There's a "Part II" to the Merlin encounter!
After I had taken a few photographs of this stunning bird, I called Mark Johnson to let him know about the opportunity because he lives just a few blocks away from the conservancy. Dottie told me he was on campus in downtown Madison, but would call and let him know. On his way home, Mark drove along Balzer Road and saw that two hours later it was still perched on the same post. He didn't have his camera with, so he had to go home to get it. When he got back to the Merlin, he leaned out the passenger side of his car with his camera just as the bird stretched, giving Mark one of the most dramatic photographs of this species I've ever seen!
Well done Mark!
Merlin © 2017 Mark Johnson