First lifer of 2011: Merlin

I thought it was going to rain 100% today, instead it was quite warm and springlike. Good time to go out for a long bike ride - to Terra Nova.

Towards Steveston, this Mute Swan was snoozing beside the road. Not really an ideal spot but I don't want to disturb it.

Sleepy Swan

Mallards flying along the West Dyke Trail when a Northern Harrier flew by.

Beside the golf course, I spotted a small bird perched on the treetop, with a crow next to it. Looking through the binocular, at first, I thought it was a Peregrine Falcon. But then I realized it was way too small, which narrowed it down to either a female Kestrel or a Merlin (which I confirmed once I checked with my field guide at home).

Merlin (Falco columbarius) with faint malar stripe and brown streaking on its body.

What is it looking at?

The Crow! Note the big size difference. The Crow cawed and dive-bombed the Merlin several times.

The Merlin fighting back! But it was chased away from the perch eventually. I thought it was gone until I saw it again shortly along the trail.

Beautiful bird!

Biking towards Terra Nova Natural Area.

Great Blue Heron

Male Hooded Merganser swimming in the slough.

The S-shaped boardwalk.

Hope the weather forecast will be wrong for the rest of the week.

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