A sad victim of the current situation we have found ourselves in due to the general licensing fiasco.
One of our gamekeepers sadly found this predated merlin egg which has been eaten by corvids.
The merlin is an iconic moorland bird and also the smallest falcon found breeding in the British Isles.
Despite its size this species is a formidable predator particularly of other small birds. Most of its prey are caught in flight using its knowledge of the lie of the land, its speed and dashing flight. The merlin's small size and structure gives it the ability to manoeuvre very quickly when in pursuit of prey.
#merlin #birdofprey #falcon #merlinegg #predated #corvid #generallicence #shambles #sadday #redlist #moorlandbirds #iconicbird #yorkshiredales #gamekeeper #YDMG