Between 11 & 12 this morning I heard some knocking above me in a tree, looked up 
and spotted a pileated wp at Lakeview, upper level in back corner by pine grove 
and dump.  I noticed another bird on a branch not far away, same tree and same 
size bird, Merlin as far as I could tell.  Though I check out Lakeview several 
times a week I have't seen a pileated there for over a year...the small raptor I 
did see about a month ago, lower level of the cemetery.  A quick dogfight ensued 
with the Merlin taking the offensive whenever the pileated spread out it's wings 
to fly but always landing back in a bit of cover...looked like a longer flight 
would have spelled disaster.  I suspect my presence may have had something to do 
with the eventual cessation of hostilities, the pileated flying into the pines 
and the merlin going to the top of a medium sized tree and then off.

Five so-so photos, starting here:
http://www.pbase.com/tileman533/image/141535556

Denny McDonnell
Euclid

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