Could I have Merlins?

[vinnychameleon]

Hi all. I saw what I believe to be a Merlin by my house about a week ago. I live about half a mile from a river estuary and the area I live in has about 60-70 acres of open fields and this contains scattered woodland within it. I only saw it for a brief second and it was definetly a falcon but didn't look like a Kestrel. There is plenty of prey for it here but I just wanted to know if it was possible for it to be here.

[Oy]

It sure could be.

[Rob Chace]

Originally Posted by vinnychameleon

Hi all. I saw what I believe to be a Merlin by my house about a week ago. I live about half a mile from a river estuary and the area I live in has about 60-70 acres of open fields and this contains scattered woodland within it. I only saw it for a brief second and it was definetly a falcon but didn't look like a Kestrel. There is plenty of prey for it here but I just wanted to know if it was possible for it to be here.

Hi VC,
Merlins are usually seen belting along, low to the ground, over open land. Estuarys & saltmarshes are favoured haunts of these birds. So yes, as you are close to to an estuary, i would say that there is a definite chance that what you saw was a merlin.
Regards Rob.

[canonman]

Hi
Could be possible, why not try and get a picture of it.
Mick

[vinnychameleon]

Thanks guys could be I'll keep an eye out for her (Looked like a female) and Will try and get some pics.