affordwatches

!!! Let it Snow!

November 27, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre

Kathy Reports:

It’s a cool and snowy morning here at Bloor Islington.  Something must have been going on at Jack’s other site this past week as O’Connor had been on Moneris holding vigil daily no matter when I checked on her. 

Both of them just made an appearence on the nest ledge cam and O’Connor quickly bowed to him and then she took off.   Good to see they are both safe and sound!

Rogue and Sante Home at MEC

November 17, 2013 - Mississauga - Executive Centre

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Yesterday Bruce Massey and I were out in the west end of the city and stopped in at the MEC nest site to check in on Rogue and Sante on a beautiful spring like day.  Bruce arrived before I did and located the pair on MEC 2 where they were both roosting the day away.  Rogue then flew around to the south side of MEC 2 out of Bruce’s view.  I arrived shortly thereafter and drove around to the back parking lot of building 2 and found Rogue in the kitchen/cache that Sante always uses on the south corner of the building.  She sat roosting in the sunshine but all the while she was keeping a sharp lookout to the south.  She wasn’t there for more than 15 minutes when she took off heading southeast and set up a flock of pigeons that were trying their best to get out of her way.  She continued to circle to the south and disappeared behind a building on Mississauga Valley Blvd., one of her favorite hunt sites.  Sante remained on the west side of MEC 2 but he was also hyper vigilant watching a few flocks of his own to the northwest.  It was great to see the pair together and we look forward to seeing more of them this coming spring.


Freddie and Voltaire Updates

November 13, 2013 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

On Sunday, Marilyn stopped by the Bridge and spotted Voltaire sitting on the nest ledge briefly.  Voltaire flew off and reappeared after a few minutes perched on the steeple of Assumption Church.

Today, Dennis and Gwen were in the neighbourhood of the Bridge and reported seeing both Freddie and Voltaire sitting on the east side of the bridge abutment and were busy preening.    They were quite vocal as Dennis and Gwen observed them while eating lunch.

The Bridge Company has been doing repairs and painting the abutment.  As a result, the nest tray is temporarily removed, but it seems that Freddie and Voltaire are still committed to their nest site.

Marilyn Weller

!!! Two Firsts and a Wind Storm Casualty!

November 13, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre

Kathy Reports:

In all the years I’ve been watching the resident falcons here - I don’t ever remember seeing both adults perched on the web cam at the same time..until this morning.  When I came out both were there side by side having a conversation which I quickly came to realize was a ‘you move, no you move - conversation.  You can guess who lost that arguement…Jack flew out in a semi circle to the nest box where he is now pouting!

Last Friday I happened to see O’Connor coming in with a ‘duck’ - yes a duck!  We’ve seen them up in the cache from time to time but I’ve never actually witnessed either of them bringing one up to the ledge.  A co worker and I were out on a break when we noticed a really large bird in the distance flying really low - my first thought was holy cow that’s a huge bird and then she got closer and I realized it was O’Connor with a really large prey in her talons.

She was having a difficult time maintaining altitude but managed to vear off towards the towers and it looked like she was going to slam right into one when suddenly she reared up - honestly it was the most amazing sight ever!  Then she proceeded to circle around the building to try and gain height - which she did but she was still about 5 stories short of a ledge. 

Jack, who up until then I didn’t even notice as I was focused on O’Connor and quite worried she wouldnt’ make it, was on the ADP sign and dove down as she came around and got under neath her to help guide her upwards.  They both flew around the building and I ran through the concourse as no one came back to the front.  By the time I got out to the back - there she was on one of the ledges..looking quite proud of herself as she started to prepare - ‘lunch’!

On Sunday we had a powerful wind storm in Toronto - and as a result on Monday I recieved a call from Mark Nash informing me that someone had reported a falcon down on the property.  I quickly went to security who took me out to check on the bird and it turned out to be an adult Red Tail, a female judging from the size of her and her talons. She was lying just a few feet from the glass on the ground in a construction area and there were no marks on her.  I suspect she likely crashed into the building at high speed due to the wind.  As no one saw anything we can’t really say whether or not the resident pair were trying to steer her out but that could have been the case and due to the high winds she would have a hard time controlling herself.

O’Connor goes Duck Hunting!

- All Reports

Kathy Reports:

Was just out a break with a coworker of mine when we looked up in the sky to see this huge bird coming right at us.  It was flying lower than usual for a falcon and quite frankly looked twice the size.  My coworker asked, what kind of bird is that and I replied..that’s O’Connor and she’s got something in her talons..it’s huge.

Coworker: are those webbed feet?  OMG ..it’s a duck!!

She had a hard time holding altitude and was struggling to catch an updraft when Jack suddenly came off the building and flew under her to give her support.  They both flew in tandem around the building and I had to run through the building to get to the back to see if she made it.  Found her on a ledge in the back plucking away at something.

This is the second time I’ve seen O’Connor with a duck!

Fall Colours from above

November 02, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre

Marion Nash Reports:

She sits above her domain where fall colours have come again
Soon all will be covered in snow and winter winds will begin to blow
How wonderful it must be to sit above even the tallest tree
Is she waiting for spring again just like me?