[Birdtalk] Merlins

[Kristin Purdy]

I saw two MERLINS today, one in Ogden and one in South Ogden, Weber County. 
The first was at the Ogden Country Club (which is really in South Ogden) off 
south Washington Blvd. The place is not open to the public, but the golf 
course manager consented to my request to scout today and then do the CBC 
there on Saturday. The other Merlin was on a tall power pole in Shadow 
Valley subdivision off South Harrison Blvd. Considering I've only seen two 
others this winter so far (and I think they were the same bird), two in a 
day is pretty good.

If you really want to get your heart pounding, look at a Taiga Merlin from 
behind, below, and at a very steep angle. The angle shortens and plumps out 
everything and the bird looks just like a Northern Pygmy-owl, right down to 
the eyespots on the back of the head and the barred tail. The moment sure 
did clear the plaque out of my arteries.

Kris