A Hawk, Merlin and other Wings!

A young Red-tailed Hawk, is flexing the talons on his right foot. Perhaps he is watching scurrying prey below his perch?

Merlins are fierce falcons that are larger than Kestrels. They patrol shorelines and open areas looking for prey which includes small birds and sometimes dragonflies. They fly with quick powerful wingbeats, pausing to glide only rarely. They also spend long periods perched in open areas, scanning for prey. This individual was found in Canatara Park.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/merlin/id

Busy runway for small rodents - a good spot for a predator to hang out!

Red-bellied Woodpecker (female): Red-bellied Woodpeckers can stick out their tongues nearly 2 inches past the end of the beak. The tip is barbed and the bird's saliva is sticky, making it easier to snatch prey from deep crevices. Males have longer, wider-tipped tongues than females, possibly allowing a breeding pair to forage in slightly different places on the territory, maximizing their use of available food.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-bellied_Woodpecker/overview

White-breasted Nuthatches are agile birds that creep along trunks and large branches, probing into bark furrows with their straight, pointed bills. Like other nuthatches, they often turn sideways and upside down on vertical surfaces as they forage. They don't lean against their tails the way woodpeckers do.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-breasted_Nuthatch/id

Two male White-breasted Nuthatches. Females have a grey, rather than black hood.