Merlin having a snack (little bit of blood warning)

As I stepped outside yesterday I scarred this Merlin and she flew across the street to the neighbors tree. I went back inside, grabbed the camera and patiently waited. She came back and landed in a tree behind a pine tree. After I approached too closely she flew off again to the other side of the yard. I got some good photos there. I went inside for a bit, and then my wife called to me that it was eating something in the driveway.

1

Very cool, I would love to get these types of shots. What bird was he eating?

Nice behaviour images.
Rex

No Angle wrote in post #14021503
Very cool, I would love to get these types of shots. What bird was he eating?

Looks like a pigeon?

_______________

Thats a nice series of shots Tom, Well done.

looks like he chose the outdoor seating!

Fine clicks!! Looks like a songbird of some kind---the Merlin is about Pigeon size itself I think.

Thank you all for the kind words.

At first I thought it might be a dove she was eating, but after looking through my shots and looking at the mess of feathers in the driveway, I'm going with songbird of some flavor. We get lots of finches, sparrows and juncos.

great shots Tom

Well done, Tom. When ours show up, they tend to hang around for a couple weeks. Hopefully, you'll get more opportunities.

A good series here...... and be prepared as she will surely be back now that she has tasted succes. If she finds (or has) a mate then expect him to show up as well with her watching him hunt and if thats succesful then I would expect the male to continue coming back at least until the birds are all gone or the spring and summer foliage narrows the paths he is using on his sweeps though your property.

Nice!!!

straker wrote in post #14022166
Looks like a pigeon?

_______________

Thats a nice series of shots Tom, Well done.

I thought it was too.