Sparrowhawk

[Hazelnuts]

hi there

Yesterday morning while at home. I came upon a female Sparrowhawk at the end of my back garden.

She was busy eating a bird she had caught - though I never saw the hunt taking place - only the result. she stood for about 5 minutes eating her quarry.

I tried to get a picture of her once she flew off, but no luck at all. ;)

I took a picture of the feathers that where left, and they looked like a Dunnocks or a House Sparrow - sadly

Regards
Kathy
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[thud]

Hi Kathy,

She's a big bird. We don't actually see the female but we believe she goes through at something approaching the speed of a 747 every now and then.

Our problem is whether we have one or two males active in our area. Weeks ago, perhaps months now, I know we had two - we saw them in action more than once. On one occasion one of them crashed through our apple tree while the other skimmed the top, presumably to scoop up any victims that tried to run for it. Definately two males - we assumed they were youngsters.

Now we only see one male at a time but my wife maintains there are two birds. Love watching them, but I'm always relieved when they miss. When they don't, they land their victim and stand on it for some minutes, often with their wings spread out. They may start plucking there, leaving feathers in the grass, but they finish it on the block wall of my compost heap in the darkest corner of the garden. I've found lots of feathers and the odd other bit of victim - but no bones! I wonder if they eat the bones and all.

I have a dreadful snap of one of the males with a Greenfinch on the path - usually they are on grass and you don't see most of the kill. The photo is good - the content is dreadful..

[Hazelnuts]

Hi Kathy,

She's a big bird. We don't actually see the female but we believe she goes through at something approaching the speed of a 747 every now and then.

Our problem is whether we have one or two males active in our area. Weeks ago, perhaps months now, I know we had two - we saw them in action more than once. On one occasion one of them crashed through our apple tree while the other skimmed the top, presumably to scoop up any victims that tried to run for it. Definately two males - we assumed they were youngsters.

Now we only see one male at a time but my wife maintains there are two birds. Love watching them, but I'm always relieved when they miss. When they don't, they land their victim and stand on it for some minutes, often with their wings spread out. They may start plucking there, leaving feathers in the grass, but they finish it on the block wall of my compost heap in the darkest corner of the garden. I've found lots of feathers and the odd other bit of victim - but no bones! I wonder if they eat the bones and all.

I have a dreadful snap of one of the males with a Greenfinch on the path - usually they are on grass and you don't see most of the kill. The photo is good - the content is dreadful..

Hi John

I am sure that Sparrowhawks abilty to fly at great speeds is something that they are really good at doing. Lean, mean, flying machines. They probabily weigh nothing if they sat on your hand.

I wish I saw how this particular female caught her victims. It is a horrible thought if the Sparrowhawk starts to pluck and eat the victim while it is still alive.

You are very lucky to see two birds hunting at the same time. That would be a must see for any bird lovers.
Hope that you see your two birds but no doubt they will have to split to form their own territories sooner or later Otherwise, they would fight each other instead of catching birds to eat.

Regards
Kathy
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