We were coming to the end of our walk when I spotted this peregrine falcon perched on a log in the water. It’s a lucky spot as over the years a number of animals have stopped by it, from frogs and turtles to mink and birds. But that day the log belonged to this peregrine beauty. He stood there, walked around a bit and cooled off in the lake. I fired off as many shots as I could in the 15 minutes he stayed put. I have seen these birds flying overhead, or up in the tree canopy but never this close up. Have to say it was a bit of a thrill.
April 22, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Beautiful shots! What a great photo op!
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April 22, 2017 at 2:43 pm
Thank you. It certainly was!
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December 13, 2016 at 10:52 am
wow! awesome captures and a great find! not the usual place you’d expect to see a peregrine falcon!
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December 13, 2016 at 2:21 pm
Thank you, I was lucky that day!
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December 13, 2016 at 2:22 pm
I like days like that! 🙂
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December 13, 2016 at 2:30 pm
😊
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December 3, 2016 at 8:57 pm
Wow! what an unusual spot to see one! how neat.
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December 3, 2016 at 9:38 pm
Yes it was!
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December 3, 2016 at 8:59 am
What wonderful shots. Every birders and photographer’s dream to get that close to the falcon.
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December 3, 2016 at 10:11 am
Thank you! It was very exciting.
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December 1, 2016 at 3:35 pm
All the hundreds of ponds I have walked around, I have never seen a raptor perched nearby, wet, like this. My guess is he was over-zealous in his hunting and accidentally got wet. But whatever the reason, isn’t it just SO GREAT when you come across this rarity and have your camera too?
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December 1, 2016 at 3:50 pm
It was a great bit of luck!
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December 1, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Wow, what perfect timing!
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December 1, 2016 at 1:29 pm
Thanks, it certainly was!
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December 1, 2016 at 11:59 am
love these!
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December 1, 2016 at 1:27 pm
Thank you!
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November 30, 2016 at 6:39 pm
What a lucky sighting! What are the chances of that, huh?
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November 30, 2016 at 7:23 pm
It was pretty amazing😊
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November 30, 2016 at 2:56 pm
Wonderful photographs, Belinda!
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November 30, 2016 at 4:18 pm
Thank you Pete!
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November 30, 2016 at 12:28 pm
Wow, these photographs are fantastic! How wonderful to see them so close 🙂
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November 30, 2016 at 12:56 pm
Thank you. It was!
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November 30, 2016 at 12:20 pm
Superb shots, Belinda. I am more than a little envious! 🙂
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November 30, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Thank you. I really was in the right place at the right time!
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November 30, 2016 at 8:38 am
sharp crispy image…amazing i can say..
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November 30, 2016 at 12:29 pm
Thank you. I’ll have a look.
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November 30, 2016 at 6:38 am
Terrific captures, Belinda.
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November 30, 2016 at 8:19 am
Thank you!
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November 29, 2016 at 11:39 pm
I think you found a Merlin because of its size, coloration, and distinct “eyebrow”. Peregrines have more of a blue-gray back. Great photos! He’s a cutie :-). I’m glad you were able to experience this bird so up close.
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November 30, 2016 at 8:17 am
Thank you very much. I think Merlin got the majority vote!
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November 29, 2016 at 9:45 pm
Beautiful shots and how cool to capture a hawk on the ground! Nice compositions!
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November 30, 2016 at 8:14 am
Thank you, it was quite something.
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November 29, 2016 at 6:27 pm
That IS very exciting!
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November 29, 2016 at 7:14 pm
Thank you. It was!
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November 29, 2016 at 4:31 pm
No doubt about your shots, sharp as usual with a nice composition. However, like other bloggers reported, it might be a merlin or if not really a juvenile peregrine falcon, a very close resemblance. Very nice nevertheless.
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November 29, 2016 at 7:12 pm
Thank you. Not sure at this point. Glad for the opportunity to photograph it though.
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November 29, 2016 at 10:50 am
He’s a beauty! great shots. 🙂
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November 29, 2016 at 11:08 am
Thank you!
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November 29, 2016 at 9:30 am
What great photos! Beautiful bird!
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November 29, 2016 at 11:08 am
Thank you. It was that!
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November 29, 2016 at 9:00 am
Awesome capture!
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November 29, 2016 at 11:06 am
Thank you!
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November 29, 2016 at 8:32 am
Great photos, what a beautiful bird.
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November 29, 2016 at 8:33 am
Thank you!
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November 29, 2016 at 8:28 am
Oh my! Those pictures are priceless!
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November 29, 2016 at 8:33 am
Thanks very much!
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November 29, 2016 at 8:17 am
Oooh, lucky you! Great shots! I second the possibility that it may be a merlin. Also, habitat-wise, it’s more likely as merlins tend to be forest canopy dwellers while peregrines prefer more open areas.
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November 29, 2016 at 8:23 am
Thank you!
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November 29, 2016 at 7:25 am
It is rare to catch this bird in your camera lens. This is a thrill. Thanks for sharing these great photos.
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November 29, 2016 at 7:40 am
Thank you!
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November 29, 2016 at 6:17 am
Excellent catch. Good timing and better yet, you got the shot. Very nice.
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November 29, 2016 at 6:34 am
Thank you very much.
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November 29, 2016 at 4:59 am
What a wonderful encounter!
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November 29, 2016 at 5:58 am
Yes it was, quite a thrill!
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November 29, 2016 at 3:28 am
🙂
Fast flier resting!
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November 29, 2016 at 5:58 am
Right!
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November 29, 2016 at 2:46 am
Belinda, have you compared the markings of this bird to some images of merlin falcons? The peregrine has dark slashes on his cheeks. Otherwise they look very much like the merlins. I suspect these might be merlins, but I’m not sure. If the bird is a juvenile, the colouring might not be complete, but it sure looks like a merlin to me. Still, whatever it is, it’s a thrill to see these birds, and to get such nice shots of them. This guy must like the water. He got quite wet!
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November 29, 2016 at 5:57 am
Thanks Anneli. I’ll have to look more closely, you may be right.
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November 29, 2016 at 1:34 pm
I’m not sure. I just wondered about it because we’ve had merlins nesting in our neighbourhood for a couple of years and I got a few photos of them. Here’s the link to that post: https://wordsfromanneli.com/2014/07/21/its-just-lunch/
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November 29, 2016 at 3:47 pm
Thank you Anneli. I’ll have a look.
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November 29, 2016 at 1:17 am
Brilliant and unusual shots of this beautiful bird.
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November 29, 2016 at 5:51 am
Thanks very much!
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