An exciting catch for the marsh

One of the things I have discovered over the years about banding is that I am so envious of new banders and birders  because their birding adventure is just beginning and the first spring everything is new and everyday the migration brings something new to the area on the wind. As a bander of many years it is a challenge to catch a new species but very now and then something very special happens

Last weekend i managed to catch and band a Merlin it was our first station record for a Merlin and this  male was after a flock of snow buntings i was trying to catch. needless to say the buntings were spooked and  my heartbeat was racing just as fast as the wing beats of the Merlin. I have never seen a faster predator in the quickness of its movements and it intent on the buntings. Fortunately I was at the right place at the right time. many people are talking about how many Merlins seem to be around this spring so perhaps I will not have to wait too long for another encounter with the next Merlin