Date: 6/1/26 7:04 am From: Jim Danzenbaker via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Merlin and their prey
All,
Just catching up on tweeters threads.
A lasting memory I have of Merlins in action is watching one catch an
aerial Vaux's Swift in a swift flock north of the Golden Gate bridge in
California. Soon after, two detached wings descended like leaves.from the
sky. Nothing like a to-go lunch! Merlin - has been and always will be my
favorite "raptor"!
Jim Danzenbaker
Battle Ground, WA
On Mon, May 18, 2026 at 11:18 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Down here it's been Cooper's Hawks (among others) which simply sit on the
> Chimney. This has resulted in the relocation from the long, historic
> Chapman School Chimney, to spread out across the PDX metropolitan area
> Maybe just as well, not to be so concentrated.
>
> And as to Merlins and Starlings, our family once spent a weekend in an
> Ilwaco house loaned by a friend. Saturday morning, as we were heading down
> to the beach, I stepped out the front door, only to have a passing Merlin
> swerve upward, away from its neighborhood cruise, dropping at the exact
> moment, a decreased Starling, right at my feet. We placed the Starling on
> the railing, but upon returning, it was still there. I guess there were
> plenty more out there.
>
> Bob OBrien Portland
> (please appreciate this was an actual observation of two *Washington*
> Birds!
>
> On Mon, May 18, 2026 at 12:19 PM Diane Yorgason-Quinn <
> <avosetta...> wrote:
>
>> 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...>
>> ------------------------------
>> *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.
>>
>> Bob OBrien Portland
>>
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--
Jim Danzenbaker
Battle Ground, WA
360-702-9395
<jdanzenbaker...>
