Squirrel_Basher 17,102 Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 Out with the dogs today and saw a merlin tail chasing a lark .Brilliant .The lark tried to maintain the higher ground but the falcon ,just like a spitfire , kept back summersaulted to get even higher .The merlin folded for a swoop but the lark evaded last minute with a what looked like a mid air stall .Breathtaking really .The conclusion i never got to see as they went over the horizon .Very fast predator against a worthy ,thinking prey .No pics unfortunately . Quote Link to post
GET THEM OUT (.)(.) 39 Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 seen them a few times above my mates house in the summer when he has his birds out, they soon let you know when there something about, amazing birds, this summer we see 5 buzzards together with 2 pergrine falcons, they was just soaring above the village, then eventually floated off, also see something big hovering in the distance as we got closer in the car it was a buzzard ! it wasnt hovering as good as a kestrel obviously, but it was for sure hovering, later that day my mate said, geuss what i see, f*****g BUZZARD HOVERING UP AT TOP OFF THE HILL ! , , atb, GTO, Quote Link to post
Neal 1,930 Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 I've only ever seen a merlin once and that, as in your case, was chasing a lark. It was near the Giant's Castle on St Mary's in The Scilly Isles about twenty years ago and, ironically, I saw my first and only hobby hovering right next to the castle within five minutes of it. Quote Link to post
Squirrel_Basher 17,102 Posted December 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2009 I've only ever seen a merlin once and that, as in your case, was chasing a lark. It was near the Giant's Castle on St Mary's in The Scilly Isles about twenty years ago and, ironically, I saw my first and only hobby hovering right next to the castle within five minutes of it. Both are seen quite regular around us mate with the hobby more of a visitor .Saw a pair of merlins displaying last spring ,very vocal . Quote Link to post
parrots2 55 Posted December 23, 2009 Report Share Posted December 23, 2009 (edited) seen these hunt swallows in spring and seem to out fly them easy Edited December 23, 2009 by parrots2 Quote Link to post
Squirrel_Basher 17,102 Posted December 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2009 Swallows appear to be straight line birds but the lark is very much a test for the wee falcon . Quote Link to post
EskdaleHawks 8 Posted December 24, 2009 Report Share Posted December 24, 2009 Swallows appear to be straight line birds but the lark is very much a test for the wee falcon . Merlins have to be one of the most agile little Falcons I have ever had the pleasure to whatch! Chasing larks over moorland! Makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck! Wonderful! Quote Link to post
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