No, not Merlin the magician…but the small falcon. Spotted this merlin during what I like to call ‘Drive-by Birding”.

So I did a little vehicle maneuvering, which resulted in me ditching the ride for a foot chase in order to get a closer picture.

Rich:

Photographed an unusual “fly”? White spotted clear bluish wings, white spotted blue segmented body and red tail. About an inch and a half long. Sought refuge from a wind storm a week back and rested on my courtyard in a Persian Lime Bush. All of this here in Palm Coast, FL.

Photo Credit: R. Lightcap

Well its not a fly. Its a polka dot wasp moth in the Sesiidae arctiidae family, which are the clearwing tiger and lichen moths. I’m not sure which species you have there in your picture, but maybe another reader knows what it is…

[Edit] The species is Syntomeida epilais. Larvae feed on oleander and devils potatoe.