Today's Wildlife Encounter

[GeoffB]

Went for a walk after work yesterday afternoon - within 100m of my front door I stood for 5 minutes watching a barn owl quartering the field I was walking by. Even when I pointed my head-torch straight at it, it just carried on hunting, coming within 3 or 4m of me. Beautiful!

[Mossdog]

So, last week while running to the Nine Standards above Kirkby Stephen, I took the long route back via Nateby. Just after the Standards I spooked a bird of prey. Yesterday, on the fells above my house, a similar encounter. They both flew very fast, just over the fell surface. Definitely a raptor. Small and very dark grey plumage, but way too fast for me to get a clear look at. They both really shifting, with no gliding at all, flying literally inches above the fell, ducking and diving with the mounds and general contours of the fell.

Definitely not a kestrel nor a sparrowhawk.

I'm thinking these birds were both Merlins. Is that likely?

[MattPo]

So, last week while running to the Nine Standards above Kirkby Stephen, I took the long route back via Nateby. Just after the Standards I spooked a bird of prey. Yesterday, on the fells above my house, a similar encounter. They both flew very fast, just over the fell surface. Definitely a raptor. Small and very dark grey plumage, but way too fast for me to get a clear look at. They both really shifting, with no gliding at all, flying literally inches above the fell, ducking and diving with the mounds and general contours of the fell.

Definitely not a kestrel nor a sparrowhawk.

I'm thinking these birds were both Merlins. Is that likely?

Sound likely to me. Merlins are wonderful.