RICHMOND, VA ~ 2009

RichmondMike · **Joined:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:29 pm **Posts:** 42

Not much to add, I'm afraid. Chris & I (with Mrs RichmondMike and RichmondDanielle...) went down about 12:00PM and hung out in the same park that Barb & Bonnie were stationed in during the watch. Had a nice little picnic near the fountain but, not seeing any activity, decided (at about 1PM) to walk around the big buildings (Riverfront, BB&T, Dominion, Fed Reserve, McGuire-Woods) to check roof-lines & ledges. Chris had his binoculars and I my cam & telephoto lenses... nada.

Of course, just as we were getting in the car to leave (about 2:00PM), two came swooping in over Riverfront Plaza, circled high around the building, then went out over the James River where they hung out for a while. We literally closed the car doors and watched - looked like one adult and one juvie, and they seemed to be practicing circling and swooping and gliding over the river (too far away for any meaningful pictures). The gals had a hair appointment so we had to get back.

Beautiful day! We tried....

gingersnap · **Posted:** Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:18 pm

Denise you`re the best ! !

REENIE · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 5:57 pm **Posts:** 19893

Denise wrote:

HaHa! Glad you all got a kick out of that :-)

It was getting quite boring around here lately.

I have to confess though.....Millie put the bug in my head! HaHa! I have since made the image larger....it's much easier to see now.

I LOVE HIS FEET TOO DENISE!! :lol:

Bonnie · **Posted:** Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:10 pm

RichmondMike, if you saw a few, then the rest were there, too. The best spot is on the Manchester Bridge. I think the birds are staying on the Riverfront Plaza Towers. Look to the east tower, then on the nw corner by the box, but you won't see them from the street. Dominion Plaza works best on the north side.

Let us know. Barb should be back soon. Two pair of eyes are much better than one.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 2:18 pm **Posts:** 64406

WOW....thanks RichmondFAMILY!!! thanks for going down and looking for the kids....glad you got to see a little bit of action!!!

obxbarb · **Posted:** Sun Aug 23, 2009 9:14 pm

skygirlblue wrote:

WOW....thanks RichmondFAMILY!!! thanks for going down and looking for the kids....glad you got to see a little bit of action!!!

Thanks from me too! You got a nice day, and a nice picnic with the family. How great is that! Did you try and go to the back lawn of the towers? Its a little more comfortable than sitting in the middle of the bridge, which I agree with Bonnie is the best place now. I'm sure its different on the weekend, but they did not seem to mind me going to their comfortable back yard alone last week. Maybe it was my geeky binoculars

I would think we will also start to see them down near the Lee Bridge, where there are lots of flying birds. I hope you can check again, or maybe Sergio or Ray will check and post on their forum. I miss them already!!

REENIE · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 5:57 pm **Posts:** 19893

THANKS FOR THE REPORT MIKE. GLAD YOU GOT TO SEE SOME ACTION BEFORE YOU LEFT. I KNOW OUR JUVIES DIDN'T SHOW THEMSELVES NEAR AS MUCH DURING THE NOON HOUR BECAUSE OF THE HEAT. THEY WERE MOST ACTIVE EARLY HOURS AND EVENINGS. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN TRY AGAIN AND MAYBE GETS SOME PICS

obxbarb · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:10 am

One of the volunteers from Audubon, who volunteered during fledge watch, went down to check on the falcons and posted this report on the daily Virginia listserve for bird reports.

Sunday, August 23, 2009 Kanawha Plaza, Richmond 7:07-9:15 am
Four of the five Peregrine Falcons were observed today from Kanawha Plaza
and the median strip (south between the twin towers and the Federal Reserve building).
Adult male: on the ?S? in the word SUNTRUST on the south side of this
building.
Adult female: on the bottom of the ?R? in the word SUNTRUST on the west
side of the same building.
Braveheart: the timid female fledgling that has flown but usually can be
found perched on the west side of the West Tower twin across from the
Federal Reserve building.
Bashful: the male fledgling that flew well this morning and was anything
but bashful concerning personal hygiene. He has yellow legs.
Mystery Girl: the third fledgling.
The two adults perched on the SUNTRUST building the entire time. The adult
female did move from the ?R? to the adjacent ?T.? At 7:07 am, Braveheart
was in her usual spot checking on the Federal Reserve. At 8:04 am, Bob
Knox spotted Bashful on the east side of the West Tower. We watched him fly
south above the buildings. We moved to the center strip between the lanes of
highway on the bridge. We saw an Osprey flying and three Kestrels near the
old Osprey nest.
Bashful was now perched on the south end of the East Tower. When our
attention was diverted to the kestrels, a second fledgling showed up next to
him. We don?t know if it was Braveheart or Mystery Girl. We could not relocate
Braveheart on her favorite spot.
If you go on the weekend, park next to the Dominion building. If you are
female, go with a second person for safety. If you take photos of the birds
and don?t mind sharing, please send them to Ray Fernald, Manager of the
Nongame Program at _Ray.Fernald@dgif.virginia.gov_
(mailto:Ray.Fernald@dgif.virginia.gov) and thanks!

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 2:18 pm **Posts:** 64406

Thanks for posting that obxbarb....so funny reading "somebody" else's names!!! Bashful?...cute..

catwoman · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:46 pm

Thanks for your reports Barb & Mike! Sounds like you had a lovely day with your family & made the falcon watching a family affair, Mike. Barb, I hope you're having a wonderful, restful vacation!

Joanne · **Posted:** Wed Aug 26, 2009 5:33 am

skygirlblue wrote:

Thanks for posting that obxbarb....so funny reading "somebody" else's names!!! Bashful?...cute..

Who'd ever think of calling our Arnie "bashful"??? LOL
and mystery? that is big Ethel I think!

I can't keep track of who was who...but it was a good report!

Thanks Mike & family for going to check on our "family"!!!

Denise · **Joined:** Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:46 am **Posts:** 32

Bonnie · **Posted:** Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:41 am

Well, Ethel remains the "Golddigger" to me. She loves that Federal Reserve building.

Any news from the field?

obxbarb · **Posted:** Thu Aug 27, 2009 12:26 pm

No news from the VA Bird List Serve since Monday. I touched base with Sergio Monday, and he was not planning to go down. Hopefully Mike will have another chance soon. Its been pretty hot in Richmond again this week.

RichmondMike · **Joined:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:29 pm **Posts:** 42

From our distant vantage point at 14th & Broad, just about anytime one looked out the window yesterday afternoon you could see them flying back and forth from the Dominion building to the Riverfront buildings, then east of Riverfront and over the James River, and often just circling around and around the top of the Federal Reserve building. Very active day and really the first time in months that we have seen them from the windows of our building.

Today, I was not able to get out of the office to speak with them, but there were two folks situated in our rear parking lot (between Broad and Banks streets just west of 14th), on a small burm of grass. They had large scopes and binocs on tripods, aimed in the general direction of Riverfront buildings. Guess they were there an hour or so... but I just could not get away to speak with them.

Will try to walk down there later this afternoon.

Jane · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2009 2:22 pm

Thanks for the update. Wish we could find out something from those other watchers. It's kind of frustrating not hearing anything.

obxbarb · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:59 pm

Thanks for reporting Mike! I saw on the VA list serve today that there is a coordinated watch Sat and Sun 7:30-9:00. I'm sure they will report, and will be down there Sunday afternoon.

Denise · **Joined:** Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:46 am **Posts:** 32

Thanks RichmondMike!!!!

Joanne · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:16 am

Thanks for any info on our babies & parents.

I just want to add as I look at the scrape surrounded by a big cube crate that no way will the parents enter that scrape to rebond...as others have done already this season. No way! :cry:

Jane · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:20 am

I definitely agree with your comment Joanne. I understand the reason for the cage, but wish it could be removed for now.

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RICHMOND, VA ~ 2009

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