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Re: Ft. Bayard Park 4/6: Merlin

From:

Rick Sussman

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Date:

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 10:02:42 EDT

Hi Jason, and all,
 I had the pleasure of watching a Merlin (likely the same individual)  over a 
period of many winters in Silver Spring, inside the beltway. This was  
between November through around the end of April. The same bird came back  several 
winters in a row, and would roost in a large spruce tree across from my  shop. 
I watched it hunt and it usually perched on the top snag of the spruce  tree, 
always coming in to roost just before dusk (so the time varied ). But I  also 
noticed that it would perch there during the day particularly on rainy or  
heavily overcast days (ie, gray days like today). It also seemed to hunt  just as 
it was turning dark (many House sparrows!). SO I would look for your  Merlin 
continuously throughout this month, especially during overcast or rainy  
periods, looking on the tallest snags in the area.
 
Rick Sussman
Woodbine, MD
 
 
In a message dated 4/6/2009 9:15:35 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
 writes:

Made it  out to the park for a short walk this morning before the heavier 
rain  started.  The reward was a MERLIN perched at the top of the hill.   It had 
female/immature plumage (I am guessing Merlins take more than one year  to 
reach adult plumage, but I don't really know that--anyone?), and if I had  to 
hazard a guess, I would guess it was a female (it seemed on the large  side).  

It remained there the entire time I was in the park, up  until a few minutes 
ago (though as I'm writing, I suspect it may have finally  decided to move out 
of the rain).  

No other birds of note,  perhaps because of both the rain and the baleful eye 
of the Merlin watching  everything.  A single sparrow flushed off the grass 
and flew away farther  than usual, so I couldn't tell whether it was a Chipping 
or yesterday's  Savannah.

Jason Waanders

**************Feeling the pinch at the grocery store?  Make dinner for $10 or 
less. (http://food.aol.com/frugal-feasts?ncid=emlcntusfood00000001)