View allAll Photos Tagged birdsofprey,
My old friend gets a wakeup call from a Common Redpoll that landed & started calling only a few feet away! It was mid-afternoon,and it appears I`ve found this Merlin sleeping off a late lunch. I found it a bit odd that after the initial shock of being startled,it paid little to no attention to the redpoll,or to me come to think of it.The Merlin only seemed to be focused on a preening routine,occasionally taking a glance my way.
This Harrier lives on the bay in Newport. She has a fairly large hunting area in the protected nature area. If only MORE areas were like this! The Harriers nest in the bay which is restricted from humans. The male is seen less than the female. The males service more than one nest and are not around as often. Our coastlines are deminishing, and this beauty is a joy to watch gliding over the cliffs. I am hoping our children will get the chance to enjoy this in the next generation.