Friday, January 26, 2007, 10:07 pm
Wizard-falcon
DUNCANVILLE, TEXAS –I heard a cardinal, a titmouse, and a chickadee singing on my way into the office on this gorgeous morning. By the time I was free to start birding again, daylight was nearly gone.
I went to Cedar Ridge Preserve to see the day out, and I was excited to discover a female Merlin perched on a snag. Her back was fairly dark brown, consistent with F. c. columbarius, which appears to be the expected form here. Her flanks were heavily marked with reddish brown, and her head was in constant motion, swiveling back and forth, this way and that. I wondered if she was hunting for a final meal before dark.
I tried to take the lady-Merlin’s portrait, but the light had failed.
David J. Ringer
on 26 Jan 2007 at 10:51 pm 1.June said …
David please go home an hour earlier each day. You can and will have days when you need to work til dark or toil all hours in the evening. Please give yourself time to bird each day, and you will be refuelled to work even more efficiently. Trust this old bird–I am a wise old bird. Pace yourself. If you don’t have to be in the office for a meeting go home at 4.00!!! :-)
on 27 Dec 2007 at 2:01 am 2.Search and Serendipity: A Birder’s Blog » A Birder’s Year: January-April said …
[...] found a Merlin at Cedar Ridge Preserve in southern Dallas. They are rare here in [...]