Birds of prey in the garden

[ricwine]

Sightings of hunting birds are not unuesal , here is mine.

We have had a few raptors in our garden.

Which includes Sparrowhawks hunting and occasionaly being mobbed by the smaller birds. Including a particularly brave Blackbird and a Robin and some Great Tits. We also have a bat colony with Pipistrelles in our attic. A few times I have seen a Sparrowhawk turn up as the bats are leaving the roost. They do hunt bats according to some sightings on the internet.

Tawny owls at the back of our house.

A sighting of a pair of Hobbies in July 09, but hard to tell.

Red Kites have become quite numerous. They patrol the woodland and gardens nearby at suprisingly low heights. Just above treetop height. This is quite a sight if they are some of the bigger birds. Also i have seen them mobbed by crows whose communal trees they are overflying . Quite a sight to see. The Red Kite could easily kill a crow. But seems to be content to rake at it with its talons. Are they trying to scare the crow or just bad at defending its self in mid air ?.

A buzzard was perched in a tree overlooking the bird table that I saw once.

Also a few pigeons have being taken by something, just leaving a cloud of feathers from the garden. What could do that ?.

Appreciate your comments.

Richard

Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

[thebeard]

the pigeons were most likely taken by a sparrowhawk or buzzard

[aeshna5]

Most likely a female Sparrowhawk.

Sparrowhawk is the only raptor I've actually seen in the garden (numerous times), but often seen Hobby hunting low over the rooves (usually chasing Starlings), occasional Kestrel + also Buzzard.

[wyvern1]

Originally Posted by ricwine

Sightings of hunting birds are not unuesal , here is mine.

We have had a few raptors in our garden.

Which includes Sparrowhawks hunting and occasionaly being mobbed by the smaller birds. Including a particularly brave Blackbird and a Robin and some Great Tits. We also have a bat colony with Pipistrelles in our attic. A few times I have seen a Sparrowhawk turn up as the bats are leaving the roost. They do hunt bats according to some sightings on the internet.

Tawny owls at the back of our house.

A sighting of a pair of Hobbies in July 09, but hard to tell.

Red Kites have become quite numerous. They patrol the woodland and gardens nearby at suprisingly low heights. Just above treetop height. This is quite a sight if they are some of the bigger birds. Also i have seen them mobbed by crows whose communal trees they are overflying . Quite a sight to see. The Red Kite could easily kill a crow. But seems to be content to rake at it with its talons. Are they trying to scare the crow or just bad at defending its self in mid air ?.

A buzzard was perched in a tree overlooking the bird table that I saw once.

Also a few pigeons have being taken by something, just leaving a cloud of feathers from the garden. What could do that ?.

Appreciate your comments.

Richard

Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

Richard,

Just looking back at some older posts and stumbled upon this one. To clear up your Kite vs Crow question is fairly simple.

The Red Kite, although a raptor and seemingly sizeable compared to a crow, is actually not an overly heavy or strong bird. In fact their talons are fairly soft and thus the reason for them feeding on carrion and insects/worms more than anything else. They have an extremely low wing loading, their wings far larger than their body actually requires to fly but invaluable for riding thermals at which they are so adept.

Hope this answers your question. Also very envious of your gardens' ability to attract raptors!!!

[leon_heller]

Some years ago I was walking to the station in Reading on my way to work, and saw a pigeon in a front garden I was passing. Something swooped down, grabbed the pigeon and was off before I could see what it was. It was only about 2m away from me.

[Stinky Bob]

We sometimes have a kestel hanging around, lots of buzzards flying overhead and everynow and again this lady will drop by.


The birdtable she standing on is 8' from my office window

[dave midi]

Lovely Sprawk, Bob.

[leon_heller]

There is a lady in Hastings who walks round with a tame Eagle Owl on her shoulder.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Stinky Bob

We sometimes have a kestel hanging around, lots of buzzards flying overhead and everynow and again this lady will drop by.


The birdtable she standing on is 8' from my office window

Great photos- but she is a HE!

[Stinky Bob]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Great photos- but she is a HE!

Really lol, lucky I am not a sprawk then - could prove embarrasing