Help identify this bird of Prey in my garden please?

ShamanOftheWild · #1 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 06:48 PM

Hi folks,
I've just my first visit from a bird of prey to my bird sanctuary(that I know of)..
Can you please help me identify it?? The charming bird didnt' hang around long and I had to take the photo thru a window, so bear with the lack of quality in the image.

Any help would be appreciated?
Thanks in advance,
ShamanOfTheWild...

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 07:10 PM

A male Sparrowhawk

Muddywalters · #3 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 07:12 PM

Hi Shamanofthewild,
Your visitor was a male Sparrowhawk.

ShamanOftheWild · #4 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 07:30 PM

Wow! That was a quick! I'm so glad I found this space(site). The bird's visit was clearly meant to help me connect with Kindred Spirits of the human race too.

THANK YOU for helping me identify it. Interesting.. I will go do my homework on this now.

I may be posting a few more images(for viewing) at some point from the past 3 years.

Peace and Love from the birds,
ShamanOfTheWild..

elvisoneill · #5 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 07:54 PM

The bird's visit was clearly meant to help me connect with Kindred Spirits of the human race too.

Hi Shaman...you were lucky to get such a close look at him and your little garden birds were lucky he didnt leave with a mouthful of feathers!

If you're anywhere near the RSPB HARBOUR RESERVE you should take a run down.Plenty of different types of birds to see and a Sparrowhawk who seems to patrol a beat ...might even be the same one!Most days you'll see peregrine falcon and buzzards overhead too.

This is a great forum and you'll learn so much just by following the posters identifying birds and explaining as they go.

best

Elvis

ShamanOftheWild · #6 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 08:04 PM

Yeah! He landed on one of my pirch-poles(just after some of them had dinner and flew away where my sparrow family(who live in my hedges year after year) and tits, and other birds hang around - ALL day.
The point is, I've had these birds.. (will post pics) hang around in large numbers all day, all summer and most of winter(esp. my sparrows, black birds and so on) - for years now. but only today have I seen a bird-of-prey land in my garden like this. Who knows how many of my babies he's picked up whilst i'm not at the window.. :\

Even my cats don't go after the birds.. (trained to Love instead)

Thnks for the tips Elvis

I know there is an RSPB space in the Belvoir park . I'm not a "professional" bird watcher. I'm more in to giving them nurturing spaces to eat, drink, sleep, BREED, sing (this whole town gets to hear my birds sing all day - it's liek a meadow! ) - and also talk(to me! )

.. and more Spiritual work with the Spirit of the birds - which is what I mostly do

(and that's how I've attracted some very unusual birds in to my garden in the past few years).
Need to post pics of my bird family soon

Thanks mate.

~ ShamanOfTheWild ~

elvisoneill · #7 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 08:11 PM

Shaman..your garden feeding routine is such a success otherwise Mr

Sparrowhawk wouldnt come a calling.So i wouldnt worry too much!

Besides he has to eat too and they are a great sight.

Belvoir is RSPB HQ Northern Ireland.The lovely Lodge building has been getting it tough through attacks by local vandals.

The Dawn Chorus in Belvoir and down to the towpath is really worth an early start on a calm morning! Good luck with your feeding and watchins and photography!

Best
Elvis

ShamanOftheWild · #8 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 08:20 PM

True(about everything)- including Belvoir being the HQ. I live within walkign distance of it and used to spend many hours in there, but to be honest, I never saw as many birds as I've had visit my garden at any one moment in time and in terms of numbers and diversity..(but then again, wild birds in forests such as Belvoir probably are spread out all over the place and not as comfy with human presence as the more town-dwlling ones are..)
I hope I see that Sparrowhawk again(and other birds!) .

I will post pics of previous visits by various birds - if anyone is interested.(I'm new to all this house-calls from colourful birds and often large nubmers and various different types! so I get excited easily! )

Belvoir park is not called the Garden of Peace for no reason u know. I used to teach mediation and other related subjects next to the lagan river(arteries) to some of my clients, and it is sooooo serene and tranquil - that whole area. Divine.
Thanks for all your replies. I'm honoured to in such wildelife-loving company.

OUmm..
Peace
Shaman