It's not the first Merlin I've seen on the Island by any means but it's the first one I've seen sitting on a post in my garden. It was there for only a short time and, sod's law, I had a macro lens on the camera and the Big Lens was in the boot of the car. So I had to make do with a 200mm lens through a window at an oblique angle. I just managed a shot before it departed at speed. I say 'it' because it's either a female or a young male. The garden has been strangely devoid of sparrows this afternoon so I assume it's still lurking.
Post script to this post: Well I apologise for misleading everyone. I have seen many Sparrowhawks and photographed them too. What made me not even think of this one being a sparrowhawk was the fact that it was so small: about the same size as a blackbird. However I have now had a more analytical look at it and the determining factor is the wings. I should immediately have noticed. When one sees a sparrowhawk the short stocky wings are very noticeable when compared with the long sharp wings of the Merlin.
Post post script: As my next post will show. It was a Merlin after all. I should have had the courage of my convictions.
Oh, I know how fast birds can be! You did well to get this shot. I thank you for snapping it and sharing it here. I have never seen one.
ReplyDeleteWell, Kay, you still haven't seen one. I made a mistake in my identification. However I was still fortunate to get the shot.
DeleteNice photo. Beautiful green moss carpet on that post. Its no wonder it chose that spot.
ReplyDeleteMaywyn the atmosphere is both damp and clean: a great place for mosses and lichens.
DeleteYou must have had a rapid reaction Graham to have taken this photo ?
ReplyDeleteHeron I don't think I've ever changed a lens so quickly.
DeleteWe have a merlin in the neighborhood most of the year. I wish we'd get a second and that they would do away with the house sparrows.
ReplyDeleteRed we have Merlins here. Unfortunately on reflection this is not one of them.
DeleteI thought I saw Merlin in my yard once, but I was wrong. It was Gandalf.
DeleteLast Monday I saw about 8 Sparrow Hawks sitting in line on a telephone wire. I think they must have been holding a meeting; very strange.
ReplyDeleteAh. A kettle of hawks, Cro. How unusual.
DeleteNever mind not having the "right" objective at hand, Graham - it has turned out a good picture! I would have never been able to take it.
ReplyDeleteMeike with the right piece of equipment you'd have had no problem.
DeleteIt's a fabulous photo, correct lens or not!
ReplyDeleteIt would be a privilege to have such a close encounter with a bird like this
Well, Kylie, it was still a good experience. I just got the bird wrong in my excitement.
DeleteGreat photo anyway Graham. I always struggle with what lens to take when going out on the farm... the one I usually need is not the one that I usually take... Murphy's law.
ReplyDeleteLynda I find that most of the time I only use two lenses. Life was so much simpler when I commuted between here and New Zealand and used a versatile bridge camera for lightness when travelling.
DeleteIsn't that always the way - wrong lens on the camera! Great shot regardless, how wonderful to see it sitting there.
ReplyDeleteYes, Serenata, to all your points!
DeletePosh bird and posh wasp....Things are looking up on Lewis.
ReplyDeleteAdrian the bird wasn't as posh as the wasp unfortunately.
Deleteposher than a wood pigeon, I see lots of pigeons.
DeleteI've never seen either bird but this one looks mighty impressive to me, regardless of its name. Good of you to provide a soft carpet for it to land on. Sorry, on which to land.
ReplyDeletePauline, I have long ago given up on worrying about ending sentences with prepositions. In fact I sometimes even split infinitives these days.
DeleteIt wasn't wearing a pointy hat with stars on and it wasn't waving a wand so it can't be a Merlin.
ReplyDeleteTo tell you the truth, online photos of the two hawks make it hard to differentiate.
YP, they are easily mistaken, particularly as the female sparrowhawk can be quite small. However I shouldn't have been so set on concentrating upon the overall size because the wing lengths are quite different and, I'm ashamed to say, I knew that but overlooked it.
DeleteIts a fine specimen what ever it is. Nice shot too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dianne. It is rather splendid isn't it.
DeleteI agree...no matter what specimen he is, he is a beauty.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lee.
DeleteI think I commented on FB... Anyway I like this image of the bird, whatever his/its name may be. Its pose kind of reminds me of a "gentleman" formally dressed in a tail-coat, standing with his hands behind his back. (The smaller birds in your garden may not agree on the gentleman part, though, I suppose.)
ReplyDeleteYes, Monica, as you know most of the discussion took place on Facebook otherwise I'd have carried on in blissful ignorance.
DeleteIt reminds me of a rather stern old fashioned headmistress. In fact, we had one who looked rather like that!
ReplyDeleteJenny it does, doesn't it: with hands firmly clasped behind her back under her gown.
DeleteYes birds are very fast, I've tried photographing waxeyes but they are too quick for me.
ReplyDeleteAmy a friend in Auckland had lots of waxeyes in her garden. As you say, they are difficult to photograph. I must see if I ever got one good enough to have blogged about it on my New Zealand blog. I know I did photograph one which banged into the ranch slider of The Cottage but that doesn't count- it was motionless!
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