When our Site Manager Jarrod popped into the Eric Morecambe Hide earlier this week he was thrilled to spot a merlin out on the saltmarsh. This dapper little falcon has been present for a few weeks now and can often be seen sat on the fenceposts or hunting over the marsh.
Armed with his camera, Jarrod started to photograph the rapid raptor as it went in pursuit of a meadow pipit at the back of the pools. The relentless aerial chase continued for some time with the birds coming ever close to the hide when suddenly the merlin flew through the very window Jarrod was sat at! Astonished, he turned to see the bird sat in the hide alongside him!
He managed to get a few pics of the confused merlin just before it realised its error and shot out back over the saltmarsh. Meanwhile, Jarrod and a visiting birdwatcher looked around and discovered the very fortunate pipit cowering in a corner of the hide.
The prospective prey was swiftly released and order was soon restored. Jarrod said, "In over forty years of birdwatching I've never had such an amazing encounter with a wild bird of prey - I couldn't believe it!" - and to be fair, neither could we until we saw the photos!!
Just goes to show, you never quite know what to expect when out exploring nature!
Elsewhere, that other smart falcon the hobby has been entertaining birdwatchers on the main reserve, with visitors enjoying amazing views of up to two birds as they hunt for dragonflies over the Causeway and Lower pools. Ospreys too continue to pay daily visits, often stopping to fish in the deeper meres while otters and red deer are being seen frequently across the site.
As we creep toward September and the onset of autumn we'll see an increase in the number of birds generally passing through the area. From warblers to wildfowl and waders to unexpected wanderers we can look forward to some exciting birdwatching in the coming weeks. Don't forget to pass on your sightings if you visit and do keep up with the latest news by following us on Twitter and Facebook!
And if you fancy expanding your knowledge and experience please check out the wide range of guided walks and events scheduled over the next couple of months - click here for details!
Amazing experience. Well done for managing to get the images. If you can arrange for this to happen again tomorrow while we are visiting I would be very grateful !!
How thrilling to experience a Merlin joining you in the hide; it's a wonder you could get a steady camera picture as your heart rate must have been going 20 to the dozen, well done and thanks for the interesting update.
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Regards, Hazel