Jordan, I had a merlin (also male) perched in a large tree on Montgomery Street in Silver Spring yesterday afternoon, an area where it has wintered 5 out of the past 6 years. I have seen it only twice this season (before yesterday), but it may be a different bird. Last year there were at least 2 merlins around, at least through CBC season, and one was definitely hanging around the Layhill Park area. If you are doing the Triadelphia CBC keep an eye out for this bird, please. Rick Sussman Co-coordinator,Triadelphia CBC Warblerick@aol.com