Merlin, doing a very fast fly by!! (Falco columbarius)

Last summer, while in Kodiak Island, Alaska, I traveled out to Fossil Beach. I had heard rumors of a wild Buffalo herd, and wanted to try to get some photos! Turns out the Buffalo were pretty easy, as I had to shoo them off the road to get by! Just as I parked my rental car, I spotted something flying really fast along the ridgeline. This Merlin, dropped out of sight...and then suddenly came right over my head! Boy was he moving!