Date: 5/17/25 11:41 am From: m b <marlabeth...> Subject: [de-birds] Merlin or kestrel at bethany boardwalk?
Hi, I'm just wondering if it is at all possible that I saw a kestrel or a merlin while I was coming back in from the water last week at the Bethany Beach boardwalk. I did not have my glasses on. But right at about my eye level, so just feet above the boardwalk railing, I saw what immediately came to my mind as kestrel, although I noticed no rufous on the bird, (but I didn't have time to notice much, and again I didn't have my glasses on,) chasing a sparrow. So incredibly fast I thought it had to be a falcon. It was definitely small, with very pointy wings and a blue gray back. The wings were almost tern-like in their pointiness. Later, I thought well with no rufous, maybe it could have been a merlin or sharpie. But it went by so quickly, and then around a building, and that was the end of that. I don't know why I immediately thought kestrel.
Anyway I would be grateful to hear anybody's opinion. I realize this isn't much to go on, but I'm not used to seeing any kind of raptors besides osprey from the boardwalk at Bethany Beach!
Mb visiting Delaware
Sent from my phone, so please excuse all typos, gibberish, and horrifying misspellings
