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.)
