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Subject:

Merlin at BARC

From:

"Cavigelli, Michel"

Reply-To:

Cavigelli, Michel

Date:

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:02:49 -0500

There is a MERLIN hanging around BARC (Beltsville Agriculture Research
Center, PG Co.).  I thought I saw a merlin zooming around last week from
Beaverdam Rd between Research and Edmonston Rds but did not get a good
look.

 

Today, I got a great look at perhaps the same bird but definitely a
MERLIN at the top of a dead tree on the west side of Research Rd near
where it crosses Beaverdam Creek.  Beautiful plumage.

 

These roads are accessible to the public (Research Rd from 6 am to 6 pm
on days the Fed. Govt is open) but parking can be a challenge, i.e.
security may not be happy with you if you don't have a USDA parking
sticker.  One option may be to park at the USDA visitor's center (just
east of the junction of Research Rd with Powder Mill and Beaverdam
Roads.  Beaverdam is a county road, Research and Powder Mill are federal
roads, fyi.  Walking Research Road is generally OK with security if you
stay on the road.  

 

There was a Merlin at BARC last winter, which I saw at these same
locations.  This year's one may be an immature (I'd have to check my
book, which I didn't have with me) as it is brownish and seems to have
streaks on the side that go in the opposite direction as what I would
expect (short streaks in the direction from the wing to the belly) but I
didn't get a great look at the front of the bird as it was facing away
from me.

 

Michel

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------

Michel A. Cavigelli

Research Soil Scientist

Sustainable Agricultural Systems Lab

Animal and Natural Resources Institute

Bldg 001, Rm 140

BARC-West

10300 Baltimore Ave.

Beltsville, MD 20705

 

301-504-8327 office

240-304-9480 cell

301-504-8370 fax

-------------------------------------------

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