Clumsy Sparrowhawk

[JeffH]

Something quite extraordinary happened in our garden the other day!

For the last few days a female Robin has been building a nest in the ivy on a brick pillar just outside our patio doors and which supports an ivy-clad pergola above the patio.

Before taking material into the nest she has a habit of sitting on an outside light just above the pergola and alongside a bedroom window.

I've had my camera/tripod set up by a window in our garden room and have been taking photos of her activity.

Then, the other day, my wife and I were sat in the garden room when there was an almighty bang on one of the windows - I looked out and there, hanging from the ivy on the pergola by one of its legs, was a Sparrowhawk

At first I thought it was dead or unconscious as it hung quite motionless and I presumed it had made a swoop for the Robin, misjudged it and crashed into the bedroom window either breaking its neck or knocking itself out before falling into the ivy below and its leg becoming entangled.

My immediate reaction was to take a couple of photos of the poor stricken Sprawk - see first two below - as I was thinking about getting a ladder and some thick gardening gloves (those talons can do some damage on your forearms!) from the shed in order to extricate it from the ivy.

But then it blinked a few times and, with a couple of flaps of its wings, freed itself and fell to the ground below landing on its feet - see 3rd and 4th photos below.

It was clearly quite stunned and didn't move for several minutes so I quietly opened the patio door and slowly stepped outside (with camera of course )

The bird watched me but seemed quite unperturbed as I approached within 2 metres off it, taking several more photos - see 5th and 6th photos below.

There were no visible signs of injury and the bird sat calmly on our patio for a further 15 minutes or so, with one of our neighbours coming round to enjoy the unusual opportunity to view one of these beautiful creatures at such close range.

Then it took off - flying a little unsteadily at first - and landed in a tree on the edge of the garden - see 7th photo below.

It stayed there for several more minutes before flying off down the adjoining meadow, it's flight now appearing normal and showing no adverse effects from its accident.

What a beauty - a juvenile bird I believe - and how pleasing to see it fly away apparently unharmed but having failed to snatch our Robin















Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)

[Tringa]

We hear of sparrowhawk accidents from time to time, but to witness one and to record it with some stunning photos is great.

I can understand your first thought. In the first photo it looks dead.

Dave

[Ollie]

What a great moment for you and your heighbour Jeff to observe this beautiful bird at close range. I have one that visits on a near daily basis and I have seen him make several kills of our thriving house Sparrow population. The speed that they come in at and the angles they manage to manouvre in to is incredible to see.

Unfortunately he never seems to come when I have the camera at the ready. Had a few shots through double glazing but nothing as good as yours. Great photos Jeff and pleased he didn't seem to suffer any ill effects from his clumsiness.

[Acipiter]

Hi Jeffh, yes window accidents are quite common, they are so intent of chasing what ever they are after, they do not see the windows. Most of the mounted specimens I have, died this way. Very nice photos by the way, you must be well pleased with them.

[rossy]

yes jeff nice photos, and it looks like it it completely knocked the stuffing out of the sparrowhawk, but all ended well ,after it composed itself and flew off, must have been a great experience for you, rossy.

[allyryan]

Great photos Only his pride is hurt !! We have one that lands near our bird table. Saw him take a young robin and he also had a young spotted woodpecker .

[glsammy]

Well done Jeff in having the coolness to get the shots. What an experience!

[aeshna5]

An amazing sequence of photos- glad it got away with nothing worse than damaged pride!

[Red Robin]

Splendid photos, Jeff Thanks for sharing those.

I have always found that if you are calm and don't make any sudden movements, birds of prey will accept your quite close presence. They are very regal and dignified and don't usually consider us mere humans as a threat.

The possible downside is that this hawk will visit the same place again, looking to get that Robin. But Robins are pretty astute.

[nightshade]

Poor old Sparrow Hawk, clever you for the photos. I think the window reflection may have given the ivy a percieved depth, they often bury themselves in the big "silver pear" tree up to their wings when after the small birds