Had one of these in the garden this morning...
06 November 2007, 01:04 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Had one of these in the garden this morning...
Its a Sparrow Hawk. Couldn't believe it when I saw it and had to do a double take to make sure I hadn't mistaken it for something else. Didn't ever think birds of prey would visit gardens. Anyone else had any type of birds of prey in their garden and if so what was it? I think they are fantastic and am lucky enough to live fairly near to Eagle Heights where they do great flying displays and days out learning to fly them hawking which I hope to get round to doing eventually.
The Hawk Conservancy Trust - Sparrowhawk that has just explained all the feathers i've been finding in the garden. I thought it was cats killing birds but never found any bodies or injured birds just circles/piles of feathers so looks like the Sparrow Hawk has been eating the garden birds.
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 06 November 2007 at 01:12 PM.
06 November 2007, 01:08 PM
#3
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
we had one that was poorly in the garden last year you could pick it up,
they look pure evil close up,
it was quite intersting for the kids to see
we gave it something to eat, and put it in a cardboard box on the roof of next door garage
but it popped its clogs in the night
they look pure evil close up,
it was quite intersting for the kids to see
we gave it something to eat, and put it in a cardboard box on the roof of next door garage
but it popped its clogs in the night
06 November 2007, 01:16 PM
#5
Had one in the garden last year, eyeing up one of the cats. The cat returned the look with one of "Go on pal if you think you're hard enough". I managed to get the cat in and the bird buggered off.
You should see the Red Kites around Nant-yr-Arian, amazing birds.
You should see the Red Kites around Nant-yr-Arian, amazing birds.
06 November 2007, 01:20 PM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Yeah our rabbits go outside during the day so I guess they've been eyed up as potential dinner and helping to attract the big birdie lol
06 November 2007, 01:28 PM
#7
we had one of these the other month, mauled a fat bastid wood pigeon and carried it off...
The male sparrowhawk is smaller and only goes for the smaller creatures whereas the bigger female hawk goes for the big things
The male sparrowhawk is smaller and only goes for the smaller creatures whereas the bigger female hawk goes for the big things
Trending Topics
06 November 2007, 01:30 PM
#8
One of the boys that work for us flys these as a hobby. I think his is a sparrow hawk.
He brought it in and let it fly around the factory last year very interesting, beautiful animals.
He brought it in and let it fly around the factory last year very interesting, beautiful animals.
06 November 2007, 01:50 PM
#11
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Weston Super Mare, Somerset.
Posts: 14,102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Had one a couple of months ago. Went straight for the bird bath which is fairly well hidden in the bushes under a willow. Mrs Blackbird usually has a spalsh in there but not around at the time.
Impressive birds. Saw one in a London park once tearing a pigeon to bits
Impressive birds. Saw one in a London park once tearing a pigeon to bits
06 November 2007, 02:35 PM
#14
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 10,765
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think we had one in the garden (or a kestrel) last week, lurking by the bird feeder. Just caught the back of it as it flew off, then it was circling overhead.
A couple of years ago, I was filling up the feeder, when I heard a commotion behind me. I thought it was a couple of our blackbirds having an altercation, but it was a greenfinch being chased by a sparrowhawk. It's wing went through my hair, and it took out the finch in the hedge beside me
A couple of weeks later, I walked down the garden, felt I was being watched and turned round to see one sitting on next door's washing line!
A couple of years ago, I was filling up the feeder, when I heard a commotion behind me. I thought it was a couple of our blackbirds having an altercation, but it was a greenfinch being chased by a sparrowhawk. It's wing went through my hair, and it took out the finch in the hedge beside me
A couple of weeks later, I walked down the garden, felt I was being watched and turned round to see one sitting on next door's washing line!
06 November 2007, 02:43 PM
#15
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 26,619
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We live a couple of miles from Scrabo Tower, where they have a pair of breeding Peregrine Falcons. There is also a huge estate behind our house where they raise lots of pheasants for game shooting. You can watch the falcons glide around for ages and then pounce on some poor unsuspecting bird. They don't seem to like stuff on the ground, but watching them take out a big fat juicy crow in mid flight is a real spectacle.
(This year, we have had a cuckoo and various corncrakes in the garden - Hope the falcon isn't into 'rare' meat
)
(This year, we have had a cuckoo and various corncrakes in the garden - Hope the falcon isn't into 'rare' meat
)
06 November 2007, 02:56 PM
#16
Had quite a few brushes with these things. Heard a commotion on the carport roof, thought it was the neighbour's cat again, climbed up to find myself face to face with a sparrowhawk at about 60cm distance. I don't know which of us was most shocked.
I've a photo somewhere of one eating a collared dove in our backyard, and last summer, one was sitting on TOP of a starling, tearing it's breast apart, and the poor old starling was still alive
Later on, one hit a young blacky in midflight. The blackbird tore loose, but died about ten minutes later of it's injuries.
Sparrowhawks have huge long claws, like needles, and kill by stabbing their prey to death.
Alcazar
I've a photo somewhere of one eating a collared dove in our backyard, and last summer, one was sitting on TOP of a starling, tearing it's breast apart, and the poor old starling was still alive
Later on, one hit a young blacky in midflight. The blackbird tore loose, but died about ten minutes later of it's injuries.
Sparrowhawks have huge long claws, like needles, and kill by stabbing their prey to death.
Alcazar
06 November 2007, 02:58 PM
#17
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Notts, UK
Posts: 4,935
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wish we had one big enough to take care of the cats but that's for another thread.
Didn't identify it myself but my wife had put bread on the lawn for the birds to eat. While the little sparrows and blackbirds were feeding some bird of prey swooped down and picked off a sparrow.
But at least it was two birds fed with one piece of bread.
Cheers
Lee
Didn't identify it myself but my wife had put bread on the lawn for the birds to eat. While the little sparrows and blackbirds were feeding some bird of prey swooped down and picked off a sparrow.
But at least it was two birds fed with one piece of bread.
Cheers
Lee
06 November 2007, 03:10 PM
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
06 November 2007, 03:24 PM
#19
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Preston, Lancs.
Posts: 2,977
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We've had one visit our garden a few times.
You can tell when it's been about, as the sparrows spend a few days staying pretty well hidden before cautiously venturing out.
Once saw one take a swoop at our duck as well; the duck dived and it missed her. That said, she was probably about twice the size of the sparrowhawk, so it might have had fun trying to get airborne with her if it had managed tro grab her.
You can tell when it's been about, as the sparrows spend a few days staying pretty well hidden before cautiously venturing out.
Once saw one take a swoop at our duck as well; the duck dived and it missed her. That said, she was probably about twice the size of the sparrowhawk, so it might have had fun trying to get airborne with her if it had managed tro grab her.
06 November 2007, 03:40 PM
#20
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Notts, UK
Posts: 4,935
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You should be watching Nature of Britian by Alan Titchmarsh. We now have urban birds of prey, urban sea birds, urban foxes, urban badgers and urban river otters .
Seems like they can do quite well mixing with humans.
We have foxes on our garden a few times a week, they are not bothered by security lights either.
Cheers
Lee
06 November 2007, 03:42 PM
#21
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: South Bucks
Posts: 3,213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just be glad that most of our birds of prey are on the small side.
Having written that, the only thing I see round my way is (or was) a buzzard, this summer.
J.
Having written that, the only thing I see round my way is (or was) a buzzard, this summer.
J.
06 November 2007, 03:45 PM
#22
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Notts, UK
Posts: 4,935
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lee
06 November 2007, 03:51 PM
#23
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 10,765
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
06 November 2007, 04:00 PM
#24
Guest
Posts: n/a
You should be watching Nature of Britian by Alan Titchmarsh. We now have urban birds of prey, urban sea birds, urban foxes, urban badgers and urban river otters .
Seems like they can do quite well mixing with humans.
We have foxes on our garden a few times a week, they are not bothered by security lights either.
Cheers
Lee
Seems like they can do quite well mixing with humans.
We have foxes on our garden a few times a week, they are not bothered by security lights either.
Cheers
Lee
06 November 2007, 05:03 PM
#27
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Near Bristol
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
when i lived at my parents in a place called nailsea just outside bristol we used to get sparrow hawks fairly regulary.
partly because we had a huge honeysuckle bush the sparrow nested in and blackbirds and allsorts nesting around the garden and the surrounding area.
occassionally there used to be the remains of something caught by the sparrow hawk. once i came home and there was a blackbird actually pinned down on the porch by a sparrowhawk. the blackbird was lucky as the sparrowhawk flew away that time when it saw me.
they are big though!
apparently they nest in the avon gorge which was only about 5 miles away as the sparrowhawk flies.
very impressive birds seeing them dive in and get their prey.
partly because we had a huge honeysuckle bush the sparrow nested in and blackbirds and allsorts nesting around the garden and the surrounding area.
occassionally there used to be the remains of something caught by the sparrow hawk. once i came home and there was a blackbird actually pinned down on the porch by a sparrowhawk. the blackbird was lucky as the sparrowhawk flew away that time when it saw me.
they are big though!
apparently they nest in the avon gorge which was only about 5 miles away as the sparrowhawk flies.
very impressive birds seeing them dive in and get their prey.
06 November 2007, 05:24 PM
#28
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Weston Super Mare, Somerset.
Posts: 14,102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
06 November 2007, 05:43 PM
#29
Guest
Posts: n/a
That pic i've posted looks nothing like any of the other pics of Sparrow Hawks including that one David 
Most of the other pics i've looked up the birds have quite a lot of blue/grey in their plumage. The pic i've posted looks exactly like the one in the garden this morning, its back was brown with lighter sandy patches with that very long sleak appearance when perched. There seems to be a lot of variation in their colouring and appearance as the pic i've posted is that of a Sparrow Hawk but look at pics on Google and lots of pics of Sparrow Hawks look completely different.
Most of the other pics i've looked up the birds have quite a lot of blue/grey in their plumage. The pic i've posted looks exactly like the one in the garden this morning, its back was brown with lighter sandy patches with that very long sleak appearance when perched. There seems to be a lot of variation in their colouring and appearance as the pic i've posted is that of a Sparrow Hawk but look at pics on Google and lots of pics of Sparrow Hawks look completely different.
06 November 2007, 06:13 PM
#30
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Weston Super Mare, Somerset.
Posts: 14,102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That pic i've posted looks nothing like any of the other pics of Sparrow Hawks including that one David Most of the other pics i've looked up the birds have quite a lot of blue/grey in their plumage. The pic i've posted looks exactly like the one in the garden this morning, its back was brown with lighter sandy patches with that very long sleak appearance when perched. There seems to be a lot of variation in their colouring and appearance as the pic i've posted is that of a Sparrow Hawk but look at pics on Google and lots of pics of Sparrow Hawks look completely different.
Most of the other pics i've looked up the birds have quite a lot of blue/grey in their plumage. The pic i've posted looks exactly like the one in the garden this morning, its back was brown with lighter sandy patches with that very long sleak appearance when perched. There seems to be a lot of variation in their colouring and appearance as the pic i've posted is that of a Sparrow Hawk but look at pics on Google and lots of pics of Sparrow Hawks look completely different.Here is another Google one that looks more like the one in your piccie?
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...MG_1252-01.jpg
Perhaps it's all down to age and sex - it usually is
dl