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[STLbf]

Still quiet, with cold, mist, fog. Two deer across the Creek early AM. Cam op panning about 10:30AM found some tracks in the snow, your guess is as good as mine. No pic, but a tiny bird in the trees.

[LisaG1967]

Great pics, STL!

[STLbf]

Late afternoon finds MrN & DNF near and in a Creek Tree. Nice way to end the daylight.

[STLbf]

Everything is covered with frozen mist this morning. Cam ops found MrN on the Love Branch at daybreak, then a sub-adult around the brush pile & Creek trees 10:30 - 11:00. This sub-a is easy to recognize from the dark eye mask. A frequent visitor for a month or more.

[Raleigheagle]

Looks like our little Kestrel is back.

[Ginger52]

Looks like our little Kestrel is back.

Raleigh -- It's actually a Merlin (Falco columbarius).  The cam-op confirmed it with RRP.  You're right, though, they do resemble kestrels.  All About Birds says:  "Merlins are small falcons with a powerful build that is broader and stockier than the slightly smaller American Kestrel. Merlins have sharply pointed wings, a broad chest, and a medium length tail."

Here's a pic I found online (Audubon) of a Merlin:

[Raleigheagle]

Wow.....Thank you. I thought it looked a little smaller than a kestrel, but once I saw that hooked beak, I made the assumption it was a kestrel. Never saw a Merlin before.

[Ginger52]

I've never seen a Merlin before either.  When I Googled, I found that they've overwintered in Iowa for several years but 2016 was the first time in 108 years that there was a documented Merlin nest in Iowa.

[Raleigheagle]

So nice of him to enjoy a meal and keep us entertained in the absence of our resident eagles today. Its a beautiful little bird.

[Ginger52]

I agree.  Really adorable.

[Raleigheagle]

From the Cornell website:

Merlin pairs have been seen teaming up to hunt large flocks of waxwings: one Merlin flushes the flock by attacking from below; the other comes in moments later to take advantage of the confusion.

Pretty cool!!

[STLbf]

Whatever this bird of prey is, it's beautiful. Didn't the kestrel used to be called a sparrow hawk? Merlins are larger, heavier.

Several photos from its 2-hour time on the pasture perch.

[Ginger52]

Here's a cool video from GailM on the Explore board of some of the sights we've seen so far this season.

https://disq.us/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FwrmnOAsLxAk%3AXEKkFjUkVZn4ATOS9Kt_WBuT4Fo&cuid=1407162

[LORIDAVIS]

Cute lil visitor today at DNN..."Merlin Falcon"



Decorah Eagles North A Merlin having lunch 01 04 2021https://youtu.be/r6uLLwXnrccvia blossem holland

[STLbf]

Beautiful little raptor at DNN yesterday.

There have been people and vehicles near the creek since the snow. Lots of tracks this morning when the live Cam came back.