Some of our fans have already entered the new year.  Happy New Year Australia! and any others that have reached the new year.  Here in Rochester, NY we still have 13 hours until the ball drops and it's 1/1/11!  Woo Hoo!

Thank you all for helping to make this the best darn Falconcam EVER!  

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

 

Right back atcha, Carol! And everyone else who has made this Forum so much fun in 2010.

Here, when I say I will probably be "asleep before the ball drops", they have nooooooo idea what I'm talking about. There ya go. (Do I think rightly that "the ball" is made of Waterford crystal??)

 

Yes it is by Waterford...

"The New Year's Eve Ball

Each year, millions of eyes from all over the world are focused on the sparkling Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball. At 11:59 p.m., the Ball begins its descent as millions of voices unite to count down the final seconds of the year, and celebrate the beginning of a new year full of hopes, challenges, changes and dreams.

The New Year's Eve Ball

The Ball is a geodesic sphere, 12 feet in diameter and weighing 11, 875 pounds, built to withstand the stresses of high winds, precipitation and temperature fluctuation to brightly shine over 400 feet above Times Square throughout the year.  For 2011, Waterford Crystal has designed 288 new “Let There Be Loveâ€� crystal triangles featuring a romantic pattern that blends a modern cascade of hearts with diamond cutting."

from http://www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/nye_ball.html

Ei

OOOOH!  I caught a huge pile of golden haggises too!




Wait, those are taxis...nevermind  

Ei

from http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/

Quite a funny video from the BBC

Ronnie Corbett and Harry Enfield star in this fruity sketch from The One Ronnie, written by Dawson Bros.

Ei

At last!  The videos of Beauty and the stranger are done-well, 2 out of 6 that show the most action...

Moving around the platform

Tiercel gets to boot

Ei

I've seen all the photo's from today so I have to ask - is this a normal thing for Beauty to check out another male & would there be a battle for her if Archer came back & found another male hanging around. She is a sight to behold for sure - loved seeing her at the nest box.

Generally speaking, during to non-mating season when reproductive hormones are not raging, birds are more likely to just companionably hang out together.  We've often seen visitors that hang around for a good part of the winter.   My take on today's episode is the tiercel is a migrant bird from further north. He saw prime PeFa real estate and he was more-so checking out Beauty than she checking him out.  She didn't seem to me to be defensive at all until he stepped foot in HER nest box.  Now we're talking territory even without hormones.  She was quick to chase him off then (video soon).

It's most likely he'll go back where he came from when the spring migration starts.  If Archer returns before that he'll chase off any intruders.  But any floating unmated tiercels will keep an eye out for prime nesting spots in case Archer doesn't return.  

Ei

[
Yes it is Ei.  We moved it back and higher.

The new position gives us a full view of the top of the nest box, a better (though still shallow) angle into the box itself and a better view of the area on the south side of the nest box.

It also gives us a view of the Frontier communication tower and a view of the street below including Fledge Watch Central.

I can't wait to see what it can do in the spring!    Definitely the absolute best cam setup anywhere! 

Ei

Get outa here!! Burns Night? Whoa!

Is anyone rehearsing the ole "wee timorous beastie" thingie??

And in case you care... I once had a vegetarian haggis. Kinda like not having the caffeine...

Well, I don't need to rehearse things gang aft agley...I sometimes think it's my middle name 

Ei

Yes it is Ei.  We moved it back and higher.

Thanks!

Our visitor stopped by again...

Is the new cam 1 mounted higher than the old one?  It might just be a difference in the zoom/angle, just seems to catch more of the arena

Ei

Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year

And... methinks... the last time anyone can catch a Haggis. As I am haggisly-challenged, I did not join in... Anyone have info on this??

The Haggis hunt goes on for a bit longer...

"The hunt begins at 12 noon on St Andrew’s Day, 30 November. The hunt ends at 3pm on Burns’ Night, 25 January."

I just spotted one in Times Square NYC



Ei

Breezy up there...

Ei

And, by the way, I like the new "Picture not available" background...

Beauty on top of Main Camera.

Beat me to it! 

I'm pretty sure Shaky has it set-up to tape.  I contacted Jim P and he was at the Camera controls.  Pretty exciting!

Sorry, I was not recording. Ustream records for only 3 hours. The recording I started before going to bed last night had stopped, and I hadn't started this morning's because I was still in bed.

OK...I'll get uploading when I get home!

Now...back to work...

Ei