Re: [SBB] Merlins???

[Mike Rogers <[[email protected]]>]

Kendric,

We regularly record Merlins every year until about 20 April. After that 
they do indeed become scarcer, but in recent years we have had several 
northern California reports into the first few days of May (these being 
submitted to me in my capacity as regional editor for North American 
Birds), culminating with a report last year by Steve Rottenborn in 
Gilroy on 24 May. There has even been speculation that this species may 
now be breeding in extreme northern California, as there have been an 
increasing number of summer reports from there.

Personally, I have seen 5 Merlins between 25 March and 13 April this 
year, which is quite an increase compared to my observations during the 
winter. I suspect that these are birds migrating through on their way 
north, as they were not from locations where I knew of wintering birds 
hanging around. It seems likely that a northbound movement may explain 
the recent increased number of sightings reported to SBB.

While misidentified birds do occasionally get reported to SBB, I doubt 
that this plays a role in the recent Merlin reports. Most observers are 
quite cautious about what they report and although many Merlin sightings 
are fleeting, several recent reports involve sitting birds studied 
extensively or seen extensively (for example, my most recent 13 April 
sighting involved a bird circling slowly and repeatedly, permitting 
aging and sexing).

Mike Rogers
Sunnyvale


Kendric C. Smith wrote:
> Several Merlins have been reported in the last few days.
> It is quite late for Merlins to still be around, but not impossible.
>
> I would like to mention an experience of mine at Cape May some years ago.
> The leader called out a Merlin, and then said OOOPS, its a Mourning Dove.
> Then he said something like:  if you have never made the mistake of 
> confusing a Mourning Dove with a Merlin then you are not being honest.
>
> When a Mourning Dove banks on a soar it looks very much like a 
> Merlin, unless you see its pointy tail.  In a nearby soar and corner 
> of your eye looks, Doves appear about the same color and size, and 
> have pointy wings like a Merlin.
>
>   

-- 

Opinions expressed are my own and not those of NASA.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael M. Rogers, Ph.D.
Mail Stop T27B-1
NASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, CA 94035
650-604-4732

------------------------------------------------------------------------


_______________________________________________
Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored.
South-Bay-Birds mailing list      ([[email protected]])
Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription:
http://plaidworks.org/mailman/listinfo/south-bay-birds_plaidworks.org