When I spotted this bird, I figured it to be a hawk. First glance through the lens had me thinking Sharp-shinned or Cooper's hawk, looking at the shape of the eyes and the general coloring. When I finished with the pics and looked closer I saw the white eyebrow markings and dark eyes and had to get my field guide out to identify it as a Merlin.

I was thrilled to get a chance to see this bird as it migrated through Ohio!