By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Morning Watchers: Dana, Larry O & Carol P.

Morning Falcons: Beauty & Dot.ca

Weather: Chilly (60’s), jacket weather. Going up to 80 degrees later today.

Not much to report today. Quickly found both Beauty and Dot.ca on OCSR. Beauty was on the north side, top Ibeam, near the west corner. Dot.ca was on the 3rd Ibeam down, on the railing next to the elevator shaft. They never moved from these locations during the watch. No juvies seen or heard.

The majority of the watch was spent traveling around downtown Rochester. Lots of activity this morning. The Court St Bridge was closed for river clean up.

Dana and I spent some time in the park next to the convention center. From there we had a great view of most of the falcon spots. We did see a Black-crowned Night Heron. Larry and Zeke checked out the pedestrian bridge (all quiet there). I love taking pictures of the old plaques that describe Rochester’s history, so I included on in this report.

Here are some pictures from the morning watch. Enjoy!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Morning Watchers: Just me, Carol P. 🙂

Morning Falcons: Beauty and Dot.ca

Weather: Cool start to a day that will reach 80 degrees this afternoon. Beautiful blue sky with white, fluffy clouds.

I spent a lot of my watch driving all over downtown Rochester. Sadly, I was unable to find any of our juvies. But, I did find Beauty and Dot.ca.

Beauty was on Camera 4 at the Times Square Bldg Nest Box. She eventually made her way into the nest box, where she fussed around with the pea gravel, getting it ready for next year. 🙂

Dot.ca was on the Frontier Communication Tower, below the platform. As I watched from in front of City Hall, he was being scolded by the local robins. They dive bombed him, until he was bothered enough to leave. Dot.ca took off chasing one of the robins. When I caught up with him, (from the Andrews St Bridge) I could see Dot.ca up on the north side of OCSR on the top Ibeam, close to the elevator shaft. It was shady and quiet there and no robins to nag him. One of his favorite spots.

I looked over at the Mercury statue and saw a falcon on the base. From Broad St, I could see that it was Beauty.

So, no juvies this last of July morning. Hopefully I will continue to see them now and then in August.

Here are some pictures from the morning watch. Enjoy!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Morning Watchers: Dana, Larry O & Carol P.

Weather: Temps in the 60’s, going up to 80 degrees later today. Started out with clouds, then blue sky and sunshine.

Today my first falcon was a juvie on Widows Walk. On closer inspection, it was a dark-headed juvie. Based on size, I do believe it was Roc, but can’t be 100% sure.

Roc was moving all around WW, checking out the pigeons below him. He stayed there for quite awhile, crying now and then. Dana was also on watch and spotted Beauty nearby on the Jail Communication Tower. Roc could definitely see her. He had a very full crop, so he had eaten recently.

Larry joined the watch from the Court St Bridge.

Roc took off heading north towards the Frontier Communication Tower (FCT). When I was driving up to FCT, it was just in time to see Roc chasing a smaller bird. He was unsuccessful and landed on FCT, just below the platform. Two robins were diving on him. They were not happy. I have to assume that he was chasing one of them.

Larry, then Dana arrived, just in time to see Roc fly off, this time heading south. From where we were, we could see him on Widows Walk. He left pretty quickly.

I drove around and found Beauty up on the Times Square Bldg, on the light under the SW wing. Roc was nowhere to be found. It was time to end my watch.

Here are some pictures from the morning watch. Enjoy!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Morning Watchers: Larry O, Dana and Carol P.

Weather: Chilly morning in the 60’s. Started with sun, ended with clouds and rain. Going up to 80 degrees with possible TStorms this afternoon.

The morning watch started out very chilly. Chilly enough to wear a jacket. The first falcons I found this morning were on Widows Walk. While I was driving closer, I was hoping they were juvies, but after a closer look, it was two adults. Beauty and Dot.ca were together, hunting from WW.

I met two birders, Jeannie & Tom, just after Beauty and Dot.ca left. They have been coming downtown hoping to see the Rochester Falcons. After finding Beauty on the base of Mercury, I quickly found Jeannie and Tom and brought them to Broad St. From there, they were finally able to meet Beauty!

My next stop was the Court St Bridge, where I was joined by Larry O and Dana. Beauty had taken off and was hunting over the river. She continued on to soar over Xerox. From there, she stooped over the river chasing pigeons. She was not successful. Beauty flew up to the Times Square Bldg and landed on the ledge below the northeast wing. She took off again, heading towards Xerox. We lost sight of her after that.

Larry had to end his watch, so Dana and I drove around trying to find the falcons. We both arrived on the Andrews St Bridge at the same time. Dana spotted Dot.ca on the top Ibeam of OCSR and I spotted Beauty eating on the corner of the Elwanger and Barry bldg. We also spotted a Kestrel hunting in the area.

I ended my watch at 10:00 am and stopped at Seneca Towers on the way home. I found an adult on the Vets Bridge. Based on size, I believe it was Billie. So nice to see her!

Sadly I did not see a juvie this morning, but Dana reported at 11:55 am that she saw a dark-headed juvie on Cross Rds.

Here are some pictures from the morning watch. Enjoy!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Morning Falcon Watchers: Larry O & Carol P

Morning Falcons: Beauty, Dot.ca and Roc

Weather: Another warm morning with temps rising this afternoon into the 80’s.

When I first arrived downtown on the Court St Bridge, I spotted a falcon flying in and landing on the Hyatt. Before I could get a picture, the falcon walked out of view. I do believe this was a juvie. Beauty was on top of pan cam on the Times Square Bldg.

There was a lot of water flowing down the Genesee River, after heavy rains yesterday.

Beauty stooped off of pan cam, and ended up landing on the lower railing of Mercury. I drove over to Aqueduct St (aka “the hole”). From there, I had a better of view of Beauty. While I was watching her, I heard a juvie arrive, crying. From where I was, I could see a juvie over on the Widows Walk railing.

I walked over for a closer look. This juvie was dark-headed and based on size, I would say it was Roc. He was watching the pigeons flying in and out from the building below him. He took off and chased the pigeons, heading south. Awhile later, he returned to WW. From there, he took off again, this time heading north. I could hear his cry as he left.

Next I checked the Frontier Communication Tower. I couldn’t see any falcons there, but I could see a falcon on the Kodak Tower on the NW corner of the playpen netting. For those that don’t know, this netting was put up when they removed the Mariah and Kaver’s nest box from Kodak. It was installed to prevent them from nesting on the building.

From the front of Frontier Field, I could see that it was Dot.ca. I checked out all sides of the building, but could not find Roc.

Larry O was checking things out from the pedestrian bridge at High Falls. He reported that two juvie Red-tail Hawks continue to fly together in the gorge. He saw no falcons there.

Dot.ca took off and I continued my search. After driving around and not finding any falcons, I ended my watch.

I believe that our juvies are at the stage where they are going further out and attempting to hunt on their own. They come back when they get hungry and need a little help from mom and dad. I hope we continue to see them now and then before they begin their travels.

Here are some pictures from the morning watch. Enjoy!

A Beauty Tail

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Morning Watchers: Kathy O, Larry O, Dana and Carol P.

Weather: Very warm, blue sky. It’s another really hot day on the way with temps near 90 degrees. Maybe TStorms this afternoon.

This will be a short report with lots of Beauty pictures. Hey! A mom needs her special day too!

No juvies this morning. Just Beauty hanging out on the Times Square Bldg, preening and snoozing. She was just relaxing without any of her young wanting her attention.

We did find Dot.ca too. He was on the north side of OCSR. Beauty joined him there at the end of our morning watch.

Here are some pictures of Beauty from the morning watch. Enjoy!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Morning Watchers: Dana, Larry O & Carol P.

Weather: The day started out cool & sunny, but the temps will rise to close to 90 degrees this afternoon. Mornings are the best time to watch right now.

It was a fun watch this morning. Happily Hope was hanging out with her mom, Beauty, who we believe has started a molt. Beauty was on the Powers Bldg and Hope was everywhere else. Let’s see, she was on the 5 Star Bank Bldg, the Times Square Bldg, the Wilder Bldg, the base of Mercury and B&L. Those are the places I saw her. lol

We were also happy to see a Black-crowned Night Heron, probably two. We believe they are setting up a nest in one of the trees along the river. Dana saw one go into the tree with nesting material.

We spent our morning watching Hope and driving around trying to find her again when she took off. Every day we have Hope or Roc or Geraki, it’s a good day. One of these days, they’ll be gone.

Here are some pictures from the morning watch. Enjoy!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Morning Watchers: Dana, Larry O & Carol P.

Weather: Warm and Sunny.

My first falcon of the morning was Beauty on the NE corner of the 5 Star Bank Bldg. Dana joined me just before Beauty took off and flew behind the Knights of Columbus Bldg. We saw a Kestrel fly out from behind the building, but not Beauty. We walked over to the east side and found Beauty eating on the NE corner.

After finishing her breakfast, she took off heading NW. We never saw a juvie during our downtown morning watch.

Larry O joined us behind Midtown. We decided to head over to the Court St Bridge. From there we saw no falcons, but watching the life on the river is a lot of fun.

Dana and I headed over to the pedestrian bridge at High Falls. From there, we could see Dot.ca within the framework on the Frontier Communication Tower. So we saw both Beauty and Dot.ca during our morning watch, but no Roc, Geraki or Hope.

On our way home, Dana and I stopped at Seneca Towers, where we spotted a falcon on the Veterans Bridge. It was a juvie and based on size, probably a female. So, we were able to see one of Billie and Beau’s juvies during the morning watch!

Here are some pictures from the morning watch. Enjoy!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Morning Watchers: Kathy O, Dana, Larry O & Carol P.

Weather: Cooler morning with clouds, then sun. Nice morning.

The beginning of my morning watch was falcon-less. I drove all over and could not find a falcon anywhere. I ended up on the Court St Bridge, checking out the life on the river. It’s such a beautiful place in the middle of our city.

Kathy arrived and immediately spotted a falcon on B&L. It was Hope! Then a 2nd over on the top arm of Frontier Communication Tower (FCT). I could tell it was an adult, but not which one. We were too far away.

Dana joined us and we settled in to watch Hope and the adult. During that time, the adult was hunting off of FCT, sometimes on the top arm, sometimes on the 2nd arm. Hope walked along the wall on B&L and took a hop/flight to the east side of B&L, out of our view.

Later in the watch, I spotted a dark-headed juvie on the SE corner of the Five Star Bank Bldg. It didn’t stay long. Hope eventually came back into view on B&L and Dot.ca landed on the light at the northwest corner of Xerox (reported by Larry O).

That’s pretty much all the falcon activity during the morning watch. I was very happy to see two of our three juvies this morning.

Here are some pictures from the morning watch. Enjoy!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Morning Watchers: Dana & Carol P.

Weather: Overcast with dark clouds. Rain on the horizon. Warm.

Juvies!!! Yes, we had juvies this morning. 🙂

When I first arrived, I found Hope on Widows Walk. She didn’t stay long. Hope took off heading southeast. I followed the best I could. When I caught up to her, Hope was eating on the base of Mercury. She was buzzed by another juvie, probably wanting a share of her small breakfast. While I was watching Hope, I spotted a falcon on the corner of Riverside with its back to me. At first I thought it was an adult, but after checking my pics, I believe it was a small, dark-headed juvie. Probably Roc. Both took off, leaving Dot.ca on the top IBeam of OCSR.

I was talking with someone on the Broad St Bridge when they took off, so I didn’t see which direction they took. Then I heard juvies (plural) crying from above. Beauty was in the lead with three, yes three, juvies trailing her. They flew over the Blue Cross Arena, heading north. I wasn’t able to get any pictures as they passed in front of the Times Square Bldg.

Dana arrived and we drove around, searching for falcons. We found a juvie and Beauty on the 5 Star Bank Bldg. They both took off just as we arrived. The search continued.

We split up, and I found Hope on the Frontier Communication Tower. Dana reported seeing a juvie hunting over the hole (Aqueduct St). She then saw one on the Academy Bldg. Soon after, a dark-headed juvie landed on FCT, lower than Hope. Hope took off while I was checking out the newly arrived juvie. The dark-headed juvie then took off hunting the nearby pigeons, then landing on City Place.

Larry visited for a short while before heading home. Now that I had no falcons in view, I started my search again. I met up with Dana and we drove over to Midtown, where we spotted Hope on top of the building behind the Cadillac Hotel. She walked out of view. It was probably their siesta time.

Dana and I drove over to the Court St Bridge. From there, we could see that Dot.ca was still on the top Ibeam of OCSR. It was time to end our morning watch. I was really happy to see juvies again this morning and I’m pretty sure I saw all three!

Here are some pictures from the morning watch. Enjoy!