Merlin vs Bat

Soon after I arrived at Colyer Lake to look for the previously reported Red-throated Loon, I noticed a slate-blue male Merlin perched along the shore. After getting a first shot, it took off from its perch, flew about 100 feet and snatched a bat out of mid-air before returning. Then it proceeded to nosh down on the bat while i took more digiscoped shots. Click on the photos to see them in all their zoomed in, pixelated glory.

perched Merlin

ripping into the bat

after the meal