smittyone@cox.net 149 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Watching Bald Eagles on the ice at Loess Bluffs NWR, in NW Missouri. This small raptor flies past and also lands on the ice for a few moments. At first I though it was a Peregrine Falcon (I've seen them there before). But now I'm thinking it's a Merlin, possible Taiga. Although size was difficult to judge, it seemed Kestrel-sized. The pic is heavily cropped. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aidan B 1,517 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 This is a Merlin, however I'm not sure on the subspecies. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smittyone@cox.net 149 Posted January 14 Author Share Posted January 14 Does this pic help? 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aidan B 1,517 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 I'm not sure, I just have no experience with the Merlin Subspecies. All I can tell you is that it is not the black Subspecies of Merlin. Nice Shots! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phalarope713 787 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Taiga Merlin. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bird Brain 1,484 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Very nice shots!! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KJS-LES 6 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Amazing shots! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jefferson Shank 2,678 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Yep, Taiga Merlin! Nice pics! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IKLland 1,312 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 11 hours ago, Phalarope713 said: Taiga Merlin. Yes 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chipperatl 695 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 12 hours ago, smittyone@cox.net said: Does this pic help? is this ice it is landing on? Great shots of a hard to capture bird. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Spencer 3,821 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 (edited) 12 hours ago, smittyone@cox.net said: Does this pic help? It sure helped my outlook on the day! Did the bird stick the landing or slide for several feet? Edited January 14 by Charlie Spencer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smittyone@cox.net 149 Posted January 14 Author Share Posted January 14 Thanks everyone. BTW, yes Charlie Spencer, It did stick the landing. Although I successfully captured the entire landing sequence frame by frame, the extreme distance made for fair resolution shots at best. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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