A Sparrowhawk has been visiting our garden now for several years, and often sits on top of the bird table (with her back to the window, so no good photos) though last year she sat in the tree and I got a few shots but I was so shaky that most were blurred.
This morning I pulled back the curtains, and heard a thump, and as I hurried back a bird squawking in distress. I saw 2 birds (I thought starlings fighting again) fly below the window and around the laurel bush.
As they reappeared, I realised that the 2nd bird was a bit larger and brown, they then disappeared behind next bush. I started to pull back the lounge curtains and saw something in the bush at bottom of garden. I rushed off for the camera, and tried to take a photo from doorway before trying to creep closer to window. It scratched its head and as I pressed button the camera refocussed on nearer twigs outside window and I got only a brown blur. And it was gone. I'm pretty sure it was a Sparrowhawk, but it was much smaller that the usual one. So I assume this one is the male. It didn't seem to be much bigger than the starling or blackbird it was chasing, although it was a quick sighting in flight.
Most birds returned within minutes, the starlings may have been a bit slower, but as soon as I put the food out, there were loads of birds there.
I did notice a rabbit sitting just under the laurel bush, he didn't seem to be bothered by the sparrowhawk. Whether he didn't know about the danger or knew he was safe from that particular small bird of prey, I don't know. But he will be a lucky rabbit if he survives the neighbours cats for much longer.
It would be bad luck for the starling if he had caught one, but there are plenty to spare this year.
For years we didn't see any, then just one or 2 briefly. About 3 years ago about 6 turned up for a few days during the snow and last year about a dozen. This year a lot turned up before the snow came here (we had a frosty cold week when everyone else, including further down Cornwall had snow). at first there were 6 then 10 then 12, then one day I kept counting them but each count was higher and I gave up at 36.
I stocked up on food before the snow but they have eaten January's supply of food already. I've put food all around the garden but at each station there are starlings bickering and the blackbirds and chaffinches etc are hopping around the edges. The sparrows disappeared for awhile but seem to be back. And strangely the food dishes in the tree were left mainly alone, whilst they all fought over the ground food. Robin, Tits, bulfinches came to the raised dishes but the chaffinches rarely come, especially the males.
But only one redwing and one fieldfare came this year and only for a day or 2 despite the snow. Last year Jan/ Feb there were more and they stayed for longer. Perhaps they didn't like all the starlings.
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