauty on the NE side of the OCSR on the top IBeam.

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I stayed with Beauty for awhile, but since she seemed to be settled and preening, I decided to head over to the BST location to join the others.  When I arrived, only Dana remained.  It was very windy and the temps were warmer than the last couple days, but it seemed cold due to the wind.

Dana told me about Pigott going after a gull earlier.  We both remained in our cars to watch both BST and Pigott who were on the east end of the building.  BST was quite content on his tree ledge, preening and dozing.  Pigott was anything but content to remain in one spot.  While we were there, she did quite a bit of flying, always returning to the building on one spot or another.  Quite a few times she landed on the same ledge as BST.  Twice we watched her walk towards BST and he took off, once to another windowsill and once back to the tree ledge where she was located.

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Pigott found some cached food for a quick snack.  Looked like a wing and a shoulder.

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Both Pigott and BST spent a lot of time on the same ledge or windowsill, but always a few feet apart.

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During the time I was there, I saw Pigott go after a Red-tail Hawk twice (not sure if it was the same one or not) and two Geese that she almost drove to the ground.  Don’t worry, they were ok and way too big to be a meal for this feisty female.  Joyce and Steve joined Dana and I for awhile.  It was great seeing Joyce out and about.  Thanks for taking her falcon watching Steve!

Pigott was very active the whole time we were there.  BST did a little bit of flying, but not much.

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She was here, there and everywhere!  When she wasn’t flying around, eating or chasing things, she was content to just preen and look gorgeous.

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PLEASE CLICK ON ANY PICS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN A LARGER VERSION, THANKS!

After everyone left, I decided to stay a bit longer.  Pigott was on the SE corner of the east extension and BST was on the tree ledge at the east end.  First Pigott and then BST took off heading east.  I watched both of them start to dive down on a few Crows that were passing through on their way to their nighttime roost.  BST returned to the tree ledge, but Pigott relentlessly chased a Crow back towards the building.  The Crow was flying very fast, but not nearly fast enough to evade Pigott who was hot on his tail.  The Crow flew right up to the back (south side) of the building, between two extensions and Pigott followed.  I lost sight of both of them for a few seconds.  I held my breath waiting to see what would happen.  It seemed forever before Pigott flew out very low and very fast.  She flew over me and did a U turn back to the building landing on the tree ledge a few feet to the right of BST.

I waited to see if the Crow would show itself.  Was it hurt?  Finally, the Crow flew out from the building heading south over the wooded area.  Whew!  I was really worried that the Crow had been injured.  I was happy to see that it survived.  Hopefully learning a valuable lesson.  Never bother a Peregrine Falcon!  Avoid them at all costs!  🙂

It was a fun Saturday watch with lots of action.  Tomorrow will be much colder and very windy, with wind gusts over 50 mph.  Brrrrr!  Hang on to your hat and keep your eyes to the sky!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was 25 degrees warmer than yesterday morning and yet the wind made it feel almost just as cold. I wasn’t on the Broad St. Bridge more than 5 minutes when Beauty made an appearance on the base of Mercury.

She was in hunt mode but took time out to eat a few leftovers she had up there. And nearly an hour passed when the Beautyful one took off flying directly east across the river.

She scared up the pigeons over by Midtown and they all disappeared behind Xerox. I checked over there but couldn’t locate her so I headed out for the Brighton Site. Pigott was on the northeast corner as I drove around to the east side of the property. 5 minutes later at just about 9:00am BST flew in from the east landing on the southeast corner of the ledge that is under the rooftop tree.

Pigott BST              Click pics for full version

Another 5 minutes went by when Pigott flew over to the same ledge BST was on and landed.

Larry and Harold came by about 15 minutes later as Miss Pigott started eating a small bit of leftovers. I assume it was what  BST had eaten earlier as he was wearing a full crop underneath that cute face.

Dana came by around 9:30am saying “hello stranger”. That would be the first time I’ve watched falcons with her since before I went to Arkansas in November I believe. It was good to see her. It was almost like a shift change as I was just about ready to call it a watch. Larry left and in the next 20 minutes BST changed his perch when he flew straight down to a window ledge 3 levels down from where he was under the roof top tree. And Pigott flew out after a gull who had a lot to say about it. She then flew back to land on the southeast corner of the east extension.

Just before I ended my watch at close to 10:00am Pigott flew over to the window directly above BST and walked from one side of it to the other. I was very pleased to see each one of our current Peregrine Falcons today and a couple fellow watchers was a bonus.

I told Dana I was going to head out and she said she would be leaving soon as well. As I drove away I couldn’t help but smile for I know when a falcon watcher says they’re leaving soon that can turn into hours later! 🙂

Click the links below to view more photos and 5 videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrT0A

http://youtu.be/hH15FvhzjfY
http://youtu.be/32wsOq3gEfE

http://youtu.be/Kmog_wtMHsg
http://youtu.be/V7mLDjcF0WY
http://youtu.be/v95jXveeLtc

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Having gotten 3 in. of snow overnite I did some snow clearing before heading out for my watch on a crisp 12 degree fahrenheit morning. The sky was pretty light on my way downtown so I knew we’d have a nice sunrise.

Twas a slow start falcon wise as I never saw Beauty until just before 8:00am some 45 minutes into my watch. I was parked on the Andrews St. bridge when the pigeons that hang out on the top of the Radisson Hotel scattered into fright flight. Beauty came flying from the east and proceeded to chase them toward me as they all were dipping and diving, zigging and zagging back and forth over the river. They changed direction and shot straight upriver to the south past OCSR over the Broad St. and Court St. bridges where I lost them. Wow slow was done and action had taken over even tho it lasted probably all of half a minute it seemed like longer. I looked for Beauty as I made my way toward Cornhill on my way to Brighton(BS) to check that site without finding her. Just before 8:30am I arrived at BS and spotted BST our visiting winter unbanded tiercel(male) Peregrine Falcon being the first time all week that I had seen this endearing falcon.

He was on a south facing top window ledge on the east extension at the inside corner. At first BST was preening and I think he tired himself out cuz he soon got sleepy and started nodding off.

Pigott flew in after half hour and landed on the northeast corner of the east extension after flying above BST and checking him out.

She was looking especially lovely and light in the sweet sunshine as she preened and watched over her territory. She too got sleepy at one point while there. She also watched a plane fly overhead.

They both seemed pretty content to just bask in the sun for the 2 hours I spent with them. At about 10:15am Pigott spread her wings readying for flight and took off  to the east.

10 minutes later BST walked over to the corner of his window and discarded a feather that was obviously bugging him from cached food he had up there. He then jumped/flew to the window across from the one he was on,walked to the far corner of that ledge and tucked in for a nap.

Click pics for full version

I left him to it and and headed back downtown to find the Beautyful one. She made it easy for me as she was in the bright sunshine on the top ibeam southeast side of OCSR looking like she was lit up.

She took off 10 minutes later while I wasn’t watching thus ending my watch at 11:00am. All 3 current falcons seen sent me on my way smiling! 🙂

Links below for more pics and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrTtg

http://youtu.be/NvxG8KNhNDY
http://youtu.be/T4OBUQKxEa4
http://youtu.be/UVT4IGA7A98
http://youtu.be/Ud3heUjhDqs
http://youtu.be/gFzURkweAV8

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Bitter cold and lightly snowing.  I was happy to find all three current Rochester Falcons while out for a quick Falcon Watch before heading home.

Not much activity, but here are a few pics.  Enjoy!

At BS Location – Pigott on the south side of the east extension.  Snow softly falling.

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At BS Location – BST on north side of the east extension, third window down; this is where their nighttime roost is.

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Downtown – Beauty on Mercury’s Moneybag.  She took off soon after I took these pictures.

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I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes. This was written by William Beebe, an American Naturalist, explorer and author.

Beebe summed up the value of nature and the necessity for conservation in The Bird (1906), when he wrote,

“The beauty and genius of a work of art may be reconceived, though its first material expression be destroyed; a vanished harmony may yet again inspire the composer; but when the last individual of a race of living beings breathes no more, another heaven and another earth must pass before such a one can be again.”

To think we almost lost this beautiful creature, the Peregrine Falcon.  I, for one, am very thankful they still breath.