Greetings.
An adult female Merlin presumed to be the same one that has wintered in the
downtown Charlottesville area over the past 6+ years was finally observed
yesterday. Although she could not be located during the Charlottesville CBC
held this past Sunday, I was lucky enough to observe her yesterday
(Wednesday) morning at corner of West Main St. and Jefferson Park Ave. at
the traffic light near the UVa Medical Center.
While sitting at red light, out from small holly-like tree located along
sidewalk at corner of the very busy intersection, a bird flew out at
windshield level "slowly gliding" across directly in front of me following
over the pedestrian crossover. From angle I was unable to see where it flew
to on right side of the road.
A few short seconds later a bird flew back across the intersection heading
toward small grove of tall trees in front of the coal storage facility.
Assuming it was the Merlin, I was surprised when a second small raptor flew
across from same direction into the same grove of trees. The 1st bird flew
out and the two slowly (half-heartedly) flew around each other - the Merlin
and small immature Sharp-shinned. The light turned green and I had to go.
It's not everyday you have a Merlin to "slowly glide" in front of you at
near eye level. And, I don't recall seeing a Sharp-shinned and Merlin
dosy-doeing with each other. And me without my camera.....:-(.
Brenda Tekin
Charlottesville, VA
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