Trainee sparrowhawk

[larachmor]

These shots are of a young female sparrowhawk who spent much of her early summer last year perched around my garden "hiding" from the birds coming into my feeders. Her early efforts were quite comical, before she eventually acquired the skills that turned her into a fine hunter, and later witnessed one of her early kills. At times she would lie in wait - on a garden table in photo 1, on my weather station in photo 2 (I've cleaned away the cobwebs since!!) Then one morning I was tapping away on my keyboard when she landed on a perch just 10 feet in front of the window. I did my best impression of a paratrooper's roll off my chair and crawled into the next-door room where I had my camera on a tripod behind a camouflage net - set up exclusively for her as by this time she had become such a regular visitor, and managed to get the final close-up. Their ability to make a mental map of every contour, twist, turn and obstruction as they make their lightning strikes never cease to amaze me.

[Veracocha]

Great capture, been trying to get some similar shots with a Spar that visits my garden. Well done.

[ellen h]

Lovely shots there!
ellen

[deer boy]

Wonderful shots larachmor she's a beautiful bird

[Kayleigh]

Great photos larachmor, love the commando bit.

[witham]

great pics, we had them nesting up the garden which we didn't know about until the commotion of fledging but because of the dense greenery etc only saw fleeting glances, seen their numerous kill sights though

[mrs fish]

She is beautiful Larachmor

Can you tell if this bird is a female born this year ?

[mrs fish]

Another pic here shows the cere very yellow



It is like a baby and is hardly ever quiet

[larachmor]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Another pic here shows the cere very yellow



It is like a baby and is hardly ever quiet

This could well be a fledgling juvenile. The barring on the chest that is quite clear in the adult is more ragged in the young bird. Their behaviour also is a good indicator if she is a fledgling as they appear very amateur in their efforts to take birds, and in my case, as it also appears in yours, tend to "hang around" gardens to hone their skills. She'll probably disappear as she develops and will return giving the more familiar momentary sighting as she flashes through as a brown blur. Nice photie.

[mrs fish]

Thanks

There was a parent nearby at first and she was on the ground feeding, the parent flew off and she came up on the branch and started calling.


The poor lady whose garden they are in used to have lots of small birds visit her garden but not any more, she has even watched a Sparrowhawk bathe in her her bird bath

I have told her she is honoured to have them nest nearby

[Tracey.A]

Great shots and well worth the commando antics to get a close shot.

Tracey

[nigel_b]

Great shots! Would love to have spawks nest nearby.