Merlin in birdshed!

Fieldfare95 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 03:58 PM

Last year I woke up one morning to a merlin in the back garden and could not believe it, we took some photos for proof and I posted them here. And then lo and behold this Saturday my granddad was stood in the kitchen and he saw a movement inside the shed. So he went outside and looked in and perched on the table was a small hawk! The bird had been clawing at the cages and when my granddad came out it flew and hit the inside of the shed window. It stood on the table dazed, and my granddad had a good look at it. He has been bird watching for a very long time and knew that this was no sparrowhawk, he noticed its small size and very bright yellow legs. My uncle came out and they both agreed that the bird was a merlin. My Granddad could not believe it and is delighted to finally have seen one, however he is a little upset at the death of two canaries

Here are the pictures of the bird I saw last year:

AshLee · #2 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 04:02 PM

What a lovely bird. And how exciting to have one in the shed

Fieldfare95 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-02-2010, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshLee

What a lovely bird. And how exciting to have one in the shed

Yes they are a beautiful bird and you can see how small they are when you compare it to the starling in the picture.
Thanks for replying

rossy · #4 (**permalink**) 09-02-2010, 04:08 PM

hello fieldfare just looked at your shots of the merlin well done on britains smallest bird of prey. rossy.

Fieldfare95 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-02-2010, 05:45 PM

Thanks Rossy but it was actually my mum who took the brill pics

Jason Green · #6 (**permalink**) 11-02-2010, 01:51 AM

Evening Fieldfare,

Yes, I remember - how could I forget, we don't often see these on WAB! It's a lovely bird and one I'd love to see. Nice sighting again, but sad to hear about the canaries

Take care,

Jason

rossy · #7 (**permalink**) 11-02-2010, 06:43 AM

ok feildfare well done mum

rossy

Fieldfare95 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-02-2010, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Green

sad to hear about the canaries

Hi Jason, they were two of his best birds n' all! It just clawed through the bars and managed to get them

Fieldfare95 · #9 (**permalink**) 13-02-2010, 06:25 PM

New report: my granddad thinks he has seen the merlin again on his allotment, but couldn't confirm. He thought it was smaller than the regular kestrel and sparrowhawk.