Merlin (Falco coluumbariius) closeup
Merlins are small falcons, a bird of prey that relies on high speed and agility to hunt its prey. Merlins are one of Ontario's most able aerial predators of small and medium-sized birds.
Merlin
A week ago, my husband and I were visiting a marina, on the lookout for birds that might be there.
Back view
At first we saw two not-known-to- me gulls, which I was too slow to get photos of, but then we saw the back view of this bird sitting on a post. It let me circle around it, fully aware that I was there.
About to take off
Here I was about to tick this merlin off, but it waited for a couple of minutes longer before it flew away.
I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE
Whew, just in the nick of time too. Glad he gave you the chance to get that wonderful photo.
ReplyDeleteSo glad he stuck around so you could get some photos. He's magnificent.
ReplyDeleteDarla
That is a noble looking bird.
ReplyDeleteOh How Gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteThey look so wise.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat to catch a photo of this guy!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I'm surprised it let you get anywhere near!
ReplyDeleteOh he is magnificent. Great shots. B
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and majestic at the same time. You did so well photographing and recording him!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful set of photos. Isn't he magnificent!
ReplyDeleteOh my, you got some really awesome shots here!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! He looks like some of our hawks.
ReplyDeleteHi !
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots ;-)
Céline & Philippe
Fantastic captures EG!!!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad he posed for you. We have a few out this way and they are swift to be sure. You got some great shots and he sure is watching you.
ReplyDeleteMB
Really good photos of the Merlin!
ReplyDeleteThey are so amazing!
Gretings Pia
Wonderful captures!
ReplyDeleteHe must have known you'd show him off well. :)
Lucky for you it waited till you got the photos.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful markings.
ReplyDeleteNice find!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly are gorgeous birds of prey.. Great shots, CC.
ReplyDeleteso very cool! pretty little thing!
ReplyDeleteYou caught it in the nick of time, and beautifully! Very pretty bird.
ReplyDeleteWow! Glad he stuck around to get these amazing shots of him. Thanks for sharing this as I have never seen kind if bird before.
ReplyDeleteHe looks serious, and I wouldn't want to tick him off! Glad you got such good shots.
ReplyDeleteFabulous shots, EG!
ReplyDeletei like the yellow around his eyes. beautiful bird
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots of the majestic looking bird.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots. I love the Merlin. Lovely little raptor.
ReplyDeletePiękny i aż troszeczkę zazdroszczę zobaczenia go w naturze. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and even a little jealous seeing him in nature. Yours.
Great photos of the Merlin.
ReplyDeleteAwesome serie of photos. What a great bird!
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful bird, and wonderful photos too. I wonder if they are around here!
ReplyDeleteReally cool sighting of the Merlin! They are awesome birds! Great shots!
ReplyDeleteSuch pretty pictures! I love the bright yellow eye against the yellow background.
ReplyDeleteWhat fabulous photos. We are fortunate to have a lot of migratory birds come through Florida. We're really seeing a nice variety on our feeders right now!
ReplyDeleteHe's a beauty, and very patient to allow you to photograph him.
ReplyDeleteFantastic captures of this guy!
ReplyDeleteVery cool bird. I've been waiting to find this one and check it off my list.....BUT I'd really like some close views like you had. You are one lucky person. They can be skittish at times....or at least that's what I hear:)
ReplyDeleteGreat shots. What a fierce little thing he is, too.
ReplyDeleteI have a love/hate thing with hawks. They're beautiful, but it breaks my heart when they take the songbirds at my feeder.
What a great bird - they are so small when you first see one its hard to believe that they are birds of prey!
ReplyDeleteCheers and thanks for linking to WBW - Stewart M - Melbourne
PS: even better than just meeting a birder, he was Australia and now I have another contact for trips here as well! SM
Wow, How did you get so close to a Merlin?
ReplyDeleteNice of him to wait for you to take photos before flying away.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful falcons.
ReplyDeleteHe is a beauty...I bet he is speedy in his flight.
ReplyDeleteVery nice! I love watching a pair of Merlins work a flock of shorebirds. One swoops down to flush them up and the mate grabs one for them to share. Good work!
ReplyDeleteWhat great shots you got of the Merlin! He's a beauty!
ReplyDeletenice of it to let you get great shots. :)
ReplyDeleteThose yellow accents around the face and feet make him look almost owl-like! Amazing detail!!
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that I have seen a Merlin, but oh to do so. Your images are really pretty and they just make me long to see one too~
ReplyDeleteHow on earth do you get these birds to "pose" for you?
ReplyDeleteYou manage to get some amazing captures!
=)
Not an easy bird to see at close quarters, I love the feel to these images, very nice
ReplyDelete