Here's a confirmed Black Merlin I photographed at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR (Adams County) back on April 17, 2021. Hope the photos help.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S67377053 Susan Rosine Brighton On Wed, Mar 17, 2021, 11:41 AM John Shenot <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/553587ac-fd65-4d35-a633-932d5334cce5n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- -- 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/CACPnx8Wr7FHKSAhEsd%3DLtkWaahi8iG%2BSjbjoVjJNcJRV9jaciQ%40mail.gmail.com.
