Merlin
Falco columbarius made an unexpected appearance this morning. This was a must-get species for the Plummer’s Hollow 200 and clocks in at number 56 for the year.
At 7:59 AM, I was just leaving my sit spot overlooking Sinking Valley and was at the very crest of the ridge. One powerline pole down, toward Plummer’s Hollow, some 225 feet away, I saw what I assumed was an American Kestrel perched on top.
Instead, I was overjoyed by my first-ever perched Merlin in the hotspot. We see them occasionally on the wing; last year’s three records from the hotspot were from April 6, September 18, and October 8 (two). We’ve never recorded one in the winter before.
Today’s sighting evoked the last Merlin I saw this close, seven years ago, perched in a neighborhood tree by our hotel in Copan Ruins town, Honduras.
The Merlin is pretty cosmopolitan: in addition to the US and Honduras, I’ve seen it in Mexico and China several times. In this area, it’s uncommon but not too difficult to find. Winter is tough, but at least one has already been recorded in Blair County this year, so they’re around.