WOLF MOON MERLIN MAGIC

 On a very cold afternoon I went to a secrete heathland with a fellow bird Chris Hilder to hopefully catch up with a Merlin and perhaps a Hen Harrier 

While waiting around for one of these birds to make an appearance, I added another 4 birds to my list with Kestrel, Fieldfare, Dartford Warbler and Linnet.

Archive picture of a hovering kestrel

  While waiting and freezing my toes standing in one place the new years Wolf moon started to rise above the tree line. Just like a Star Wars Death Star. It was a spectacle moon .

Death Star Moon Rising

a very bright Wolf Moon

Just before the rising of the moon three snipe left the heath and flew over head and headed north west.

Even though it was a very cold afternoon/evening it was still enjoyable to watch Fieldfare and a flock of c50 Redwing.

Though the magic of the watch was when a Merlin came dashing in which I thought was a female/ 1st/w type bird followed by a male bird and then another male came in and three birds were perched up in the same dead tree. While these were resting up and female type bird came bombing in and speeding round the heath before settling down. Give both me and Chris 4 beautiful Merlin in one scope view pure magic to a very cold watch. Though even though we were getting chilly I did wonder how cold the Microlight flyer that went over was and where  he/she was heading.

Two of the eventual four Merlin

Perhaps a very cold Microlight flyer

Well the list is going slowly but I have enjoyed what I've seen so far and only on 56 birds so far still a long way to go. I think I am not sure whether to update when the next bird trip ( which is likely to be tomorrow) take place or at the end of month with and update of the bird list and places visited?