August 15:
Returning from a quick visit to Hesketh West to see digger-driver John, I reflected on the fact that it had seemed ‘very quiet’ bird-wise but that actually when I added up what had been seen, it was still quite a haul. I managed to record 8 little egrets, 3 grey herons, a couple of skylarks, 11 linnets, a young sparrowhawk and a (very small) young merlin. I saw the merlin stood on the track ahead and as I approached in the van I was thinking; “is that a mistle thrush – that would be a first”. Once it flew its identity was revealed as ‘just’ a merlin! Where was it born I wonder – Iceland or Gwynedd perhaps? All in all, not bad for a quick visit on a ‘quiet’ day. However, I was outdone by John who had flushed a short-eared owl earlier that morning when he started up the digger! “Not much about?!”
Merlin (Falco columbarius). Photo credit: Chris Gomersall (images.rspb.org.uk)