Merlin on count day

Here's a pic of the Merlin we saw in Glen Allan. Photo taken by my Dad, Jim Burrell. This was the first record for the count (and one of the most overdue).

 

This may be a seemingly dumb question, but what are your thoughts on the sex? Female? Young bird?

I was talking to Mike Cadman after the Linwood count and he mentioned seeing a Merlin in Hawkesville about a week ago, so perhaps this is the same bird? Birds that we see in the Linwood area tend to only be seen once/twice, and then disappear. Who knows, just a thought.