ML618878832

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

Merlin just after eating an American Goldfinch on the same branch. It moved over about one foot to perch.

Observation details

Eating a goldfinch for breakfast. Multiple Red-winged Blackbird alarm calls were heard, followed by a Merlin flying, straight in from the pannes, across the trail, into a tall, bare tree by the edge of the marsh about 60 feet up. Stayed about 15 minutes, then flew off north. After landing with the American Goldfinch clenched by the neck on a branch, it never moved or adjusted its talons during eating. It did not eat constantly, but rather had a pattern of leaning over to peck off a piece, then straighten and look left and right. It did not look down or up noticeably and was not bothered by the presence of people standing or walking on the trail 100 feet away. About halfway through the meal, we could see a few small feathers blowing off in the wind, but otherwise very efficient eating and complete. After finishing off the goldfinch, the Merlin moved over about a foot on the branch and was not seen preening. It then looked down and straight ahead in a slower way, as compared to the side-to-side looks during eating. After a short time, it crouched, but then straightened again and shortly after, flew off, away from where it had come. Small falcon (about 14”) with a dark gray back and wings. Light underneath with a heavily streaked breast. Noticeably lighter around neck. Vertical dark stripe dripping down from eye. Narrow striping under wings. Banded tail.

Technical information

Model

DMC-ZS50

ISO

250

Focal length

129 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/6.4

Shutter speed

1/500 sec

Dimensions

2303 pixels x 1582 pixels

Original file size

837.96 KB