Hello to all,

Today while driving home from work on Route 2 in Lorain County at the 
Broadway/Middle Ridge Rd. exit I think I spotted a Merlin in one of the 
four or five pine trees that are growing in along the exit ramp.  I say I 
think because I am not 100% sure.  I saw the bird perched at the top of one 
of the trees quite well but it was from a bit of a distance in a moving 
car.  I wasn't sure if I should post but I thought it raised an interesting 
question for a list posting.  I have only been seriously birding for about 
a year and a half and would still consider myself a very novice birder but 
I have tried really hard to learn a lot about birds especially id basics.  
I think I have gotten some decent skills in that time.  The bird was 
definitely a small raptor and I am pretty sure it wasn't a Kestrel.  It 
seemed slightly larger than a Kestrel and had a very brown back and head. 
It's tail was also not as long as the Kestrels I have seen.  I have seen 
many Kestrels and am also a volunteer at the raptor center at the Carlisle 
Reservation in the Lorain County Metroparks.  They have two male Kestrels 
there and I have had them on my arm many times so I have seen them up close 
and studied them in both form and appreance.  The bird I saw today did not 
seem to be the same.  I wasn't sure if I should post because I can't say 
with 100% confidence that it was a Merlin but I thought the question this 
raised was one some other lister could answer.  I have posted a couple 
times before but only if I was sure or had a photo someone else could 
confirm.  Is that the only time one should post or is posting an "I'm 
pretty sure" OK.  I don't wish to cause a problem on the list now or in the 
future so I throw this out as a question some others maybe able to answer.  
Any thoughts would be great.   

Thanks to anyone in advance for an answer or response.  

Good birding to all,

Matt Vosniak

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