Merlin
Falco columbarius

f6.7 @ 1/640s. ISO:1250, Nikon D3S w 500mm and 1.7X tele-extender

\"Merlin (bird),\" Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Merlins rely on speed and agility to hunt their prey. They often hunt by flying fast and low, typically less than 1 m (3.3 ft) above the ground, using trees and large shrubs to take prey by surprise. But they actually capture most prey in the air, and will \"tail-chase\" startled birds. Throughout its native range, the merlin is one of the most able aerial predators of small to mid-sized birds, more versatile if anything than the larger hobbies (which prefer to attack in mid-air) and the more nimble sparrowhawks (which usually go for birds resting or sleeping in dense growth). Breeding pairs will frequently hunt cooperatively, with one bird flushing the prey toward its mate.

Surf Drive, Falmouth, Massachusetts

01/07/2015