Odd behaviour in a bird of prey?

[Princess Otter]

My Mum and Dad live close to the seaside, they have a small garden (which is actually just a pond with a bridge over and shrubs around it) all the houses round about back onto each other with equally small gardens (the sky overhead is quite sheltered). The other day, early afternoon, they were sat in the conservatory when they heard a bang on the window, when they looked, they saw a 'dazed hawk' sitting on the waterfall! It sat in the garden for about 10 mins before it eventually flew off. They didn't get a photo!!!! I said, a buzzard is the most common type of large bird like that (according to the Hawk and Owl trust website) but they were unconvinced. They couldn't say for sure what type of bird of prey it was, only that it was some kind of bird of prey, definitley NOT a seagull!!!!!

I thought that this was odd to find this type of bird so close to the sea, they are about a five minute walk to the sand, and also to be such an enclosed space. What do you think? and what type of bird would it be likely to be?

[Deer Stalker]

Sounds like a Sparrowhawk.

[Ferret]

I think you will find that Sparrowhawk is the most common garden visiting raptor, but without a picture or clear description?

[aeshna5]

I think Sparrowhawk is most likely. It is by far the most common garden bird of prey, even if in some parts of the country Buzzard is the commonest raptor. There is a large size difference between these species too.

[Rob_D]

Sparrowhawk would be my guess for a window strike bird of prey. They fly very low and fast when in pursuit of small birds in woodland and often in gardens. They are amazingly agile and can fly through thick woodland at speed without collisions so houses are no real problem except for the windows! My mum had a male sparrowhawk hit a window too, but unfortunately he didn't recover.

[larachmor]

I would say undoubtedly a sparrowhawk - probably in pursuit of a garden bird. Their incredible speed frequently lands them in trouble when they encounter a window. Whenever you encounter a bird-strike on a window, it's always worth examining the window - quite often the "victim" will leave an imprint which can be measured - and very occasionally the resulting imprint can produce incredible detail - almost if an image has been etched onto the window.

[earthdragon64]

I'd agree with Sparrowhawk, I had one hit my fence and stun himself for a few seconds, he'd become a bit too target fixated, the Chaffinch he was chasing slipped between the planks, but he was a bit too big.

I had a Collared Dove hit my window a couple of years ago, it left an amazing imprint on my window. I tried photographing it, but it was a bit too faint for the camera I had then to pick out. The camera I have now would probably manage it.