Looking for a sparrowhawk

southlonder · #1 (**permalink**) 24-10-2010, 01:31 PM

I live in Bromley in London/Kent borders.

Yesterday I think I saw a sparrowhawk flying over head.

When is the best time for me to look for this, so I can see it for certain.

I did see one last year in the park eating something. (I am not sure what).

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 24-10-2010, 02:41 PM

No guarantees when you will see one- unless breeding + going to nest. They are common + widepread + a good chance you did see one yesterday- they are common throughout the London area, even in the centre in parks, gardens, etc.

One of the best ways of locating a Sparrowhawk is to be tuned into other birds which have spotted it- such as alarm calls of other birds, flocks of Starlings wheeling around, lots of birds including Wood Pigeons flying up suddenly or mobbing activities by corvids + gulls (+in London Ring-necked Parakeets).

Most of my Sparrowhawk sighting are from being tuned in to other birds. This morning I was at Staines Reservoirs hoping to see a Lapland Bunting when in the distance I spotted a small flock of Starlings wheeling round in small circles. I realised a raptor was around + as I viewed with my bins there was a Sparrowhawk flying below the Starlings. The point is the Sparrowhawk would have gone undetected by me if I'd not been able to interpret the behaviour of the Starlings.

Emma S · #3 (**permalink**) 24-10-2010, 02:47 PM

good advice from Aeshna. My sparrowhawk sightings are always by chance - sparrowhawks are like that...

actionfinch · #4 (**permalink**) 25-10-2010, 07:59 AM

I had an encounter simular as well ... i heard the sparrowhawk but never saw it , at the time it was close , then all of a sudden a crow that was in the field flew off and a load of small birds started making alarm calls then it went silent for a while. it was very surreal...I never did spot the sparrowhawk