As my husband and I were walking the circumference of Seward Park Sunday
afternoon, about half way around we saw a dark bird, approximately
crow-sized, perched on the dead branches at the top of an evergreen. It was
preening as we watched it with binoculars for at least 15 minutes. In the
cloudy light, we eventually saw a dark streaked breast and an indistinct
white "necklace." We thought the most likely ID was a merlin. Comments
welcome.



Barbara Mandula

Seattle

barbaramandula at alumni.brandeis.edu