Close encounters..........

[jdurbo]

..of the sparrowhawk kind.
This is the second time in a week, i was in the garden sunday and a starling flew straight pass me into the bush i was standing near, quickly followed by a sparrowhawk that skimmed the top of the bush, over the fence and away it went..scared the life out of me
Earlier in the week a long-tailed tit was not so lucky!!
jen xxx

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by jdurbo

a starling flew straight pass me into the bush i was standing near, quickly followed by a sparrowhawk that skimmed the top of the bush, over the fence and away it went..scared the life out of me

jen xxx

Well if you were scared, what must the starling have been thinking

[jdurbo]

Took these pictures at the weekend.
I know there not very good ones but i thought someone might be able to see if its male or female.
Thanks jen xxx

[demicav]

It looks like a female to me but could be wrong, nice pics, great birds.

[wellies101]

I'd go for a female too. I think these are stunning birds, incredible agility on the wing.

[Cazzie]

Definately a girlie! Males have a bronzer colouring to their plumage

You were lucky to get those shots as they're so fast to disappear!

[jdurbo]

It was a mad dash in the kitchen to get the camera out!!
We think the one on the grass it had a mouse do they eat mice????
The one on the fence it was standing on one leg and cleaning itself and we went ouside to take a better picture we was seen and it flew off!
jen xxx

[Cazzie]

Don't see why it wouldn't take a mouse if it found one!

I had a female take a sparrow off my little rowan tree a few weeks ago - just so darn fast! She pinned it to the grass for about a minute and just sat there looking round (but I was transfixed watching her so didn't dare move to get my camera) then she took off with it in her talons. A couple of days later there was a huge pile of sparrow feathers under one of the feeder poles (plus a little blood) so I think she'd been back to my 'restaurant'

[jdurbo]

Im hopeful to get some more now we only get the camera friday and hawkeye(as we call it) don't seem to be all that shy. Fingers crossed anyway
jen xxx