Merlin with Dragonflies

Gallery: AvianPosted January 27, 2018351 views9 comments

Merlins love dragonflies. When the dragonflies are mating and coupled on the fly, the merlins often catch 2 at once, as here.
They always pull the wings off first, then consume the head and body. A wing is in the mouth here.

2017:10:22 10:20:42
D850
500mm
1/6400 sec, f/8
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
Exp comp: -2/3
ISO: 2500
White balance: Auto
Flash: Off

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on January 27, 2018 at 9:57 AM

Really nice Sandy. Love the two tone background. The dragonflies make this IMHO. Well done.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on January 27, 2018 at 11:23 AM

Wow, great catch, both for the merlin and for you. Great detail and light on this one Sandy. Amazing clarity for the iso setting. Nice job.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 27, 2018 at 12:05 PM

Excellent. Great image quality for ISO 2500.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on January 27, 2018 at 2:36 PM

At first I thought it was an Osprey. Interesting behavioral story. I can imagine that one dragonfly is a decent meal for such a small raptor, and two are all the better. I think it works better with a slight crop from left, just my thoughts.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on January 27, 2018 at 10:48 PM

A really fine image! Would not change a thing! Great eye to catch this. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Ry Birge on January 28, 2018 at 12:23 AM

I love this pic. captured the moment well. Composition is excellent. great BG. Keep up the good work!

Registered on September 23, 2017, 118 Posts, 278 Comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on January 28, 2018 at 5:07 PM

Sandy,

This is one of those images I wanted to wait and see some other posted comments before I chimed in. Awesome, first to capture perfectly one of my favorite raptors on a stunning perch and BG (green sliced by the branch to browns). But then to get it with not one but two dragonflies in it’s talons, all I can say is WOW. Techs are impressive. devil

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Peter J. Morrissey on January 29, 2018 at 12:23 PM

Hi Sandy
This is a vary nice nature photograph, great detail.

Peter

Registered on July 3, 2011, 188 Posts, 969 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 31, 2018 at 7:45 PM

Really nice work Sandy! Really dig the multiple catch! not often to see something like that. Great work!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments