On 13 February 2023, a wintering Merlin was observed at Philipsdam, sitting in willows on the Slikken van Heen (a nature reserve in the province of Zeeland). The bird shifted to a pole standing alongside rough grassland of some 50 ha in area, from where it descended into the grass 30 m way from the sitting post. It rummaged around for about 10 sec, upon which it returned to the pole with a prey. Despite the long distance between Merlin and observer (>300 m, using a telescope), the prey could be identified as a Great Tit. The tit was apparently retrieved from a larder in the grassland.