By Rochester Falcon Watcher Joyce (wnyfalconfan)

Steve, Casey, Abby and I went for a falconwatch ride around town. I texted Carol to let her know we were out & about and running doggies at our first stop Brighton Site (BS). We planned on going downtown (DT), then to Lake Tower (LT) apartments, and finally Kodak Park (KP). Carol was planning on doing the same coming from the opposite direction.

We found Pigott on the top window in the corner where the east extension meets the SE extension. Before I confirmed it was her with my camera, Steve said the falcon looked big, like a female. Is he becoming a falconwatcher? There was no sign of BST (Brighton Site Tiercel).

Click on pictures for full view.

Drove all over DT looking for Beauty with no luck while Carol came in from the north. She had no sightings at KP or LT either. We met up on the Broad Street Bridge (BSB). Carol was going to stay DT while KathyO was keeping watch at BS. Kathy still only had one falcon there – Pigott.

We headed down Lake Ave and parked south of the apartment building looking at the east side that faces the street. No sign of a falcon where previously sighted. For some reason, Steve said let’s watch and wait, and I caught something out of the corner of my eye on the top ledge 2nd set of windows from left to right. Nothing, then all of sudden I caught a wing & tail. The peregrine must have been back in on the ledge close to building, like the falcons do on the south side vent at BS.

The Lake Tower (LT) mystery falcon started to walk on the ledge. Unfortunately those pics were out of focus, but I did get the left leg in the air (where ID band would be) on one of them. It looked like no band in the camera viewer, but enlarged on the computer it looks like there might be. Hopefully this weekend one of the watchers will confirm if there is a band.  The falcon walked out of sight, so we moved the car to get a better view. The behavior reminded me of Quest when she was looking to nest on the ledge at Harlequin.

The falcon’s back was to us and tucked in next to the column (like they do on BS).  There was no opportunity to see if there were bands, but what a pretty face. Looks mostly like a tundra female to me.  This Lake Tower female (LTF) has a very white chest, dark helmet, no white above the cere, and no distinctive malar stripe (mustache) with a white auricular patch behind mustache.

There is white wash on the ledge. Carol thinks this might be the night roosting spot. LTF was settled in so we headed to our last stop at KP.  No falcon, but there was a red-tailed hawk in a tree close to the road.  By this time MAK had returned DT to help with the search for Beauty. Kathy stayed at BS until dark, but no BST showed up. Carol remained at BSB with no luck finding B.

Now is the time for lots of peregrine movement and action.  Nesting season and migration has begun.