I expected duck photos and got a Merlin. This female used her perch to survey the mass of dragonflies below. She regularly dove then reappeared on this tree with a dragonfly in talon.
The Merlin Falcon Foundation has information on Merlins of Western Washington and British Columbia, including Merlin behavioral insights and audio of their vocalizations.
Female Merlin - ©ingridtaylar
Female Merlin & Dragonfly - ©ingridtaylar
Nice photos and observation.
In a world where “bigger is always better” the masses say,
how cool is it that we have micro-falcons such as American Kestrel and Merlin?
I agree. In the beginning of my natural explorations, I’m sure I passed by many micro-falcons, not noticing the anomalies in body structure that I do now. I haven’t seen a Merlin since I shot these photos. Have seen quite a few American Kestrels, but they just seem to hate the camera. So, unless I know I won’t be bothering them, I usually don’t even pull the Olympus out of my bag.
Truly perhaps the coolest birds on the planet-falcons..well, owls are just amazing.. and eagles.
Birds of Prey-except for the killing part : ) Am Kestrels are just great.
We are very lucky here at the farm to have alot of falcons. There is a one mile long road to get here that has poles for our electricity. It is always full of Kestrels and occasionally Merlins. In season, Peregrines perch and watch the waterfowl or shorebirds and you can drive right underneath them and often they won’t fly( there are flooded ponds in excess).
We have a tree also from the house I often see Peregrines and Cooper Hawks.. Bald Eagles..Sharpies.. a dark Morph Red-Tail-Harlan?.. it is not too shabby.
Infact early fall I had a Prarie Falcon on the tree too!
In Scotland I stopped at a falconry shed and they had a ton of birds out sitting. Lanners, Gyr x Peregrine, even some owls.
Did you see alot of falconry in europe??