Hi Loretta,
Alex covered the issue with relying on Merlin. I do have an amusing story though about Merlin and Barn Owl IDs. I very often get a Barn Owl ID even though it appears quite apparent that there is no Owl around. Hence I typically ignore Merlin with that bird ID. However, I was birding at Hopkins Wilderness Park and getting the Barn Owl ID and ignoring it. I was leaving and had put my camera way in the car when all of a sudden two crows, flying above me, were escorting a Barn Owl out of the park.
Jim Hecht Hermosa Beach CA
On Monday, May 15, 2023, 02:16:54 PM PDT, Loretta Selinger wrote:
Hi fellow birders
Im not any kind of expert. I took my Merlin app to village green in hopes of finding western tanagers. Merlin insists that some of the numerous hummingbirds in the bottlebrush trees are Rufus. The recordings sound like Rufus. Can I trust this ID
Im also getting spotted towhee and just had a barn owl. Is this possible
Loretta Selinger |
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