Merlin, take 2

[Loupey]

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)


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)

[Grandpaw]

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

[Sushigaijin]

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



Nice shooting, as usual.

[Eric D]

Excellent captures..Awesome indeed!!

[A.M.D.A.]

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!

• 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).
• 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. This being a 100% correct ID can change depending on habitat... have you seen rock pigeons in your area before?

[Loupey]

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.

[Loupey]

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

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.

[Pink Dragonfly]

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

Mette

[scott-devon]

Wow, great series of shots Loupey.

[paulnj]

that looks mourning dove/ pidgeon to me

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

[Loupey]

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