Sparrow hawk Attack

[barquar]

Friday Tea time Bed sheets on line Husband in Garden ( Small Garden) Young Sparrows and Adult Blue tits and a wood pigeon Feeding off Feeder, When suddenly a Sparrow Hawk Dives in and takes Either a Sparrow or a Blue tit. My husband said it made no noise until the strike then he heard a flutter off wings before it flew right over his head with something in its claws. Not sure but thought it was the sparrow that the hawk took.
Would the sheets have help to hide him on his way in to make the kill. This is the first time we know of a hawk making a killing in my garden.
There is a Sparrow hawks nest in the nearby woods 1/2 mile away.
Barquar

[digger47]

I have just had a similar experience today,we had just returned from shopping and as i looked out into the rear garden there on the lawn was a sparrowhawk tearing its prey up(starling i think),it stayed around for a few minutes before flying off with its dinner.I did manage to get some photos/video of it before it flew off.

[demicav]

Originally Posted by barquar

Friday Tea time Bed sheets on line Husband in Garden ( Small Garden) Young Sparrows and Adult Blue tits and a wood pigeon Feeding off Feeder, When suddenly a Sparrow Hawk Dives in and takes Either a Sparrow or a Blue tit. My husband said it made no noise until the strike then he heard a flutter off wings before it flew right over his head with something in its claws. Not sure but thought it was the sparrow that the hawk took.
Would the sheets have help to hide him on his way in to make the kill. This is the first time we know of a hawk making a killing in my garden.
There is a Sparrow hawks nest in the nearby woods 1/2 mile away.
Barquar

Although sad to see, it's all part of nature I'm afraid. The sheets may not have made any difference as Sparrowhawks are fast and very agile. They're superb hunters.

[barquar]

Originally Posted by demicav

Although sad to see, it's all part of nature I'm afraid. The sheets may not have made any difference as Sparrowhawks are fast and very agile. They're superb hunters.

Thanks Demicav it must have been hungry or had hungry mouths to feed as my husband being there didnt put it off, The wood pigeon didnt see it until it had struck the sparrow he then flew off quiet quickly.
Barquar

[Bouncytigger]

Originally Posted by barquar

Friday Tea time Bed sheets on line Husband in Garden ( Small Garden) Young Sparrows and Adult Blue tits and a wood pigeon Feeding off Feeder, When suddenly a Sparrow Hawk Dives in and takes Either a Sparrow or a Blue tit. My husband said it made no noise until the strike then he heard a flutter off wings before it flew right over his head with something in its claws. Not sure but thought it was the sparrow that the hawk took.
Would the sheets have help to hide him on his way in to make the kill. This is the first time we know of a hawk making a killing in my garden.
There is a Sparrow hawks nest in the nearby woods 1/2 mile away.
Barquar

I know how you feel!

Something similar happen in our garden CHRISTMAS EVE a couple of years back.
i'd just come back from somewhere or other and i was looking out of the living room window when i saw what i now know was A SPARROWHAWK chomping on something while all the rest of the sparrows from round here(and believe you me there are hundereds of them) were flapping around in a real quandary as you would expect!!!!!

At the time i didn't know quite how i felt

Sad for the poor sparrow or ELATED TO HAVE SEEN A SPARROWHAWK in my SMALL SUBURBAN GARDEN!

[galanthus]

A good indication you're getting your wild bird feeding right I'd say barquar. As demicav said it's sad but essential for life

[ollyk]

Originally Posted by barquar

Friday Tea time Bed sheets on line Husband in Garden ( Small Garden) Young Sparrows and Adult Blue tits and a wood pigeon Feeding off Feeder, When suddenly a Sparrow Hawk Dives in and takes Either a Sparrow or a Blue tit. My husband said it made no noise until the strike then he heard a flutter off wings before it flew right over his head with something in its claws. Not sure but thought it was the sparrow that the hawk took.
Would the sheets have help to hide him on his way in to make the kill. This is the first time we know of a hawk making a killing in my garden.
There is a Sparrow hawks nest in the nearby woods 1/2 mile away.
Barquar

I think the bird table made all the difference in this case tbh Personally I would consider myself lucky to see that. It's perfectly natural and I am sure any young family will now manage with a single parent, although not sure if that's how it works...?

[witham]

The last few weeks we've had regular Sparow Hawk attacks in and around the garden, I've come across a number of rings of feathers and witnessed one attack when it dived down and took a sparrow fledgling that was sat on top of a hedge, it landed in the drive and started ripping it to bits then when it saw me comming it took off with it in its claws and flew over the garden and into the back field but it's got to eat so by me attracting so many birds into the garden I am perhaps giving it a perfect opportunity for an easy meal

[ellen h]

A sparrowhawk came down and took a sparrow from in front of my late father as he was throwing bread for the birds in the garden.
He couldnt believe how fast it came in,he was most upset though as you could hear the sparrow making peeping noises as it was carried away...
Ellen

[barquar]

Thanks to all for your replies I think it just shows that there is an increase in the wild bird population, I think this year has been a good one. I have a Greatit nesting in my nest box(this is a First for me) Lots off baby Sparrows a huge influx off Baby Starlings. A report that Goldfinch have Doubled in numbers. So the sparrow hawk is getting more food which must increace their numbers.The wood pigeons and Doves seem to be all over the place and breading like Rabbits. All in all a good year me thinks.
Barqaur

[paulmann]

Shocked tonight to see a sparrowhawk clinging upside down to the bottom of one of my ball shaped feeders with one leg and plucking a small bird from within with the other foot. Bit of a quandary for a bird lover, continue to feed the small birds and provide a 'tesco' for the hawk !

[Jason Green]

Welcome to WAB!

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

I don't really know how anyone can feel sad when a Sparrowhawk visits the Garden. It's nature in the raw, how it happens thousands of times a day. I love seeing a Sparrowhawk in the garden