Today pulling into my drive instead of a Merlin a local Red-shouldered Hawk
was in the Merlin Tree (as it's now known). OK photo attached to ebird
checklist below..
https://ebird.org/checklist/S124324832
After lunch I took the dogs for a neighborhood walk and while walking down
Emerson Ave I thought about a certain tree that'd I'd be in sight of soon
and about the one time I saw a Merlin in it eating a Starling several years
ago. As the tree became visible I was shocked to see a Merlin in it again!
When I got home I decided to look in ebird and see when that sighting was.
It was in 2017, on December 20th! Exactly five years ago to the day! I
didn't get a photo today, but five years ago I had ran back home for my
camera and returned for a photo. Ebird checklist below..
https://ebird.org/checklist/S41218144
Speaking of ebird. It's really nice to be able to look up past sightings,
it's like a personal birding journal. While in the rabbit hole, I thought
how many Merlin sightings have I had in Jefferson County? 41 How many
Merlin photos have I posted to ebird? 36 If you're not an ebird user, I
suggest you try it out. It's pretty easy to use and such a great way to
keep track of all your birding experiences.
--
Jamie Baker
Louisville, Kentucky
