Raptor Wednesday Thursday Bonus

A female American Kestrel going after a Coopers Hawk. This is definitely the Kestrel’s territory, but…

For the second time, the Kestrel seemed uninterested in the Merlin perched in a European Beech near her regular Chapel hangout. This tree is also a regular Kestrel perch. (This was the forth time I’ve seen a Merlin in this tree since late August.)

A few days later, I took a look at a linden that was a regular perch for a Merlin during the last couple of winters. I’ve been awaiting leaf-fall to see what happens up there. Turned out to be a Sharp-shinned Hawk.