MAGICAL MERLIN.

On a cold and bright morning last week I visited Newton Marsh to see what was about,hundreds of widgeon with teal mallard and shoveler were fast asleep on the part frozen water.The merlin was on its usual distant post surveying the vast area hoping to ambush a meal,as the grassland started to thaw curlea lapwing and a few starling dropped in to feed.I watched in amazement as the starlings got closer and closer to the merlin ,as the first photograph shows,all of a sudden the birds were up and the merlin set off.It flew with purpose to the waters edge and followed the contours all the time getting closer to me and my camera at about 70-80 yds away it dived into the reeds but missed its intended victim.It stayed in the reeds for 4-5 mins with its head just showing all of a sudden it was off again travelling no more than 20yds  before it dived down into the reeds again this time suprising and capturing its prey.I've posted the images that I managed to capture showing the events unfold,but it was distant and the action  was very fast.To see a merlin hunting is a wonderful sight but to capture images of the dive and kill  is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.It just goes to show that by having patience and learning your local patch intimately what rewards await you.