Merlin, take 2

Found the merlin again yesterday (encounter #2). But this encounter was a bit more interesting.

Now if anyone can ID the plucked and headless kill, I'll be really impressed! To me, it looks like a penguin chick (except for the feet) :p


All of a sudden, it tensed up so I knew it was ready to take flight. A coopers hawk (last image) swooped in and tried to steal the meal but the falcon made a clean get-away (with meal) :p

Nice group of shots. Looks like he zeroed in on you in the third shot, Jeff

Definitely penguin. I hear you guys have a lot of those out there.

:D

Nice shooting, as usual.

Excellent captures..Awesome indeed!!

Exceptional work Loupey... wish I could someday take photos like that...

If you can, it would be great to know shooting/camera/lens info... since EXIF isn't there. :nonod:

About ID'ing, first let me issue a disclaimer... correct ID possible, though not guaranteed! :p

• Prey's feet colour.
• Prey's feet shape.
• Prey's body colouring.
• Prey's body shape (what's left of it).
• Carcass size relative to Merlin size.
• Prey's range. (No wild penguins in Midwest USA). :wink:
• Fact that both merlin and cooper's throughly enjoy dining on birds which have the suspected ID of Mr. Prey here.

I do think it is a rock pigeon. Or rock dove or feral pigeon or whatever you may like to call it. :D This being a 100% correct ID can change depending on habitat... have you seen rock pigeons in your area before?

Thanks, guys! Appreciate the comments.

Regarding the kill, my second thought (after the penguin one :) ) was that it was a mourning dove (no rock doves outside of downtown) or titmouse. But since I was looking through the viewfinder most of the time, I really couldn't gage the size of it.

Three more of different compositions/angles.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by A.M.D.A.

If you can, it would be great to know shooting/camera/lens info... since EXIF isn't there. :nonod:

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Camera: Canon 50D
Lens: 500mm f/4L IS

All shot manual so the exposure was unchanged from:

ISO: 200
Shutter speed: 1/500
Aperture: f/6.7

Except for the shot of it taking off - I anticipated it and so I boosted the ISO to 400 and the shutter to 1/1000s.

What a catch, by both of you! :) Well worth freezing one's butt for! I especially like the first one :)

Mette

Wow, great series of shots Loupey.
:)

that looks mourning dove/ pidgeon to me

Great series and too bad I can't choose one of these images as POTW!!!!!!!!!

Mette, scott-devon, paulnj - thank you for the comments.