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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ColinD" data-source="post: 1361647" data-attributes="member: 55409">21st December 2008 - Two MerlinsFirst time I've been out on my bike for about 6 weeks due to one thing or another, and I was a bit nervous that I might struggle in the blustery wind. The birds soon took my mind off the struggle though!Highlight of the day was two Merlins along Dairy Farm Road. I was on the track which leads to Inglenook Farm, when I saw the first bird flying along a ditch. Suddenly it was joined by a second bird, and they twisted and turned in the air at low level, playing or perhaps fighting. So intent were they on the battle that they failed to notice that they had now come very close to me, and I was little more than perhaps 20 yards away from them. Even when they did notice, they didn't seem too bothered and flew a short distance before landing, and allowing me to watch them for several minutes. My 5th and 6th Merlins on the mosslands this year.Other highlights included 100 Fieldfares and 10 Lesser Redpolls also in Dairy Farm Road, and 40 Tree Sparrows along the Old Coach Road. Geese numbers were well down, with probably less than 1000 flying around in groups of between 50 and 200.Total birding miles by bike so far in 2008: 1087 (66 bike rides)Number of miles since last puncture: 1072 </blockquote>