A magical Merlin EX32486

After crossing to the Isle of May, we had a quick walk around the four Heligoland traps. As a real bonus there was the self-caught Merlin photographed above in one of them.
Measurements and plumage details showed it to be an adult female of the Icelandic subspecies. This specie tends to move south from Iceland in winter and it is a regular visitor to Scotland.
Regular it might be but an impressive bird in the hand. I tried to get a photo with less of my hand and more of the bird and still have the holes in two fingers to show for the attempt.