Scary Sparrowhawk

[Wild-Woman]

Remind me not to wash up anymore. Just finishing it when there was an almighty boom on my kitchen window. In the split second I looked up, I saw a sparrowhawk pulling up and over the fence. I went out to investigate only to find a poor collared dove laying motionless under the window. I looked up to see the sparrowhawk circling around high in the sky. The garden had gone silent.
As I picked up the dove to check it was actually dead, I walked down the garden holding it, I spotted another pile of plucked dove feathers. It's been a busy sparrowhawk today. Sad but that's nature. Pictured the dove, but thought it may cause offence, but thought the feathers would be acceptable. ww

[glsammy]

Must have been quite a shock.. Never had any Sparrow Hawks around us, but I've seen one attack some blue tits at Whisby and I was amazed by the speed and agility of the bird. It turned 90 degrees and flew threw a gap in the fence right by my head, I even felt the air move as it flew by. All this happened right in front of me with me taking pictures of the Blue tits, but I didn't have a chance of getting even one shot of the Sparrow Hawk. Amazing birds.

[Feathers]

Has he/she been back for his/her prize yet?

[Mr Mag00]

fantastic birds.

[nightshade]

On Wildlife SOS today a sparrow hawk flew into someones lounge

[Dan Salter]

Im sure most birders ( although i dont want to start a long thread/argument about it) would be happy to see such an amazing bird doing what it does in a garden even at the cost of one or two collared doves ( lovely birds too) and a window that now needs a clean?

I had one in my garden earlier this year after buying a bird table, bath and feeders...suddenly ( faster than if a person or a cat comes into view) the birds all shot off at break neck speed ( literally in your case) in every direction imaginable...i couldnt work out why this weird behaviour then....whoooooooosh....out of nowhere came the sparrowhawk....missed everything and sat in my tree sulking for 20 minutes...
Im a huge raptor fan.

[BigT]

My parents have a resident Sparrowhawk that zooms straight into their Pyracantha (ouch!) and snatches whichever little bird happens to be there at the time. It then proceeds to shred it in the birdbath! Very scary birds...glad i'm not a little birdie!

BigT

[Wild-Woman]

Sorry Feathers (appropriate name for this thread) I'm a soft touch. The dove was buried with full military honours. Mr/Mrs sparrowhawk had eaten earlier!! ww

[Dan Salter]

trust you

[Mr Mag00]

At the weekend i watched a sparrowhawk being chased across a recently topped field by some swallows and a great height of all of, 15-20 cms. Wicked!!