Comment

Comment by Cliff Kelly on March 30, 2014 at 10:16pm

my first ID was a Merlin so I went to Simon who has kind of been our bird expert - I believe he is a member of the Saltspring Island Bird Watchers but I know that even that does not establish total accuracy so I know that Simon maintains his ID the with reservation "that I cold be wrong" but nevertheless that is his judgement=so there it is.

Comment by Cliff Kelly on March 30, 2014 at 2:05pm

Thanks for noticing Pat - Simon and I have discussed this image on several occasions so I guess I agree with Avril - it doesn't care what it is as long as it gets breakfast! 

Comment by Avril Kirby on March 19, 2014 at 3:42pm

And it probably doesn't care what it is, only that it gets it's breakfast.

Comment by Cliff Kelly on March 16, 2014 at 3:20pm

Well I think we stand corrected again - Simon and I have been in a more protracted discussion again and this is probably - really - another one of the hawks that I have frequently imaged here before - and that is the Sharp Shinned Hawk.(any other opinions would be considered). 

Comment by Cliff Kelly on March 16, 2014 at 12:55pm

Well Avril I guess we have the same book but my esteemed resource for finalizing bird ID does not agree. I asked Simon to verify my ID and he does not agree. Simon says this is a photo of a first year Cooper hawk. His defining features are the eyes. He says the eyes of a Merlin are totally Brown - no orange tints at all. I was notified that the bird was herey my wife whose desk is adjacent to mine but she also has worked with Merlins before in her animal artist venue and she doesn't agree with Simon - she still thinks it is a Merlin. One thing is for sure -it is one or the other!! (my wife also has great respect for Simon's knowledge of birding).

Comment by Avril Kirby on March 15, 2014 at 9:15am

Looks like the merlin in one of my books. What a thrill for you!