Info re merlin sighting please

[magmar]

Hi All,
Could anyone give me info re Merlins?I live in busy housing estate in Central Scotland and feed the birds daily in my tiny front garden.Today the birds,sparrows ,dunnocks or linnets(not sure ) etc were screeching in unison so I looked out window thinking it would be a visit from upstairs'cat but itwas a bird of prey strutting around ,making its way to the hedge casually.I totally panicked with shock(not expecting to see it ) and it flew off when the jackdaws swooped !! My first thought was a sparrowhawk but I've never seen a bird of prey at all so I looked in my Collins book and I'm 90% certain it was a merlin..very bright ;blue grey back,orange-ish front ,white on face,speckled breast..it was amazing to see but I wonder if anyone can tell me more ,how likely would it be to be in this area? will it return? etc.
Thanks

[John]

I wouldn't say it is impossible but unlikely. A Merlin is a small BOP (Blackbird size). It is mainly a bird of the Countryside, not urban areas. Open moorland, grassland, extensive wetlands and in the winter young conifer plantations.

Here's an incredible image of a Merlin by Oy.


And another superb image of a Sparrowhawk by Hindpool. This gives you an indication of size as it has caught a G S Woodpecker.


John

[paulchandler6]

Its quite possible for a Merlin to turn up. They are passing thru at the moment and also are resident in the North. Some will be moving South from their breeding areas in Northern Europe to coasts and lowlands in the UK. Our smallest Falcon.

Paul

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Merlins are very small in flight, smaller than a Kestrel...I would have thought Sparrowhawk more likely....There are Merlins in Scotland though so you cannot count it out.

How big was the bird in relation to the Jackdaws?

[magmar]

Hi it was smaller than jackdaws,the back colour was similar to wood pigeons..greyish blue.the front was an orangey shade with speckles (bit like mistle thrush markings) and it was quite squat in shape not a particularly long tail either.it had white on its face .From the back when walking it almost looked headless. It was quite vibrant in colour ..size..approx tiny bit smaller than collared dove but more chunky...sorry if my descriptions not great ! thanks.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

In that case there are no bird's of prey that I can think of that are this small so I would guess that it was a Merlin....I am however afraid that like Paul has already said that it will probably have been moving through and therefore probably won't make a return visit unless your birdtable visitors made him welcome by submitting themselves to his lunch!

Cheers Jacob

[magmar]

It was a real shock, interesting that your saying they're passing thru I phoned RSPB and they asked if it had jesses on(hope I've spelt it right) but it had nothing ,no ring ,nothing.I just wish i'd taken photo.Looking at the photos that have been posted ,it defo wasn't a sparrowhawk and seemed slightly brighter than merlin photo. Thanks

[magmar]

looking at photos it was nothing like sparrowhawk.much more like merlin photo but more vivid in colour. Thanks very much.

[magmar]

There are about thirty sparrows live in the privet and approx 5 dunnocks and they were all in the hedge screeching determined not to be lunch !! The jackdaws also seen him off ..bit sad tho' would've been great to see it again.
Thanks a lot for your help.

marysia

[ChrisJB]

Male Sparrowhawks are very small, not much bigger than a Merlin. These also have grey backs and orangy barring on their fronts. This is much more likely (the Sparrowhawk pic' above is a female, which are quite a bit larger).

Regards, Chris