08/16/2026
There are hawks. And there are falcons.
They are both fierce birds of prey, but they belong to different scientific families and have unique body shapes, flight styles, and hunting methods.
Basically, the biggest difference is speed. Falcons have long, narrow, pointed wings built for speed. Hawks have wide, rounded wings built for soaring.
The Merlin is a falcon.
They can move.
And this one played cat and mouse with me at 100MPH.
I took a second trip into the cabin just before sunset tonight because "something" was telling me to do so. You know, that voice. The one in my head that guides me. Not all the other ones that drive me batty.
For the first while, nothing was moving. So, I just sat on the new bench I built for the deck and took in the serenity. I was fine with just that. Then something flew in from out of nowhere, like a bat outta hell, and landed on a dead tree far away. The 800mm brought it in close enough for me to see what it was. But not enough for good photos. I watched him fly from tree to tree.... then off into the distance he went. Oh well. Can't win em all.
I went back to listening to the silence.
DAMN!
He made the loop around the perimeter of the pond, came back to where he first flew in from and landed on another dead tree in the pond 30 FEET AWAY FROM ME.
The camera was not in my hand.
It was leaning against the railing with the monopod attached.
I snuck it into my grip and tried to position myself so that I could get his full body into the frame with such a powerful lens. I guess I took too long - he flew away again.
🙇
Can't
Win
Em
All
I could see him moving around wayyyyyyy down at the other end of the pond. Then lost sight of him again.
After a while, I gave up.
The sun was starting to get low.
I was losing light.
So I packed up to leave.
As always, before I leave paradise, I give one final quick scan of the pond.
What was that dark spot on a tree top a couple hundred feet away?
BU**ER!
Unpack the gear again in a hurry. And he stuck around. And posed. Wonderfully. Looking at me. Looking over his shoulder. Looking off into the distance. Looking down into the pond. Just beautiful.
There you have it. The voice wins again.
Peace as we hit the halfway point of the weekend.
🍷