Observers: Chris Howard
Email: chris93514@gmail.com
Verification: sierra
Remote Name: 65.244.205.238
Date: 12/14/2006
Time: 05:39 PM -0500
Today (14 Dec) at lunch a Merlin shot like a rocket low over the alfalfa fields along Sunland Res. Rd. directly into a flock of several hundred Horned Larks. Very dramatic, although I think it came up 'empty-taloned'. As it landed nearby, I could see the wide banding on the tail, dark brown back, dark streaks in front. I think it was the nominate columbarius race. Not as pretty as richardsonii, but it'll do for Bishop CBC count week.
Also, the dark-morph Ferruginous Hawk was in the same place as usual, on the southern-most irrigation line on the east side of Sunland Res Rd.