By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Since there wasn’t much to my morning watch I am combining it with last nights’ watch with Joyce,Brian and Dan at KP.  Joyce picked me up and we went to Irondequoit Bay to look for a Peregrine that someone told Joyce they had seen there. We didn’t find it and there were no eagles around either but we did see some Turkey Vultures way over on the other side of the bay. We then took a ride to Webster to visit SusanC for her birthday and after that we rode over to KP. There is a groundhog burrow near lot 73 with a sizable hole where Joyce placed a sign she got from her workplace.

When we went up to lot 77 Dan was sitting there all by his lonesome in his lawn chair. Unity had just flown in and landed on the tall still.

Soon after spotting her a Kestrel flew by and landed on a light pole.

It took off before I could get any more pics of it and then Unity flew off heading west until we were blinded by the sun and lost sight of her. We left Dan there calling it a night and Joyce dropped me off home.

This morning parked on Clinton Ave. next to Washington Square Park I found Beauty on the northwest corner of the HSBC building and she was snacking on something.

I drove over to Broadway St. and parked across from the Columbus building and spent the next 45 minutes with the Beautyful one until she flew off heading west toward the river.

I followed behind and didn’t see her at the nestbox on my way through. So with time running out before I had to leave I drove over to the FCT and found her on her favorite perch there on the east side under the platform.

I called it a watch and left  Beauty at this point so I could get the truck home on time. Remember to keep your eyes to the sky! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

I’d like to dedicate this report to fellow Rochester falcon watcher Larry O’Heron. He has been battling POEMS Syndrome Myeloma and he was discharged from the hospital yesterday to battle this disease on his own at home after receiving treatments. I must say he has had a wonderful attitude and I’m sure it has helped him to turn the corner on the road to recovery. We all send our love Larry and please keep him in your prayers everyone!

On to my report now. We actually got some rain here in Rochester overnight for the first time in about a month and it was a very dark overcast morning. I found Beauty on the southwest corner of the HSBC building over on the east side of town.

She flew off in the direction of the Times Square building and so I in turn drove over to the Broad St. bridge. Sure enough the Beautyful one was up on the deck of the nestbox.

After a few moments I noticed a flurry of movement and then Beauty went in the nestbox.

I didn’t actually see him but I had a feeling Archer had shown up and they were in the nestbox bowing and strengthening their bond with each other. After checking the archives I see that I was in fact correct with my assumption. He didn’t stay long and I totally missed both of them leaving as I was watching a man in a SUV drive up behind me stop then drive past me down to falcon central by the stairs and park. Then he made a u-turn and came back up the bridge very slowly totally checking me out. I got a little uncomfortable at this point when he passed by and made yet another u-turn and pulled up behind me again! He pulled out around me going down to falcon central again, parked his vehicle and got out. He started walking in my direction and when he was almost to me I pulled out and left. You just never know what people are up to these days. Anyway,  I drove around looking for falcons and I soon spotted one on the FCT under the platform on the west side.

As I looked at it I believed it was Beauty because having a view of the right side I could see no white spot on the right wing. However when I zoomed the pic of it when it  flew off  I could see a white spot. I’ll let you be the judge!

A running start

And we have liftoff!

Flying south and out of sight I left Fitzhugh St. near City Hall to try and catch up but to no avail. When I arrived at the Broad St. bridge the parking was filling up quickly because the Jehovahs Witness Convention was at the Blue Cross Arena for the 3rd weekend this month. After searching without finding any falcons I decided to head home. The heat wave has broken as the high temperature will be in the low 80’s today instead of the oppressive 90’s and high humidity we’ve had most of this past week. Have a great day everyone and keep your eyes to the sky! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

It was 40 minutes into my watch before I found Archer on the top arm of the FCT.

He took off almost immediately to the north. I watched him go to the launchpad of the Kodak Office tower and then drove over there for a closer look.

He didn’t stay there for long before he was off flying to the east and out of sight. I drove over to the Broad St. bridge and as I was making my u-turn to face the nestbox I spotted a falcon who I now know was Beauty on the deck. I parked the truck and when I looked up she was gone. 10 minutes later I found Beauty under the platform on the FCT.

She seemed to make a bowing movement at first so I thought maybe Archer was in the middle of the tower hiding. She settled down and just perched and preened and so I decided Archer was not there. I spent nearly 2 hours with the Beautyful one before she decided to go to the middle of the tower under the platform presumably to get out of the sun.

I figured she would be in there a while so I ended the watch and headed home for breakfast. Going to be another hot one today so keep cool any way you can! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Well folks I don’t really have much to report. Yesterday morning I caught a glimpse of who I decided was Archer because I saw a white spot on the right wing. He was perched on the deck next to cam4. That was it then I had to get home.

This morning I spotted a falcon on the top arm of the FCT from the Broad St. bridge. I drove over to Plymouth Ave. for a closer look. The pics I took were of poor quality because it was still a bit dark out. I reported it to be Beauty but I now believe it was Archer judging by size. He flew off to the northeast. I sat there for a couple minutes and saw a falcon fly to the southeast side landing under the platform. I drove over to the City Hall parking lot for a good angle and set my camera up in my window mount. After examining my first pics I knew for sure this was Beauty.

As I watched her preen and scratch I noticed a security guard walking toward me. I haven’t been hassled in awhile by anybody. I smiled and yelled good morning as he approached the truck. He said morning and said he thought I was taking pictures of the building. Of course I said no I’m watching a falcon up on the Frontier Communications Tower. He laughed saying  they come back every year. I said actually the female stays here year round and with that he told me to have a good day and walked back to City Hall.

It was good to spend some time with the Beautyful one, 45 minutes in fact. She was busy cleaning herself up for the warm day ahead of her.

Sorry the pics aren’t as clear as they could be for I was trying some different settings on my camera. I think I need lots more practice with that! lol I hated to leave this morning but was thankful for the time spent with our downtown Beauty! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

It was still dark out when I arrived downtown this morning. The sun is waking up later and later now cutting into my already short watches. I will still come even if I only get to see our Rochester falcons for a few minutes which was the case today. After searching for 40 minutes I finally spotted the Beautyful one flying to the FCT as I was driving down State St. to check out Kodak Office. She landed on her favorite perch on the tower below the platform on the east side.

She appeared to have a full crop and she kept leaning forward almost like she was trying to bring up a pellet without the normal hacking motion.

I decided she was bowing but where was Archer? Beauty walked sideways to the north side of the railing she was on and then flew over to the west side of the FCT under the platform. It became all too clear what her behavior was all about when I spotted Archer up inside the structure!

When they go in among the girders it’s very hard to find them. Thankfully Archer was not hiding behind anything and I had a clear view of him. Almost immediately Beauty went in to join him and then 1 of them flew out heading south in the general direction of the Times Square building. After looking and not seeing anyone in the FCT I drove over to the Broad St. bridge to check the nestbox. It looked to me like someone was up in the nestbox but I don’t know for sure because after I parked the truck and looked again it appeared empty. At this point it was time to end my watch and get the truck home. Have a great day, stay cool and keep your eyes to the sky! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

On an overcast,very muggy and dark morning I found the Beautyful one on the southwest  corner of the HSBC building. I was surprised because I’ve only seen her on the southeast corner lately. She put a smile on my face none the less for any day started with nature is a good thing! While I was trying to find a good vantage point she flew off heading toward the Times Square building. As I approached on the Broad St. bridge I could see Beauty up on the front perch of the nestbox. I saw her go in the nestbox and didn’t know at the time that Archer was in there (reported to me by Donna-thanks for the help)as you can’t see them from the bridge when they go in. Soon after she went to the front perch on the deck.

I missed not only Archer leaving but Beauty as well! They always sneak away on me when I take time to blink! lol So I backed the truck up to where I could see the Frontier Communications Tower and spotted a falcon on the southwest corner of the platform railing. Upon arriving and taking a pic to be sure I was able to ID it as Beauty.

She was facing north scratching her head… probably wondering why Archer always has to go over to Kodak Park with Unity and not stay home where he belongs. Anyway, I watched her hunching forward many times trying to bring up a pellet without any luck followed by a poop.

I thought she would leave since they usually do after they poop but not this time. She worked some more on getting that pellet up and out when suddenly she flew off very fast to the west-southwest and out of sight behind buildings. I had to get the truck home at this point so where she went is anybodys’  guess. Due to transportation reasons my morning watches will be but an hour long for an undetermined period of time. Hopefully Beauty and Archer will cooperate by showing up in that short amount of time. Remember to keep your eyes to the sky!  🙂

By Rochester watcher MAK

This morning upon arriving on the Broad St. bridge I thought Eileen would be there  like yesterday but she wasn’t and with no falcons in sight I decided to run over to the east side to check. Turned out to be a good call cuz Beauty was up on the southeast corner of the HSBC building.

She soon flew off and when I got to the bridge Ei was there. Beauty was in the nestbox vocalizing so we knew Archer couldn’t be far away. We went down to Aqueduct St. and found him on the fire escape ladder.

5 minutes later he flew over to a ledge below the nestbox where he remained for about an hour preening in the warm morning sun.

Beauty blasted out of the nestbox and Archer left his perch immediately after her. They returned less than a minute later and flew up to the nestbox. Soon after Archer flew out over the river around the back of OCSR and out of view. We missed Beauty flying out of the nestbox while watching Archer as is the luck of a falcon watcher but we found her over on one of her favorite perches under the platform of the FCT.

Eileen and I watched the Beautyful one about half an hour before Joyce showed up to get Ei for their trip to Buffalo today. I am going to an airshow of a different kind so I can’t make the trip this time. The International Airshow at the Rochester International Airport featuring…the Blue Angels! I stayed with Beauty until she flew off the FCT heading in the general direction of the Times Square building.

I am going to include the links for a short video of Tory the Peregrine Falcon at Wild Wings eating a day old chick and my photo album from yesterday. I hope you enjoy them. Have a great day and keep your eyes to the sky! 🙂

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=837704572213%3A1365793517&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-Email-_-Sharee-_-Top

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v​=wwg8s-YBmmw

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Hi all! Beauty was in the nestbox when I left for my watch today but while driving downtown she left. After checking the nestbox from the Broad St. bridge I spotted her over on the top arm of the Frontier Communications Tower.

The first hour of my watch was pretty busy following the Beautyful one. She soon flew off the FCT and I caught up with her at the nestbox next.

Beauty flew from there over to the OCSR building landing on the south corner of the top ibeam.

She didn’t stay there for long either flying off to the west behind the Thomson Reuters building and out of my view. I left to look for her and Donna reported to me that  Archer had visited the nestbox while I was gone. Figures! lol After searching for an hour with no luck I decided to check out the river. I was very happy to see that the Black-crowned Night Heron from last year has returned to our fair city.

It was at this point I decided to take a ride over to Kodak Park. I found Unity in the scrape laying down toward the back incubating her eggs.

It would seem that Archer and Beauty were playing games with me again for Donna let me know that they both went to the nestbox after I left. Those two are always messin’ around with old MAK ! teehee With that bit of news I headed back to the city.  Upon my return I found a falcon on the top arm of the FCT. At the time I thought it was Beauty but it turned out to be Archer. I parked on Plymouth Ave. across the street from the tower and spent about 20 minutes with him before he flew off heading in my direction.

Just before flying right over me he tucked his wings into stoop formation and zoomed across the area with such speed it made my head spin. As fast as I could turn around to watch the end of the stoop he was gone and out of  sight. Things happen so quickly in the falcon world that sometimes it’s hard to do anything but stand there with your mouth wide open in amazement!  Boy, what a GREAT way to end my watch! Enjoy your day everyone!! 🙂

Here’s the link to more picsfrom this mornings watch:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=991242472213%3A1860165546&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-Email-_-Sharee-_-Top

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

I didn’t write a report yesterday as it was a pretty quiet watch with Beauty under the northeast wing of Times Square for almost 2 hours and then disappearing for the rest of the watch. I thought maybe she was hiding because there were 2 painters under the statue of Mercury working.

Click on pics to enlarge

Now for todays watch. Both Beauty and Archer were in the nestbox when I checked before heading out this morning. When I arrived downtown I could see Archer on top of the fire escape ladder and Beauty was perched in the nestbox.

Archer left almost as soon as I got down to Aqueduct St. 10 minutes later I located him on the jail tower top arm on the west side.

The first pic was from Plymouth Ave. across from the jail. While I drove down to Troup St. he flew off and landed on the east side top arm. He flew off gracefully soaring above the tower then coming over in my direction hovering above Interstate 490. It was as if he was saying goodbye to me for he flew to the north and out of sight.

I drove back over to the Broad St. bridge to find lots of traffic and no parking along the bridge so I went down to Aqueduct St. It was unusually crowded there too so I asked someone what was at the Blue Cross Arena. Some big name motivational speakers such as Terry Bradshaw, Bill Cosby, Rudi Guiliani, Erin Brockovich and more. No wonder I was having so much trouble getting around and it was only 6:15 am!!! I couldn’t see inside the nestbox from there so I called upon my trusty camera watcher Donna to let me know if the Beautyful one was still perched in the front of the nestbox. She was and so I sat there waiting to see her fly out which of course I missed. Donna let me know Beauty had left and so I left too finding her under the platform of the Frontier Communications tower.

I managed to find a parking spot on the street in front of City Hall where I watched all the traffic backed up as much as I watched Beauty. lol She preened herself and I saw plenty of white down feathers floating in the air around her. She must be molting which might explain why she is missing her middle tail feather. She gave me a great tail spread pose to expose the void.

The last pic is to give you an idea of what the platform looks like from below the FCT. I marked a B above where Beauty is perched. This is where I left Beauty to end my watch. It’s very muggy out there today so stay cool and keep your eyes to the sky people! 🙂

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

Joyce picked me up for a watch in Buffalo today. Our biggest goal was to identify the female juvenile Phoebe Snow at Central Terminal. She hadn’t been seen for a day or better and I’m sorry to say we were not able to do that. When we arrived at Central Terminal we were treated with the best show of the day. There were 2 juvies that came out of nowhere to chase a pigeon down right in front of us. We were on the driveway that leads to the south side of the terminal near the grassy area. One of the juvies flew down to within inches of the ground to have a shot at a pigeon and then flew up and over our heads circling and chasing more than once.  The pigeon survived to be lunch another day! It all happened so fast it was impossible to get pics or video. It’s not the easiest thing to do to find the worlds’ fastest animal in a small camera screen while in pursuit of prey. Both Stella and Stash were in attendance along with the 2 male juvies Commodore and Lehigh but we weren’t able to locate either female. Every once in a while the boys would fly off the building, make some noise and return to the east side of the terminal. This is the one side at Central Terminal that you can’t get a full and clear view of  them.

After things quieted down we decided to check out the Statler nest site in downtown Buffalo. As Joyce checked to see if we could get into the Rand building to look for the falcons I spotted 1 and then 2 of them flying  above me for a few seconds and then they disappeared behind the tall buildings. I couldn’t say for sure if they were adult or juvie but they were definitely Peregrine Falcons. We went up to the 26th floor of the Rand building and had a look but were unable to find anyone so we decided to move on to Niagara Falls to check out the babies there at Terrapin Point.

We located the nest site and could see 2 white fluff balls in it. The wind was blowing the mist from the falls in our field of view making it hard to take clear pictures. A very nice gentleman asked if we were watching falcons probably because everyone else was looking at Niagara Falls. lol We told him yes and we all introduced ourselves. His name was John Shipkowski(pardon me if the last name is spelled wrong)and he is the official watcher and photographer for the site. While we were there one of the adults went into the nestbox and fed the 2 eyases. After the adult left they moved to the front of the scrape where we could see them better.

We said goodbye to John and headed back to CT to try and ID Phoebe Snow again. We were unsuccessful in doing so. The falcons were hanging out on the east side again flying out and around the building every so often to give us a glimpse of their flying skills. Again we could only ID the 2 males, but that doesn’t mean the females weren’t there hunkered down somewhere that we couldn’t see them.

We watched 2 falcons either both adults or an adult and a juvie fly off the building fast traveling southwest like a streak in the sky and out of sight. Joyce really enjoyed that high speed demonstration!  The sun was setting on us bringing this falcon fledge watch to an end. I wish we could have seen more of the juvies at Central Terminal but such is the life of a falcon watcher. I didn’t get a whole lot of pics but I do have an album put together for your viewing pleasure. The link is posted below and as always  no sign-in is required. 🙂

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=691849172213%3A1503372077&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-Email-_-Sharee-_-Top