A Flash of Feathers: The Unexpected Merlin on Île aux Perroquets
While leading my Deluxe Atlantic Puffins Galore photography workshops on Île aux Perroquets, I was expecting the usual cast of characters: charming puffins, also known as the clowns of the sea, Common Murres and Razorbills calling from the cliffs, and the rhythmic pulse of the Gulf of the Saint Lawrence setting the scene. The weather was overcast—perfectly diffused light for bringing out feather detail and subtle colour—but the atmosphere had that still, charged feeling, like nature was holding its breath.
We were focused on the puffins, as always, when it happened.
Out of nowhere, a streak of motion tore across the sky—a Merlin. Compact and powerful, this small falcon shot through our field of view like a feathered missile, clocking what must have been near its top speed of 98 km/h. I barely had time to register the shape before instinct kicked in—I raised my Sony A9 III, already fitted with the incredibly versatile 400–800mm zoom, and quickly zoomed in to around 750mm to fill the frame.
It was the briefest of encounters—less than a minute—but pure electricity. The Merlin darted in low and fast, and although it posed no real threat to puffins (its preferred prey are smaller songbirds), the effect was immediate and dramatic. Puffins erupted off the cliffs in all directions, driven by instinct and the unmistakable silhouette of a falcon. Puffins and Razorbills filled the air; a sudden storm of wings and circling seabirds.
I tracked the Merlin through the chaos, relying on the blazing-fast autofocus and high frame rate of the A9 III to catch fleeting moments before it veered off and disappeared toward another island. Just like that, it was over.
This is precisely why I always teach to shoot manual exposure with a fast enough shutter speed to freeze motion. Nature doesn't send alerts for its most extraordinary performances. The unexpected is often where the magic happens, and being technically ready is what turns surprise encounters into winning images.
Every time I'm in the field, I'm reminded that preparation is half the battle. The other half is being present—and lucky enough—to witness something wild. On Île aux Perroquets that day, the Merlin gave us less than 60 seconds. But it was 60 seconds I'll never forget—and thanks to experience and preparation, I have the images to prove it.
Merlin (Falco columbarius, Faucon émerillon, Esmerejón, MERL) from my Deluxe Puffins Galore Workshop, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony A9 Mark III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Lens @750mm ISO 6,400, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.
