An Owl and Two Merlins

This morning was a bit more hectic that is typically the case, so I was a little short on time. My usual 8am ramble is spent in the hills or woods- nearby but removed from most of what passes for urban landscape in my town. Today I went to the fairgrounds. It is close by and allows me to get at least a good mile+ in before I head to work, and often surprises me with the quality of birdlife found in its fields and woodlots. 

We started out by heading east across the parking area to be able to walk along the edge of the duck pond with the rising sun at our back. I saw a couple of Magpies and a good-sized Crow just across the water, on the woodlot’s edge. Any gathering of corvids is good cause to stop and look closely as they often harass raptors.

This was the case on this morning. There was an owl- a beautiful pale Great Horned Owl right in plain sight on a branch overlooking the water. A few quick pictures and off we went thinking this was a great start to the day. 

As we walked the back area, I saw a Merlin fly into a tree and start to feed on the mouse or vole that was in it’s talons. A Magpie again arrived to begin the harassing but the Merlin didn’t do much more than glance at it. But then the Merlin took flight – fast – as a second Merlin rushed in from the side to try to steal the rodent. I was just reaching for my camera when I figured I should stop and just be in the moment. I watched as two equally matched, fierce predators sortied around me. The one carrying the rodent was at a slight disadvantage. During the 30 to 45 seconds that they chased each other, I was treated to the most amazing aerobatic maneuvers I have ever had the good fortune to have unfold around me.

At one point there was back and forth bantering – “klee-klee-klee-kleeeee” – and then with a final twist and swoop, the laden Merlin poured on the speed and headed east with its attacker in close pursuit. They both headed east into the stock fields and disappeared from view. 

I’ll never know how it ended, but I am better off for the interlude. 

As it turned out- going to the fairgrounds was a very good choice, tho I was about 20 minutes late for work. 

I like to think that these two images, taken in fairly rapid succession, show the owl’s response to the harassment. The Owl was in the same spot for several hours- so, if the goal was to get the owl to move along, the corvids really failed this time.