Sunday, July 20, 2008

Merlins

Sue and watched a pair of Merlins displaying around a mountainside in Wales this afternoon. Would they still have young in the nest at this time of year ? The reason I ask is we want to walk up the mountain on a particular route tomorrow and would not wish to disturb nesting birds.
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3 comments:

AndyC said...

They will have well grown young by now.They may well have been young birds you saw.????

9:37 pm
Goldon Gordon said...

Hi Andy
We only had the close range bug bins with us, so we could not get close views. Both birds took it in turns to become airborn from some rocks on the moutain slope and then hover in the breeze before performing acrobatics. They almost constantly called to each other and occasionally performed mock attacks on each other. We assumed that they were a pair due to their obvious attachment to each other. Strangely enough neither Ravens or Carrion Crows which were about in some numbers botherd to mob them. Sue and I reckon watching the Merlins this afternoon was the most exiting and interesting birding experience we have had, truly spectacular to watch their complete control in the air despite the gusting stiffish breeze. I really will have to learn to digiscope living here on the Llyn !

10:02 pm
Jim Welford said...

Having watched M and F carrying food to a probable nest site about 2 or 3 weeks ago I think it is possible that young are still being looked after but having seen Peregrine and kestrels fledge over the last month would imagine they too will have fledged by now.

10:53 pm

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