Birdhouses

[Gary]

Last summer, on Rock Island, just north of Door County peninsula in
Northeast Wisconsin--the little finger that sticks up into Lake
Michigan, I thought I saw my first Merlin. It sailed around me in
ever decreasing circles until it hovered just a few feet above me for
just a few moments, then flew off. The bird was incredably
beautiful. It was sunset. And as the bird flew it tipped from side
to side, first showing its white, and-- I think-- brown striped,
underside, then its back. The back seemed to flash purple in the
sunlight. Its chest was big for its size. It was about the size of a
crow, only a little bigger, especially in the chest area. I keep
telling this story because I was so awed by it. Can anyone tell me if
what I saw was a Merlin. I found a few pictures of them, and I think
it was, but the pictures didn't do it justice.