Sparrrowhawk surprise

[colincurry]

I think this is a sparrowhawk. Some pictures are better than others but the bird was pretty high and very dark beneath against the sky.

I was in our back garden last evening, taking advanatage of the very temporary fine weather and trying for snaps of house martins. I caught a glimpse of what I initially took to be a kestrel flying quickly over the front of the house, but it sped off before I could really react.

I could not believe it when it came across the back garden in a fairly straight line of flight. I think its prey is a frog or toad - can anyone identify it?!

These are my best sightings of a sparrowhawk. If a mod thinks any of the pics are good enough for the gallery, please let me know and I will post.

Colin

[John]

Yep, that's a Sparrowhawk and I think it looks like a bird in its talons not a frog.

John

[nightshade]

Definite Sparrowhawk,looks like it had plucked its prey,a small bird, I have seen them
take "my" Pipistrelles before now so a Frog would not have suprised me
Very well spotted good shots

[ollyk]

Definately a frog in my opinion - you can see the front legs in one of the 2nd to last picy...
I must get round to my grandparents garden as there is a sparrowhawk nesting in a tree at the moment!

Nice pics by the way!

[Ann2]

Hmmmm, now I would have said it's prey was a bird judging by the dangling feet.

You were certainly quick off the mark to get those pics Colin.

Ann

[solus]

Looks like a small bird to me - the legs and clawed toes show up pretty well in some of the pics. Birds are the more common prey items, and at this time of year are in good supply, what with tired adults with young to feed maybe paying less attention than usual when at garden feeders as well as lots of inexperienced young birds around.

[Deer Stalker]

Difinatly a plucked & be-headed bird in its talons.

[colincurry]

My guv'nor has had a closer and more leisurely look at the pics, and has revised our identification from frog to bird.

Colin