I saw a perched Merlin in Volunteer Park, Seattle, WA just after 3pm
on Monday afternoon.

Perched high in one of the cypresses in the north-eastern part of the
park. After looking around (head bobbing that looked like ranging) he
headed off north and landed on another high tree in cemetary to the
north.

Streaked medium-dark breast and very dark back (though the sun added
an strong orange-yellow color bias making color determination
difficult for me).

This is the first perched Merlin I've seen in VP though though it's
the third CapHill Merlin I've seen this fall. The other two were both
in flight: a short view in VP and the other a long view over (very
urban) Cal-Anderson park in pursuit of a mixed starling-pigeon-crow
group.

In high gliding flight (from north to south) over the VP I saw a
possible Rough-legged Hawk (certainly not a Red-tail but it was
difficult to confirm the ID).
--
Kevin Purcell
kevinpurcell at pobox.com
twitter: at kevinpurcell