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Subject:

Merlin in Carroll County

From:

Rick Sussman

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Date:

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:22:47 EST

Hi all,
 My wife and I were driving over to Westminster shortly after 4 PM,  heading 
north on Woodbine Rd., not far from our house, when a hawk flew  across the 
road in front of us, and landed on a fence in a field next to the  road. I  said 
"that looked like a Merlin", and asked my wife to turn  around. She did, then 
pulled off onto the gravel shoulder and parked. I got out  and walked back 
down the road with my bins (never leave home without them!), and  got atop a 
small hill near the edge of the road and looked back. It was indeed a  Merlin, 
and it was clutching something feathery in its talons!
 
And just yesterday I could've sworn a Merlin flew into our yard, scattered  
the finches at the feeders, then took off and made a swiping pass at the birds  
in the trees by the edge of the yard before heading into the neighbors field, 
 where it again swooped at something there. The only problem was I didn't 
have my  bins out, so could only say for sure it was a falcon, but I did suspect 
Merlin.  It was likely this same individual. Too bad I can't put it on my yard 
list, but  I will be keeping my eyes open now that I know there's one around! 
 
These birds always amaze me with their speed and agility...
 
Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD
 
Oh, and earlier today the local adult Cooper's Hawk was sitting on the edge  
of my fountain, having taken a bath. It then jumped onto a wooden screen and  
then off after things in someone else's yard. It comes around 2-3 times a day  
lately, sometimes sitting in my platform feeder waiting for the birds to 
return.  I have yet to see it catch anything.
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