8 Raptors...YTD...6061 Merlin Snares A Chickadee

 While the winds and conditions werent good for raptor migration, we still enjoyed chatting and got a real thrill. A migrating adult male Merlin snagged a Chickadee right from the air only a few feet beside us...WOW!  Mike 4 (Michel Poissant) caught these 2 photos of the Merlin in flight with its meal.

Our total of 8 raptors included
6-Sharpshinned Hawks
1-Coopers Hawk
1-Merlin
8-Total Raptors

Tomorrow looks like if there are birds in the pipe line(close enough to migrate past us) then it should be a decent count tomorrow. Strong west winds could get a north element in them,increasing our chances for a good count. Dress warm! The remainder of the week now doesnt look very promising.