Merlin on a large wooden post – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
Last week I spotted a Merlin perched on a large wooden post way out in the marsh at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah. To the naked eye this small falcon was just a light spot on top of the weathered wooden post when I first saw it.
I knew that the Merlin was going to be small in the frame when I took images of it but I liked that the out of focus marsh in the background gave this photo a hint of the habitat that I found the bird in. I do wish that I had been able to get closer to this Merlin because this image is cropped more than 50% but seeing the falcon there that morning reminded me of the other birds of prey I have seen perched on this particular old wooden post over the years.
Bald Eagle on a large wooden post – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
More often than not during the fall and winter I see Bald Eagles on the same wooden post on chilly to bitter cold mornings. The sun must feel great to the birds that perch on it after a long, cold night of being exposed to the elements out on the wetlands of the refuge. I took this image of an adult Bald Eagle on the wooden post on the first day of 2016. I can’t recall the precise temperature that it was at the time but I remember it being extremely cold that morning.
Even though this weathered, old wooden post is leaning towards the ground a little bit more every year I hope that it stays straight enough so that I and others will be able to see and photograph birds of prey resting on it for years to come.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Merlin photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here to see more of my Bald Eagle photos plus facts and information about this species.
I stop every time I see a pic of the Bald Eagle. They are such magnificent birds and your images of them never disappoint. Both shots are evocative of another time when the world was a different place and wildlife flourished. Thanks Mia.
Two incredibly handsome birds of prey in (and on!😉) one post. I especially like being able to use the post as a standard reference to determine the relative sizes of the birds. I don’t think I realized how tiny a Merlin is compared to a Bald Eagle.
Nice spotting. I see the Merlin almost every time I go, but he is never close enough. Any swans yet?
April, I saw swans on the north side of the auto tour route but they were really far away. I also saw them when leaving to head home, way, way out past the north side of the river. None were close.
I hope that birds (and photographers) can make use of this beautiful perch for years to come. Years and years.