Merlin sightings
There was mostly cloud cover this morning, with a few breaks of sunshine. Every winter, I see Merlins here in Old Trail. This falcon species is rare here, and always a treat to see. Each year, the Merlins I have seen here in Old Trail have been males. I saw my first one of this season this morning, and it appears to be an immature male, as it still has some brown feathers but its back is starting to turn gray. I've wondered if a family of them winters here. The map below shows where I have seen them in and around Old Trail. The yellow stars are in previous years, and the blue star is where I saw one this morning. It appears that perhaps this shows its hunting territory that includes wooded areas, wetlands, and golf course fairways.
Merlin sightings
Merlin
Merlin
Merlin
Merlin
Merlin
Merlin
I ended up with 31 avian species this morning, including two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. One of them was a juvenile just starting to get a few red crown feathers. The other was a boldly colored male, and I wish that I had a clearer view of it.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Ruddy Duck
Swamp Sparrow
Hermit Thrush
White-throated Sparrow
Deer
Deer
Today's list:
Canada Goose
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Ruddy Duck
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Merlin
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Field Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow