Recently, a merlin has settled around the Toftrees pond, where he has a favorite perch (and tanking up before continuing on the fall migration route). Unfortunately, that perch is some 400 feet away, making photography difficult.
Today, a red-tailed hawk drove the merlin off that perch, and the merlin settled to within a reasonable distance. The only photographic disadvantage was that I was on his shade side, so the merlin's colors are somewhat muted.
Falcons (and hawks in general) are extremely interested in the people observing them.
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My camera might have made strange clicking sounds, but the merlin evidently decided I was okay and proceeded to preen.
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In the midst of preening, it doesn't hurt to take observations all around.
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The merlin adjusts his balance, and it was my one opportunity to show his chest pattern.
