A Sparrowhawk in my garden

[Insomniak]

Yesterday I saw my first Sparrowhawk.

I've 5 bird feeders in the garden and I get a lot of blue tits, coal tits, a few great tits, goldfinches, greenfinches and lots of sparrows, basically the garden is always full of birds.

I looked out the kitchen window and there it was, sitting at the edge of the little pond, unmistakably a Sparrowhawk. I think I could see that it was holding on to something, it flew to the grass and then took off into the trees with what looked like a little sparrow.

Is it likely to return to the garden now that it's been "successful" here?

Maybe it's not its first visit, just the first sighting I've had of it.

It's a weird feeling, some excitement at seeing my first Sparrowhawk followed immediately by the thought that its about to eat the little birds I love so much.
I know it's nature at work and I guess it means the balance is right in some way...






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[AndrewB]

Hi insomniak, a similar thing happened with me about a month ago. Looked out of the kitchen window and saw a sparrowhawk sitting on the lawn. It had caught a great tit at the feeders, but I have never seen one again since, and it didnt seem to deter the other tits and small birds from visiting.

[Insomniak]

Indeed, this event yesterday didn't seem to deter the birds at all.
In fact there was no alarm calls from any of the birds at the time. I thought that was unusual.

I'll keep an eye out for a return visit, anyway.

[Elizabeth B]

A sparrowhawk's visit doesn't seem to bother our birds too much. A favourite perch is on the top of one of the feeder poles, and all the other birds fly off - but they're usually back within about 15 minutes of his/her departure.

Last year one actually landed on the bird table - fortunately the table cam was switched on at the time.

[Tringa]

Can understand your feeling. I think there is something special about seeing a Sparrowhawk. I think it the combination of them being so quiet and still at times and the ability for a big bird to suddenly appear. You were lucky, when I see one it is usually a glimpse of something moving so quickly through the garden.

You said the were no alarm calls from other birds. The few times I have seen a sparrowhawk close to, there is a very quick burst of alarms and every bird disappears into the nearest thick bush and keeps quiet.

[Phoebe]

I've had a few visits from a sparrowhawk in my garden just lately. It is my least favourite bird of prey

[rossy]

yes its almost certain to return and not when you least expect it. rossy rochdale.

[Insomniak]

Thanks!
I appreciate all your comments.
I think I'm getting used to the idea that I may see this happen again.

Until now, all I had to worry about was the fact that the pigeons were learning to hang on the feeders!

All I can say is that today the birds were feeding as normal, no reduction noticeable in their numbers and no sign of the Sparrowhawk.

Elizabeth: Amazing pictures!
I barely got my phone out of my pocket to TRY to get a pic and the Sparrow hawk was gone.

[John]

I have had regular visits from Sparrowhawks for the whole of the five years I have lived here and it certainly hasn't put off the bird population from visiting my five feeder stations.

Here are four photos where I have photographed them perched on these stations.



John