View allAll Photos Tagged Merlin
Saw several today and they were not camera nor vehicle shy.
I think the young ones have less to fear. This one kept up with us on the roadside as we clicked away.
This Merlin had attempted to lunch on a female Flicker. The Flickers mate attacked the Merlin until his mate was released: she was resting low on a tree and her mate was on the tree top looking for her or on guard. No camera for the battle (had to go to campsite to get camera for post battle shots).
Merlin (Falco columbarius) dries its' feathers in the rays of the sunrise after an unsuccessful attack on a flock of Sanderlings.
Roseway Beach, Nova Scotia.
An unlucky songbird (Junco maybe?) became lunch for this handsome Merlin. A roadside image taken from the "rolling blind"...
Merlin De-feathering And Prepping Dinner
Merlin - Falco columbarius
Vehicle Used As Blind
California, USA
My Merlin stopped by today, no doubt looking for a meal. It sat on its favorite perch in the top of the aspens and quickly attracted a mob of blue jays trying to drive it away. I won the shutter lottery with this shot, I could see the jay flash by in the frame and was lucky to capture it in the frame and the look on the Merlin's eye is priceless.
The merlin is a small species of falcon from the Northern Hemisphere. This bird of prey was found enjoying the early morning sunshine on the North Shores in Massachusetts.
The female Merlin likes to stay at the tree on top of the hill. She would sometimes stay lower at the perch so I can shoot with some background. This is a shot when she just landed with the feather being streamlining and body skinnier.
Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont California
Have seen a lot of these falcons this year, a good thing for a species that was becoming less common in the city in my last years in Winnipeg.
Spotted this beautiful Merlin sitting on top of a Hawthorn bush late this afternoon near home in Dumfries & Galloway
Scotland
Common Name: Merlin
Scientific Name: Falco columbarius
Location: Avian Reconditioning Center, Apopka, Florida
Name: Sarka
This portrait of Sarka, a Merlin (Falco columbarius), was taken at the Avian Reconditioning Center in Apopka, Florida. The photo is a study in the bird's innate intensity, capturing the nuance of its feather patterns and the penetrating gaze that makes the Merlin a formidable bird of prey. The ambient light plays softly across the feathers, lending depth and texture, while the background is subdued to keep the focus sharply on Sarka.
As a photographer, what intrigues me most is how this image commands the viewer's attention straight to the bird's eyes. It's not just a snapshot but an intimate engagement with a species that embodies the untamed spirit of the natural world. This photo provides not just a visual experience but an emotional connection to the subject, emphasizing why conservation of these magnificent creatures is so crucial.
©2020 Adam Rainoff
Male.
A good day for raptors on the levels, with Ring-tail Hen harrier, Short-eared owl, Kestrel, Buzzard, Peregrine and Merlin seen... (Not all by me, as I missed the Hen, twice. doh)...
I was walking on a trail and saw this bird fly by - so quick! It perched a little further down the trail. Really cool to see this Merlin.
Another one of this wonderful bird for me. On a wire ... oh well. I tried to do a composite but it just wouldn't come out like I liked.
Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area (Réserve nationale de faune du cap Tourmente).
Merlin flying away right after his meal. This curious little guy landed on a pole just a few meters from me.
Faucon émerillon qui s'envole après avoir terminé son repas. Le curieux s'est posé sur une clôture à 3m de moi mais je n'ai pas eu le temps me repositionner pour d'autres photos.
I posted a rather distant photo of a male Merlin recently www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/51994900253/in/dateposted/ but this is a cropped version of the same bird. I see Merlins in flight over the Peak District moors fairly regularly, and see birds perched at a distance, but this was my first view of a close perched male. Merlins are Britain's smallest birds of prey and males are noticeably smaller than females (180g v 230g). They usually fly fast and low over the moors where they nest, doggedly chasing small birds following every twist and turn of their prey. Merlins are falcons and DNA studies have showed that falcons are not related to other birds of prey such as hawks, buzzards, harriers and eagles. Their closest relatives are actually parrots and the small bill on this bird does give it a slight resemblance to Budgerigar.
Merlin hunting dragonflies in Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area (Réserve nationale de faune du cap Tourmente)
The thrill and excitement of seeing and photographing Merlin never changes ....they are shy , elusive and scarce so to even see this stunning bird of prey makes all the hours and miles worth it ..every time I get so excited
Today was a very mixed forecast and at times the weather was awful but I always think that if I am out there when the rain and wind stops for a while then that is when the birds will appear .....today that proved to be correct, but you can see from the image it was still raining a little .
This little beauty was seen several times at RSPB Greylake, but never close. The shot was taken with a very long lens and in poor light, so it had to be carefully processed to get this result.