The Merlin spent quite some time standing on a submerged rock or ice ledge and checking out the water, occasionally jumping up as if surprised by something, then pouncing back down as if it wanted to grab something. I am not sure what it was doing, perhaps just watching the waves and/or seeing some fish swim in the water. Here it is starring into the water oblivious to the two Mallards swimming by. The Mallards equally don't seem to be disturbed by the proximity of the Merlin. Perhaps both the Merlin and Mallards realize that they are just to big for the Merlin to capture and fly away with.