2 Merlins

[Roy Adolphson]

I arrived at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines a couple minutes after sunset tonight (Oct 7, ss 6:45 pm).  As I drove toward Block 20 from the north, two Merlins flew over my car, one chasing the other, at 6:47.  I drove around the grounds, but didn't find them until one appeared in the forked spruce in Block 20 at 6:56.  At 6:59 the other one strafed it, and both birds took off on another chase.  One returned to the spruce in Block 20 at 7:00, but I couldn't find the other one on a perch.  When I came back around to Block 20 at 7:05, the first one was gone.  (Typically, they go to their night roosting spot 15 to 20 minutes after sunset, although sometimes they may stay out longer.)

Roy Adolphson

Polk County (DSM)