BOP id, please

[rogpow]

Hi Guys,

Is this a juvenile female Merlin?




I know there was one in the area at the time, and it looked too small to be a kestrel.

Excuse the poor quality of the pic, just out for a walk and didn't have decent lens with me.

Thanks

[Dogghound]

Yes a Merlin.

[faz]

yes it is a merlin

[Tringa]

Have to say I have never seen a Merlin, but looking at my bird guide and online pics, it looks like a merlin to me.

However, others will know better.

Dave

[Robert S J Smith]

merlin for me too...

[rogpow]

Thanks guys. First for me.

[Robert S J Smith]

Originally Posted by rogpow

Thanks guys. First for me.

Congratulations

[thebeard]

good pic - great bird - supposedly there's one knocking about at attenborough NR at the moment, and supposedly i saw it - but it was just a flash past the hide. i've decided i havent seen one - the habitat seems terribly out for the species

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by thebeard

the habitat seems terribly out for the species

Birds often winter along the coasts or in lowland areas, so the habitat is not that bad for them. Additionally birds stop of in all sorts of areas as they move around the country.

[thebeard]

i thought they were more suited to more open habitat. the area where this one has been hanging about is surrounded by wet woodland and dominated by a reedbed, the delta area which is frequented by bitterns in the winter, if you know the reserve.