Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.

[Speywatcher]

Hi to everybody, I only found WAB this evening and had to sign up. You all sound as if you have a lot of fun!

We often have sparrowhaws in the garden and have seen them dive in and take sparrows out of our beech hedge to feral pigeons and collared doves, but the most heartbreaking kill happened last summer. We heard blackbirds alarm calling, went to see what was happening and there within two feet of our back door a sparrowhawk had one of our pair of song thrushes. Unfortunately we were too late to do anything so my husband buried the thrush with its mate watching from the roof of the shed. We couldn't believe it when about 20 minutes later the sparrowhawk was back at our back step looking for the dead thrush - has anybody else seen this happen?

The thrush gave up calling for its mate after about five days - it really was heartbreaking.

Enough doom and gloom - I'm off to have a look at the lunar eclipse now.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Speywatcher

Hi to everybody, I only found WAB this evening and had to sign up. You all sound as if you have a lot of fun!

We often have sparrowhaws in the garden and have seen them dive in and take sparrows out of our beech hedge to feral pigeons and collared doves, but the most heartbreaking kill happened last summer. We heard blackbirds alarm calling, went to see what was happening and there within two feet of our back door a sparrowhawk had one of our pair of song thrushes. Unfortunately we were too late to do anything so my husband buried the thrush with its mate watching from the roof of the shed. We couldn't believe it when about 20 minutes later the sparrowhawk was back at our back step looking for the dead thrush - has anybody else seen this happen?

The thrush gave up calling for its mate after about five days - it really was heartbreaking.

Enough doom and gloom - I'm off to have a look at the lunar eclipse now.

Always sad when you see a favourite bird/mammal taken in your garden. I think as the Song Thrush was dead your best option would have been to let the Sparrowhawk finish the meal ,as by burying it, the bird has lost the meal so would need to make another kill to replace its lost dinner!

All you can do is provide lots of cover, but the Sparrowhawk will still visit + make the occasional kill. Accept it as a part of a healthy food chain, however distressing it may be. Hope you get a new Song Thrush- the good news is that after several years of decline, their numbers are showing signs of a resurgance.

I forgot to look at the eclipse- I know when I came home from a meal with a friend there was a full moon + a clear sky- maybe next time?

[Kerry]

Wonderful Sparrowhawk photo! A beautiful bird and always a pleasure to see. I get them here frequently in the breeding season but they usually are just flying through to catch prey and don't often alight. I feed lots of birds, with especially large numbers of Sparrows and Chaffinchs and it is these that the Sparrowhawk takes. I have a very thick hedgerow quite near to the feeding area and the Sparrows tend to congregate in this hedge, this is where the Sparrowhawk tends to aim for. I don't have a problem with the Sparrowhawk catching prey as this is what nature is all about and we can't pick and choose which bits of it we want. The Sparrowhawk can't bob down to Tesco and buy his factory farmed chicken.

I also frequently get the Peregrine Falcon taking pigeons. About two months ago one caught a pigeon about thirty foot away from my front window. It came to the ground and sat there for about 3 minutes being mobbed by Crows, Jackdaws and Magpies. Unfortunately at that time I didn't have a camera good enough to get photos. Can't wait for the season when the young birds are out and about, as I might get a photo of a young Peregrine and also young Buzzards. I am fortunate to live in the middle of the countryside and so am blessed with a wider variety of birds of prey than those living in towns.

For anyone who is worried about young birds dying due to the parents being predated, now is the time to find out who your local bird rescue is run by. If you are aware of this you can do something about the young in time to save them. Your local branch of the RSPB might know of people in your area that do bird rescue. It is also worth ringing round local vets as they are often aware of who does bird rescue. If you are prepared then you stand much more chance of saving them.

Kerry