Some raptor updates. Andrew Wilson’s garden was recently visited by a female Merlin and then a couple of days later a male perching on a pergola for quite a while before flying off. The day afterwards a beautiful Buzzard was riding the thermals drifting from the Skipton Woods area over his house towards the Crag. As it circled he caught glimpses of its wonderful under wing plumage. Andrew also noted that blackbirds and tits have also reoccupied the garden.

Merlin

The Merlin is the UK’s smallest bird of prey, this compact, dashing falcon has a relatively long, square-cut tail and rather broad-based pointed wings, shorter than those of other falcons. Its wingbeat tends to be rapid with occasional glides, wings held close to the body.

In winter, the UK population increases as most of the Icelandic breeding birds migrate to our warmer climate. Although recovering from a population crash in the late 20th century, it is on the Red List. It is a Schedule 1 listed species on The Wildlife and Countryside Act.

To help identify the Merlin, here’s a video clip:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Merlin/sounds