Young Merlin

A young Merlin Falcon payed a visit to our parking lot the other day. I first noticed it as I was getting out of my car when I got home from work. A Common grackle came flying out of the neighbor's yard. It was being chased by the merlin. The merlin never caught it, but lucky for me, it decided to stick around for a while. I ran into my house to get my camera. I must have spent over an hour with the little falcon, and it didn't seem to mind me being there photographing it. I found out later that the merlins had nested in a park just down the street from my place.