At 6:30 pm, I found an adult great Back-backed Gull at Kilowatt South, perched among a group of Mallards on a protruding snag north of the boat launch peninsula, looking for all the world as if it belonged there. On another snag along the NH shore was an immature Double-crested Cormorant. Minutes later a Merlin appeared flying high across the river from the VT side. It suddenly changed course, banked and went into a stoop, then dove on the now-flying cormorant, which made an abrupt and unscheduled plunge into the river to escape the little fighter jet, which was <1/2 the body size and probably weighed ~1/4 as much. The Merlin then chose more appropriate prey and went after 2 Eastern Kingbirds that were apparently hawking insects 250-300 feet in the air over the Kilowatt parking lot. I watched in fascination for a full 2+ minutes as the Merlin repeatedly tried to get above the birds and dive down on them. Each time it closed, whichever kingbird it was chasing made a masterful last-second maneuver to avoid capture. Amazingly, neither kingbird ever sought the refuge of treetops, despite what seemed like several opportunities to duck into them. The pursuit continued until all 3 birds flew out of sight. Chris ________________________ Chris Rimmer Vermont Center for Ecostudies PO Box 420 | Norwich, Vermont 05055 802.649.1431 x1 http://vtecostudies.org/ <http://vtecostudies.org/> To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe: E-mail this command to [log in to unmask]: UNSUBSCRIBE UV-Birders To change your e-mail address: E-mail this command from your old address to: [log in to unmask]: CHANGE UV-Birders [new e-mail address] Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html