Thursday's Bird Watch!

We were thrilled to see out first Merlin of the season on Monday, November 23.  Merlin are winter birds, coming south for the winter from Canada.  Don't let the dull coloring fool you, this is an exciting bird.  A member of the Falcon Family, they are slightly larger than their cousins, the American Kestrel.   Merlins are fast and unique in their preference to take their prey, other birds, in midair.  We found this one here in Dallas Retirement Village at the top of the large fir tree next to the Maintenance Building.  This is their preference, to perch high at the top of a tree to be able to spot their next victim.  I expect to see this bird again through the winter before it leaves sometime in March to head north for the summer.