I observed a pair of raptors while at the Rockville MARC train station (this is immediately adjacent to the Rockville Metro station) yesterday (Wednesday) evening.  A vocalization first caught my attention and caused me to look up to find one raptor circling around the large government(?) building with the communication equipment tower and beacon on top (it has a big red 51 on its side facing MD-355).  The circling bird was passing close to the tower where a second bird was perched.  On each pass the perched bird would raise its wings, finally taking flight after this occurred a half-dozen times.  The pair then circled the vicinity of this building for appx 10 minutes during which time they performed acrobatics together.  This usually consisted of one bird inverting and exposing talons to its companion.  I never saw actual contact, but they weren't in sight continuously.  Finally one bird returned to perch on the tower and the other continued to circle in the area until i had to leave.  In flight the wings seemed narrow and had a fair length.  Also in flight the tail appeared broad, or fanned most of the time i was observing.  The light was bad yesterday @1600 and i had no optics so i was unable to observe them as other than dark images.  It would be nice if someone could check them out over the next couple of days in better conditions and with binocs or a scope...assuming they haven't moved on.

Jim Speicher
Jspeicher-at-niaid.nih.gov
Rockville @work :(
Broad Run_S. FRED Co @home :)