Merlin?? East Sufffolk, UK - no photo (1 Viewer)

[RoyS]

A few days ago (13 December), I was driving along a narrow country road near my home in East Suffolk. I flushed a bird from the verge, which flew about 30 metres ahead of the car for 250-300 metres until a car coming the other way caused it to flick up and through the hedge and away.

It was blackbird size, and had uniformly dark upperparts of dark grey to black. I had no sight of the underparts. It flew dead straight at a constant height of (I estimate) 45-60 cms. with very easy, rhythmic wing beats and narrow pointed wings. When it turned away from the road it showed the 'anchor' shape that I associate with peregrines, altho' it was much smaller.

I have never seen a merlin but wonder if this was one - what do others think??

best wishes - Roy Simpson

 

[KenM]

Blackbird size, (a male Sprawk might struggle ''to fit into this shoe size'' plus the shape description/movement sounds good for Jack Merlin.

Cheers

 

[HH75]

On a view such as this, and given the inherent difficulties in judging the size of a lone bird, I wouldn't recommend a confident identification as a Merlin. Sparrowhawk males are quite small, and could perhaps look smaller still out of a familiar context. Besides, I wouldn't have said that a male Merlin was the size of a Blackbird either. The Peregrine-like shape sounds interesting, certainly, but a fleeting view as it turned away from the road while one is concentrating on driving isn't ideal. If you wish to count a bird as new for you on such a view, you may of course do so.

 

[Dawsy]

The size and shape descriptions fit merlin but both can be difficult to judge in a rapidly flying, flushed bird. I think the doubt here comes from relative abundnace and the fact that it's typical sparrowhawk behaviour whereas a merlin, typically a hunter in open country, would be less likely to dart through a hedge. No clear ID I would say.
Michael

 

[RoyS]

Thanks for these replies. I am familiar with sparrowhawks - we see them in the garden - and I am near-certain this wasn't one.

I had no intention of making this a 'tick', no matter the opinions I received - I have to be 100% satisfied before I do that. I was interested in other peoples views - and would now count this as a 'probable'.

Thanks again - and have a good Christmas - Roy