A few of the usual birds, lots of sparrows at the feeder. Also, a great view of a small bird of prey in the tall tree, where they seem to like to perch - great view for hunting I imagine! I have mentioned seeing a small bird of prey a couple of times in the past few weeks, and have called it the American kestrel. Whatever I have seen before, which may well have been a kestrel, I am quite sure that today's was not a kestrel. Rather, I think it was a merlin. It was dark brown, light under the chin, yellow legs, heavily streaked breast, and distinctly barred tail (underside), smooth and pointed wings, and a quick flyer.
It could, maybe, have been a young peregrine falcon, but I doubt that, they are a few inches bigger than the merlin (though sizes do overlap), and rare, and the streaking pattern is different, based on pictures I've compared.
I dismissed the merlin as a likely ID for what I saw previously because it is an 'occasional' in this region, the kestrel's range fits well.
Common birds: house sparrow, mourning dove, cardinal (pair)
Fall visitors: junco, merlin (??)
It could, maybe, have been a young peregrine falcon, but I doubt that, they are a few inches bigger than the merlin (though sizes do overlap), and rare, and the streaking pattern is different, based on pictures I've compared.
I dismissed the merlin as a likely ID for what I saw previously because it is an 'occasional' in this region, the kestrel's range fits well.
Common birds: house sparrow, mourning dove, cardinal (pair)
Fall visitors: junco, merlin (??)
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