Dave Slager and I set out this morning for some local birds. We kicked it off at Greenlawn Cemetery (had a nice YB SAPSUCKER on the drive in) where we watched the feeder for a little while. Mostly just the usual birds there, no pine warbler, but a few Red-breasted Nuthatches were coming in. A Cooper's  Hawk Blew threw causing the birds to scatter. We drove around the south-west section looking for the Merlin, but it wasn't in that area today. We finally found the MERLIN over near the power lines in the mid section north of the feeders and pit area. As we watched, a sudden rushing movement caught our eyes and the perched merlin swooped down from its perch and banked in front of me. I had an awesome view of its wings, buffy undertail and banded tail. The agressor it turned out was another Merlin! the two birds chased each other over the more open sections in the direction of the front office, and then one of them returned to the original perch near the power lines. Pretty cool. 

Next we went to Berliner Park along the Scioto River. There was a nice assortment of ducks there, but right as we pulled into the parking area on a dead snag by the pond there was yet another MERLIN! Probably the most Merlins I've had in one day. On the river we had Pied-billed Grebe, Ring-necked Ducks, Redhead, Hooded Merganser, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, and Canada Geese. Good times
Good Birding, 

Ben Warner

 



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