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Produce => Wildlife forum => Topic started by: Yellow Petals on June 04, 2006, 22:41:46

Title: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: Yellow Petals on June 04, 2006, 22:41:46

Daily visitor who on this day (well, not actually today but back in May) sat perched upon the watering can for a good ten minutes and was snapped through the patio doors!

(http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/2821/shawk5vz.jpg)

Title: Re: Here he is again
Post by: markyb23 on June 04, 2006, 23:53:00

He's awsome-I want one.
   Cheers for sharing YP. :)

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: Yellow Petals on June 05, 2006, 18:31:29

He is a fine specimen isn't he?  I should point out that it's not our garden he's been visiting but my husband's work colleague who lives about three miles up the road.  He gets the most fantastic array of birds in his garden.  We could only wish for such things!

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: MrsKP on June 05, 2006, 20:47:01

i bet your sparrows are pleased he's not yours ;D

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: robkb on June 06, 2006, 09:38:59

My God, that's absolutely beautiful! I kind of wish it was in my garden, but can't help thinking it would terrify my scaredy cat!

Cheers,
Rob ;)

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on June 06, 2006, 19:34:13

I get them flying over now and then; once I was walking round the site and a male (like that one) shot six inches over my head and perched on a fence a few yards away. That's the closest I've been in many years.

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: Mrs Ava on June 06, 2006, 23:33:21

Stunning!  We have several around here and one took down a bird not long ago in our garden.  Amazing to see in action!  Excellent photo, so clear.

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: Marianne on June 08, 2006, 13:32:41

Beautiful looking creature !  It's a shame they feed on little birds though ...  :'(

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: Yellow Petals on November 22, 2006, 07:56:46

Unfortunately this beautiful bird has now died  :'(  Yesterday he flew too fast into the patio doors and killed himself.

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: MrsKP on November 22, 2006, 08:22:42

RIP Sparrowhawk.

Chasing something no doubt !

I really should get some of those transfers for the windows.  Sparrows have divebombed mine before.

 :'(

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: angle shades on November 22, 2006, 11:24:38

:( I've mixed feelings about these birds.

I love them coming into the garden, they are beautiful, I don't like them killing the birds or jumping on our Aviary::)/shades x

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: tim on November 25, 2006, 12:22:51

Only just saw that, Petals - what a picture!!

BUT - as others indicate, we have almost no 'ordinary' birds this year - down from hundreds.

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: Carol on November 25, 2006, 13:34:23

Great pic. Sam.  reminds me of mine, not seen him in a while but he is about. 

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: louise stella on December 02, 2006, 15:43:13

Gorgeous!

Very handsome!

All I get is assorted little ones waiting for me to buzz off so they can get the worms (i'm digging over a neglected plot).

Louise

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: Marymary on December 02, 2006, 21:59:32

We have a local sparrow hawk but never got such a good look at him/her as this photo which is amazing.  Ours seems to target pigeons - we have found the remains of about 6 over the last few months & which I have inadvertently startled him while eating.

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: cambourne7 on December 05, 2006, 11:39:13

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/cambourne7/P1010001.jpg

I think we have a sparrowhawk, it hovers over the plots when there are not many people about for ages then dives down.

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on December 05, 2006, 17:25:45

If it hovers then drops down, that's classic kestrel behaviour. Sparrowhawks fly low and fast, and catch small birds by surprise.

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: Marymary on December 05, 2006, 20:11:09

So Robert do you think ours is a sparrow hawk if it's eating pigeons rather than small birds?  I haven't seen it clearly enough to be able to tell.

Title: Re: Here he is again - the visiting Sparrowhawk
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on December 06, 2006, 07:29:12

Kestrels will take sparrows, but pigeons are more like a big female sparrowhawk.