Are merlins rare?

[Airehead]

I was a little surprised to hear Bill Oddie & co. describe merlins are 'rare'. But then I noticed elsewhere on this site that there are (as I remember it) only 5 or 6 hundred pairs in the British Isles.

I find this difficult to reconcile with the fact that I have seen more merlins than sparrowhawks. A male bird 3 years ago behind my house, a female 2 years ago at our favourite Scottish west coast holiday spot, again there this year and a female twice behind our house foraging during winter in the garden. (I put a chicken leg out to try to entice it but crows took it).

Are they rare? Have I just been lucky?

[paulthomas]

I'd say you've been very, very lucky

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

I've never seen a Merlin, but have seen loads of Sparrowhawk Merlin are quite rare and you have been very lucky

[nightshade]

The local Organic farm gets a pair I have not seen them yet,Sparrowhawks and Kestrels there are several around and one in a shed (sparrowhawk) near where I work.

[canonman]

Hi
Sorry to say they are, not many people will be fortunate to see a Merlin.
Let’s hope soon that the numbers increase.
Mick

[Gareth W]

Up here in Richmond N Yorks I have a reasonable chance of seeing Merlins when I go on moorland walks. If I walk for several miles and scan with my bins at regular intervals I can often see this smart falcon. The view is more often than not a brief one as it flys fast and low.

I have been lucky enough to see on 2 seperate occasions a Merlin chase a Meadow Pipit. The Merlin would fly after the Pipit then position its self 6ft or so above it and swoop down at its prey. The Pipit would take evasive action at the last second causing the Merlin to shoot below it. The Falcon would again get above it and this continued for a couple of mins on each occasion. The score so far - Meadow Pipits 2 - Merlins 0.

I was in the garden last autumn when the alarm calls started . Then a Merlin came overhead Trying to disguise itself by adopting a Mistle Thrushes undulating flight! - Gareth

[rlchew]

For me Merlins are rare .... I can not guarantee seeing one each year despite visiting upland areas such as the Yorkshire Dales, mid Wales and the Scottish Highlands.

The best sighting I had was many years ago at Holme in Norfolk when I saw a Merlin take a Snipe.

In my part of the world (Essex), the commonest birds of prey are Kestrels and Sparrowhawks although Merlins are recorded on the coastal marshes in winter.

Richard