Hi all,

I got out into the yard a bit late this morning, but it seems to have paid off. I walked the fenceline with the dog, and spotted a raptor perched on a snag bordering the woods by a neighbors house. Through binoculars I could tell it was clutching prey, but because of the distance and gray skies, I couldn't tell which species (Sharpie, Cooper's, Merlin?). I had a suspicion it might have been a Merlin, so I went back to the house and got my scope. It turns out my suspicions were right, as it was an adult (female) MERLIN, eating what looked like a female cardinal. I watched it for over half an hour, then it flew very briefly, then resumed a perch a bit lower on the same snag. It is still here (or was when I came in). Got some poor photos.



This was a very satisfying new yard bird for me, as last December I thought I had one zip through our yard, then later the same week saw one up the road perched on a fence post, but couldn't count it as a yard bird. #125!!



Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD

301-502-0018