I, too have seen at least one Merlin every time I've gone to Monroe to watch the swifts - granted, I've only been there 3 times, but 3 out of 3 is a pretty good percentage for seeing Merlins. I did see one catch a swift, too. I also saw one Peregrine on the scene there the first time I went (8 yrs. ago?) Must admit, that was almost as much my reason for going as the swifts themselves ! There is likely a Merlin territory (or 2) in that area - wonder if any Monrovians that have been aware of nesting Merlins nearby over the past decade or more? Or Larry S ? :-)

Swifts are swift, but so are Merlins - a fairly dependable food source when each growing juvenile Merlin needs about 3 birds/day early on, which is the month of July, when I believe gangs of swifts are starting to move away from their nest areas and head to roosts - I've seen lots of swifts at cliffs in June and July over the years, too, like in the Yakima Canyon and across the Columbia from Vantage - wonder if kestrels, Peregrines, Merlins and Prairie Falcons practice their art on those cliff dwellers?

Barb Deihl
Matthews Beach Neighborhood - NE Seattle
barbdeihl at comcast.net