Dave et al., I photographed a very dark Merlin a few miles from there (Prospect Ponds) in January that I also thought might be Pacific race, but lacking your experience and ID skills I was reluctant to report it as such. See photo on eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S79421827. Maybe it's the same bird and it's been hanging around all winter? What's the normal range for a wintering Merlin?
John Shenot Fort Collins, CO On Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 10:59:09 AM UTC-6 Dave Leatherman wrote: > Yesterday at Fort Collins City Park I was checking Sheldon Lake from the > boardwalk when a small falcon flew past carrying prey. I tracked this bird > down in an elm northeast of the lake and discovered a very dark Merlin > eating what I think was a mostly headless European Starling (blackish bird > with speckles and long pink legs with giant pink feet). As with > accipiters, apparently the sweetbreads get consumed first. > > I am thinking this is a dark (Pacific) subspecies, which I've only seen a > couple times in Colorado. Any comments on whether it is a Pacific vs. > Taiga welcome. I definitely don't think this individual is our typical > Prairie subspecies. > > > > > > > The storm seems to have pushed a good number of Cassin's Finches into the > City Park/Grandview Cemetery area. The Spotted Towhee (two of them) that > have wintered in the block of neighborhood east of the cemetery are singing > off and on. Big infusion of robins of late. Tree damage has been > significant but the moisture will soon create 6-foot-tall daffodils I > suspect. > > As an aside, I was told my presentation given recently to Fort Collins > Audubon Society about the cemetery was recorded and put on YouTube. For > anyone interested who was unable to attend live, go to the FCAS website for > access details. > > Dave Leatherman > Fort Collins > -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/553587ac-fd65-4d35-a633-932d5334cce5n%40googlegroups.com.
