I knew I’d find it some where. Originally published in February 2010
Leaving the apartment complex this afternoon we found a seagull on the pavement with a badly damaged wing. While we were wondering what had happened to it, the answer flew past us to perch on a fence nearby. A bird of prey and a very attractive one too. Some research on Wiki suggests it might have been a merlin. They winter in North Africa and it may have been starting on its journey back north to its breeding grounds, stopping off in Gibraltar for a quick snack. The seagull was bigger than its attacker, but had obviously been hit in mid-flight. There was nothing to be done but to move on and let nature take its course. I was not looking forward to walking past the scene on our return, but there was no trace of anything. Could that merlin have moved its prey elsewhere to feed?
Boadicea's Chariot 
I would have thought so. They generally take the food back to the nest or perhaps a tree. They never seem to eat anything on the ground. They can lift surprisingly heavy amounts. I had a small Jack Russell before the current more pudgy models who was only about 10lbs, very small. An immature bald eagle tried to take her I had to scare it off with throwing sticks at it here on our own field! Many big birds used to circle looking at her so she must have been within the margins of dinner so to speak. The current models which are 17 &20lbs respectively do not get the same attention.
A raccoon was killed on the road here yesterday, gone today, not a trace, no doubt the coyotes took it home for their litters up the mountain. Not much goes begging round here!
I love your expression “within the margins of dinner”, Christina.
I reckon eagles must be mindful of Miss Piggy’s old adage. Don’t eat what you can’t lift!