Monday, July 11, 2010: A fast moving “cloud” flying southwest turned out to be
28 Great Egrets above the 4700 block of Trivoli Circle, Richmond, around 7:30
pm.
Tuesday, July 12, 2010: Near the 17th Street Farmers’ Market at 8:15 pm, an
adult Peregrine Falcon was seen carrying a Purple Martin to the top of the
Monroe building. The begging cry of a juvenile could be heard from the Monroe
building.
At 8:20 pm, a second adult Peregrine transferred another Purple Martin to
second
juvenile Peregrine just above the train station in mid-air.
At 8:45 pm, a Peregrine Falcon was observed flying west with another Purple
Martin.
Wednesday, July 13, 2010: At 7:55 pm a cloud of 100 Purple Martins were seen
above the Bradford Pear trees on 17th Street.
At 8:02 pm, a Peregrine Falcon took a Purple Martin from a second group of 139
Martins. By 8:20 pm, approximately 1,000 Martins had settled into the trees.
At 8:25 pm, a Peregrine Falcon missed a Martin with one of the three fledged
falcons flying behind the adult and calling.
At 8:46 pm, the alarm sound of the Martins was heard and a Peregrine Falcon was
observed flying west with another Martin in its talons.
The total count of Purple Martins at 8:55 pm was 2,313 birds.
Sue Ridd
Glen Allen, Va.
