Date: 5/18/26 12:29 pm From: Diane Yorgason-Quinn via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Merlin and their prey
Here's my story of Merlins:
I count Vaux's Swifts at migration roosts (chimneys). Several years ago, swifts were circling a chimney I was observing when a Merlin flew in and grabbed it. This is particularly interesting because swifts are swift, and falcons are really the only aerial flyers who can hope to grab one. Anyway, this Merlin proceeded to bring the swift over to a low rooftop right in front of our team and had a meal. Gruesomely fascinating.
The bad news is that when Merlins tell their friends, there will be so many of them out hunting swifts at a particular chimney, that the swifts, being intelligent, will search for new roosts and abandon what was really a great chimney. This has happened to several chimneys in the northwest.
Diane Yorgason-Quinn
Gig Harbor, WA
<avosetta...>
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From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2026 11:58 AM
To: tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Merlin and their prey
I've had a few very interesting observations in many years (decades) of birding.
1. I was birding the formerly-famous BayOcean flats on Tillamook Bay, long ago. There was the usual large 'peep' flock of mostly Western Sandpipers,; a Merlin came in, up high, flushing the flock. The Merlin casually circled and disappeared; the peep landed and resumed feeding. 5-10 minutes later I spotted the Merlin, far off, flying with its usual speed, about 12 inches above the mudflats. It soon was in the midst of the flock, snatched a 'piper, and again disappeared. The flock, minus one, landed and continued feeding.
2. Birding Sauvies Island, there was a large flock of Bushtits in the top of a huge Oregon Oak. A distant Merlin appeared, apparently just passing through, flew into the top of the oak, plucking a Bushtit (sorta' like a grape) as an orderve, all in one motion.
3. Once in Happy Valley up on the upper reaches of the city, I noticed a pair of distant birds coming towards me at about 100'. As they got closer I realized the lead bird was a Mourning Dove and the following bird, you guessed it. Down the bill from me was a very large pine tree, into which the dove disappeared. The Merlin soon arrived and started circling the pine, looking for an opening. After a few transits, with the Merlin on the opposite side, the dove decided to flee and took off in the original direction, the Merlin right behind. They were soon far above the ground which dropped away into the valley, maybe 1000' .And so the pair disappeared, just as they had appeared, into the distance.. Both are very strong fliers, and their ultimate ending remains unknown. A test of endurance, rather than speed, to which they appeared as equals.
