I was at one of my local ponds yesterday morning when a gorgeous adult female Merlin flew in and landed on a tree not far from where I stood behind my tripod. I’d only been at the pond about five minutes when she arrived.
Female Merlin perched in a pear tree – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1/1250, ISO 500, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The second I was able to get her in focus and adjust my exposure, I started to photograph the small, striking falcon. There were clouds in the sky behind her, and I wanted my exposure to be perfect.
Female Merlin of the Taiga subspecies – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1/640, ISO 500, +2.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I slowly moved my tripod and attached camera closer to where the Merlin was perched on a Bradford Pear tree.
Usually, I see the Prairie subspecies of Merlins in northern Utah, but this female is from the slightly darker Taiga subspecies.
Female Merlin with her eye on me – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1/800, ISO 500, +1.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
When I took this photo, I was as close to the Merlin as I dared to get. Any closer, and I would have been clipping her tail in most of my images.
Merlin female on a pear tree – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1/800, ISO 500, +1.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I was thrilled to have this Merlin in my viewfinder. Merlins don’t breed in northern Utah, which means I usually only find them during the coldest months of the year.
I wasn’t prepared at all for what would happen next.
Female Merlin after bumping another Merlin off of this tree – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1/640, ISO 500, +1.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I had taken my eye away from my viewfinder because some geese were flying into the pond, and I wanted to check them out. When I started to focus on the Merlin again, a second Merlin flew in, bumped the first Merlin off her perch, and took the perch over!
Sure, I missed the second falcon flying in, but how awesome was it to have two Merlins in one day? On the same exact perch?
Merlin adult female in winter – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1/500, ISO 500, +2.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Pretty freaking awesome! The only thing that would have been more awesome is having three Merlins in my viewfinder on one day!
The second female Merlin seemed a bit larger than the first or filled the frame more, so I backed myself and my tripod up a few feet.
Stern looking female Merlin – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1/400, ISO 500, +2.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
By the time I took this image, I could see a little bit of blue sky through the clouds behind the falcon. She seemed to have her eyes on something in the distance and paid very little attention to me standing behind my tripod.
Urban adult female Merlin – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f9, 1/400, ISO 500, +2.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I had these gorgeous female Merlins in my viewfinder for about eight minutes, during which time I took 426 photos of both birds.
They were both wondrous and magical. Merlin Magic.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Merlin photos plus facts and information about this species.
A terrific series of shots! What a beautiful set of Merlins. Their markings are gorgeous and the intensity in their eyes is striking. Thanks Mia.
Beautiful photos and wonderful to have two merlins. I did not know they didn’t breed here.
Your lucky day! Beautiful pictures. Actually, probably, more than luck, it is the result of how much time you spend in the field and how alert you are. Thanks.
It is good you were not monitoring your blood pressure. The numbers would have been alarming.
Wow! What an exciting way to begin the day. The photos are terrific.
Beautiful photos of a beautiful bird! I have never seen one in Northern California
Wonderful photo-op and images. This species was reliably seen during the winter in Florida, but so far I have not encountered one here in Connecticut.