merlin, pigeon hawk
in front of this cross, the bird was visible
Merlin is a falcon. In the Peterson Guide their winter range distribution in the eastern US is mostly coastal, and somewhat deeper from the Gulf Coast, with two isolated pockets. One pocket is extreme southwestern Pennsylvania, and the other extreme northeastern Ohio. Now, sometimes i have noticed that birds are rarer and have been noted to be in a particular spot, continue to be in that spot. But years pass, and a juvenile bird is a juvenile for a year (generally), and the same spot the same species is seen. It must be different individuals, for the bird is not eternal.Now, i have read that merlins have been spotted, over the years, near a certain particular section of Cleveland Calvary Cemetery. I drove up to a section marker, and parked, stepped out, and saw Merlin on a tree. I took numerous photographs, birdy did not mind. While driving about beforehand, many blue jays were flitting about and cawing.
Merlin is not a bird legal to hunt. In the last few years, two separate harlequin ducks were spotted in parks. They were mentioned on the internet, and people came to view and shoot. Most came with cameras. Both ducks were killed. Duck hunting is legal. It takes a selfish son-of-a-bitch (either stupid, covetous, and/or mean) to take a trophy, or just kill a rare (even if just for the area) individual for shits and giggles. I do not expect this merlin to be shot. But now, i am not eager to pin point the spot; although if i had not read where the spot was, i do not think i would have seen the bird.
