Sparrowhawk

[snake]

I have a workshop at the bottom of my garden and have put a few feeders just outside the window, its nice to watch the birds as I potter about inside.
Two or three times a day I get a visit from a Sparrowhawk which send all the birds scattering for the nearest cover.
This morning I set up my camera on a tripod, trained the lens on the branch I have seen him use the most, rigged up a wireless shutter release and sat in my chair with a cup of coffee and waited.
Sure enough, within twenty minutes he was back and I managed just one shot before he was gone.
Nothing this time but yesterday he had one of the Robins.

[thebeard]

nice shot again snake, wish i had sprawks in my garden. he is a she by the way!

[Jason Claxton]

Yes I agree that it is a female Sparrowhawk.

[earthdragon64]

That's a cracking shot of a beautiful bird. I also get visits from a male Sparrowhawk, I'll see him several times a week for a couple of weeks, then not for a month or so. I'm assuming he hunts different parts of his territory in succession.

I don't often see him make a kill, most often he flashes through the garden and returns to sit on the fence, although the last time I saw him catch something, it was a Goldfinch. The largest bird I've seen him with was a Starling, although that got away when my neighbour drove up and disturbed him. I got a picture of that, but it isn't brilliant as it's through double glazing.

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by snake

I have a workshop at the bottom of my garden and have put a few feeders just outside the window, its nice to watch the birds as I potter about inside.
Two or three times a day I get a visit from a Sparrowhawk which send all the birds scattering for the nearest cover.
This morning I set up my camera on a tripod, trained the lens on the branch I have seen him use the most, rigged up a wireless shutter release and sat in my chair with a cup of coffee and waited.
Sure enough, within twenty minutes he was back and I managed just one shot before he was gone.
Nothing this time but yesterday he had one of the Robins.

Nice shot, pretty sure you could right it looks like a 2009 Musket (male)
Regards
Colin

[Jason Claxton]

What a juvenile male?

[jaykay]

Male or female? I don't know, but what I can say is that's it's a fantastic photo, well done Snake

[Falconer]

Originally Posted by willing to learn

Nice shot, pretty sure you could right it looks like a 2009 Musket (male)
Regards
Colin

Tough one I would have her down as a 2009 female

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by Falconer

Tough one I would have her down as a 2009 female

You could could be right, but (a) tail lenght though a little hidden, (B) fine small feet more suited to a musket (c) Robin quarry more likely to be taken by a musket. Either way its a 2009 Junvenile and both are a like till moult.
Regards
Colin

[Falconer]

Originally Posted by willing to learn

You could could be right, but (a) tail lenght though a little hidden, (B) fine small feet more suited to a musket (c) Robin quarry more likely to be taken by a musket. Either way its a 2009 Junvenile and both are a like till moult.
Regards
Colin

Either way a great picture,credit to the photographer