Sorry for the delay, but I was away from the computer most of the weekend.  While hiking around this MetroPark in NE COlumbus, I had a Merlin perched on a tall sycamore along the Spring Creek Trail.  The bird was unconcernedly preening itself, while a swarm of smaller birds scolded it from a safe distance some 10-20 feet lower in the tree.  Given the large numbers of smaller birds around the park due to the trailside feeders, this falcon might stay nearby for a while.

Other raptors were also in evidence, with several Red-tailed Hawks perched and cruising through the forest areas along the trails.  They also might be hoping for unwary feeder birds, but it seems more likely that unwary squirrels were the menu item of choice.  You could almost tell where the birds were by the squirrel alarms and scolds.

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