Magnificent Merlin
This magnificent Merlin certainly looks wonderful on a warm spring morning! I photographed this friendly bird today. I actually saw three of them in total as they are on the move back to their breeding grounds, some of which may be right near us. Last year we had a Merlin nest only a couple blocks from us at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, and others were scattered throughout Chautauqua County. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreMerlin on Wire
Merlins certainly do love their power lines! Perhaps next spring and summer you will find one like this in your neighborhood with a nest not far away. We are seeing more and more of them locally in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region. During the last breeding season we had a pair less than a mile away from us at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History in Jamestown, New York. They can be found even in suburban to near urban habitats.
Read MoreMerlin (Falco columbarius) HD video
This migrant Merlin (Falco columbarius) was found taking a short rest in this tree during a very windy day – all the more conducive to fly with! Whenever I get the chance to observe one individual like this for a prolonged period I inevitably wonder where it has been and where it is going. I wish I knew where this bird was now… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreMerlin (Falco columbarius)
Last night we held the first meeting of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute Ornithological Club for the 2014-2015 season. Several members mentioned enjoying summer sightings of Merlins with confirmed or all but certain nests in nearby areas of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. We had pair nesting around one minute from RTPI this summer. These noisy falcons are definitely continuing to spread their breeding territory in our local area – keep an eye out for them next year!
Read MoreBoothe Park Hawk Watch 9/12 – 182 migrant raptors
We had a decent day at the Boothe Park Hawk Watch in Stratford, Connecticut yesterday, considering the deep blue sky in control, as we tallied 182 migrant raptors filling in the 9:30-4:30 time frame. Having no clouds in the sky makes it very difficult to spot hawks, eagles, falcons, vultures and so forth flying at altitudes in the thousands of feet. Light clouds, especially cirrus, provide a helpful backdrop to view them on without obscuring any or dumping precipitation which would stop the birds from moving south. In essence many migrants likely flew by right over our heads that we could...
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