At the top of our hemlock tree in Inglewood (NE end of Lake Washington) was
a small falcon feeding on a smaller bird Saturday. After studying it for a
long time in the scope, I believe it to have been a merlin. Do they come
this far south?? I did not expect to see one in the Seattle area. It was a
very dark, small falcon with a very thin white line over its eye. Back and
tail feathers were a very dark grey-black, with only the faintest dark grey
stripes visible on the tail. Underfeathers at the base of the tail were
medium brown, and the feathers at the top of the legs and on the breast were
scalloped brown and white. It did not have the head markings of a peregrine
- the head was very black with the tiny white stripe mentioned above and no
apparent "moustaches". Also, aren't the breast feathers of a peregrine more
grey than brown?

I would be interested in any comments on other merlins seen in the Seattle
area or on my bird identification skills (or lack thereof). If I'm right,
it would be a neat addition to my yard list!

Teresa Michelsen
King County, WA
temi461 at ecy.wa.gov