|
 | | 
25-02-2007, 05:55 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 6,015
| | | Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
I have done no birding whatsoever this weekend. I have nbeen looking out into the garden from time to time to see if the Blackcap comes back but as yet it hasn't.
Imagine my surprise around 15:50 this afternoon when I looked out onto my back garden. There, sitting on one of my feeder stations, was a cracking male Sparrowhawk. My camera was in the other room so I rushed to get it, thinking that by the time I came back it would have gone, but it hadn't. There was no way I was going outside, or open any windows, so these shots are through the window.
I am well pleased as I have never photographed a Sparrowhawk anywhere before today.    
It had only just finished raining (as you can see from a few drops hanging onto the branches) and the sky was still very dark so I was surprised they came out as good as they have. This DSLR set up of mine never ceases to amaze me.
John |
25-02-2007, 06:12 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northants
Posts: 4,713
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Fantastic John. I have just seen this in the gallery. What a shot  .I took some frogs today, Im pleased with, nothing like this though. WELL DONE
I like the way they just sit on the bird feeders expecting a meal to come to them. |
25-02-2007, 06:15 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Greater Manchester
Posts: 2,929
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
John, well done, super Sparrowhawk pics. I just love the colour of the eyes, superb detail actually superb in everyway. This day will live with you forever 
Babs
PS I just read that you took these through your window, you must have employed a very good window cleaner |
25-02-2007, 06:15 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mayford, Surrey
Posts: 312
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Well captured John!
Sparrowhawk visits have become rather more frequent in our garden recently, but while I can admire these birds I cannot honestly say that I'm pleased to see them here. (OK -I'm a NIMBY)!!! |
25-02-2007, 06:28 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 6,015
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elizabeth B  Well captured John!
Sparrowhawk visits have become rather more frequent in our garden recently, but while I can admire these birds I cannot honestly say that I'm pleased to see them here. (OK -I'm a NIMBY)!!! | I know what you mean Elizabeth but I have long since come to terms with one of natures ways of controlling bird numbers.
John |
25-02-2007, 06:42 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mayford, Surrey
Posts: 312
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Quote:
Originally Posted by John I know what you mean Elizabeth but I have long since come to terms with one of natures ways of controlling bird numbers.
John | Yes, I can understand this - but how would you feel if you had to watch chicks die in your camera equipped nestbox, because the female had been taken by a sparrowhawk? (Fortunately this has not happened to us - so far).
I also have to come to terms with the fact that by offering a variety of food, I may be boosting the numbers of collared doves, greenfinches, goldfinches, siskins and the tit family etc etc - thereby providing food for the sparrowhawks. |
25-02-2007, 06:47 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,917
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Good one John- I had a male like that in my garden this morning. A couple of days back I managed to get some decent shots of an immature Sparrowhawk just by the kitchen window- I haven't got any fancy lens, so birds have to be either large or fairly close to get decent shots!
Given how many amazing pictures you've taken I was surprised this was your first, but I'm sure worth the wait! |
25-02-2007, 06:53 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 6,015
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Quote:
Originally Posted by aeshna5 Good one John- I had a male like that in my garden this morning. A couple of days back I managed to get some decent shots of an immature Sparrowhawk just by the kitchen window- I haven't got any fancy lens, so birds have to be either large or fairly close to get decent shots!
Given how many amazing pictures you've taken I was surprised this was your first, but I'm sure worth the wait! | I once had an even better chance a few years ago at Upton Warren. I had forgotten to put my digiscoping camera in my bag (where have I heard that before ). We arrived at the hide at the feeder station on the flashes and, you've guessed it, there was a cracking male Sparrowhawk about thirty feet away, on a branch, out in the open.
The thing is it stayed there for over an hour. I can only imagine the quality of photos I would have got if only I had packed that camera.
John |
25-02-2007, 06:55 PM
|  | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: exmouth devon uk
Posts: 5,240
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Lovely photos John and through the window too wonderful.If I was to take photos through the window it would show the grand children's chocolate covered fingerprints
__________________ :) A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked:D www.cherrybees.co.uk |
25-02-2007, 07:00 PM
|  | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nottingham
Posts: 11,880
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
That's your Male and my Female, both firsts and in the same week! Not bad going! Well done Mate. |
25-02-2007, 07:06 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 3,606
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Nice one John, the perfect antidote to a rainy day! they are cracking images mate |
25-02-2007, 07:13 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2,839
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
What a great way to end a wet weekend, they are very good pics
The sparrowhawk numbers are truly on the up |
25-02-2007, 07:42 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Grimsby, Lincs
Posts: 1,573
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elizabeth B Yes, I can understand this - but how would you feel if you had to watch chicks die in your camera equipped nestbox, because the female had been taken by a sparrowhawk? (Fortunately this has not happened to us - so far).
I also have to come to terms with the fact that by offering a variety of food, I may be boosting the numbers of collared doves, greenfinches, goldfinches, siskins and the tit family etc etc - thereby providing food for the sparrowhawks. | In my experience Males will also feed the young, so in the circumstance of one parent being killed the other will carry on feeding i'd also like to say that i've noticed that Sparrowhawk prefere larger prey than Blue/great tits, usually Collered Dove or Blackbird.
Sparrowhawk are my total favourate bird, never get tired of watching them |
25-02-2007, 08:16 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mayford, Surrey
Posts: 312
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lincs Yellowbelly In my experience Males will also feed the young, so in the circumstance of one parent being killed the other will carry on feeding i'd also like to say that i've noticed that Sparrowhawk prefere larger prey than Blue/great tits, usually Collered Dove or Blackbird.
Sparrowhawk are my total favourate bird, never get tired of watching them | I do not believe that a male bluetit or great tit would brood the young and keep them warm in the first days after the eggs have hatched - as well as providing them with food and keeping the nest clean, as the female does. A sparrowhawk may prefer larger prey - but would it really ignore an easy kill such as a bluetit? |
25-02-2007, 08:51 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Grimsby, Lincs
Posts: 1,573
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Don't know if a blue tit is such an easy kill, must be easier killing slower and larger species i'd have thought
Although it's not nice to think of Blue Tits you watch being prey for Sparrowhawks it is nature, and i can't feel to much myself and it's this sort of thing that interests me about birds |
25-02-2007, 08:52 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset, UK
Posts: 1,072
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Wow, he's a cracker! Congratulations John
__________________
I ♥ Bill Oddie. So there. |
25-02-2007, 09:27 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Small North Lincolnshire village
Posts: 6,847
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Great photos John I am pleased your weekend at least ended on a good note with some cracking shots.
Roger |
25-02-2007, 09:34 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 38
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
yes, lovely pictures john I'll get the female that visits my garden...one day! |
26-02-2007, 05:40 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,658
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Still working the magic John,lovely images,who are your window cleaners?
__________________
You cannot maintain an ecology, if you lose any of the pieces. |
26-02-2007, 05:59 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 6,015
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nightshade Still working the magic John,lovely images,who are your window cleaners? | Would you believe that my windows are dirty. It's the high magnification that makes them look good.
John |
26-02-2007, 04:02 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,917
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elizabeth B I do not believe that a male bluetit or great tit would brood the young and keep them warm in the first days after the eggs have hatched - as well as providing them with food and keeping the nest clean, as the female does. A sparrowhawk may prefer larger prey - but would it really ignore an easy kill such as a bluetit? | I would say male Sparrowhawks are probably the most important natural predator of Blue Tits; it's the females that go for larger prey as they are much larger than the male, which in effect is an evolutionary srategy to reduce food competition between the sexes (that's the theory anyway!) |
28-02-2007, 09:34 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Laindon, Basildon, Essex.
Posts: 2,547
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
That's an amazing bird for the "garden list" .... and some excellent photos too!
Well done John. I am sure you are very pleased with both the sighting and your photos.
Richard |
01-03-2007, 05:51 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 6,015
| | | Re: Garden Sparrowhawk photographed at last.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlchew That's an amazing bird for the "garden list" .... and some excellent photos too!
Well done John. I am sure you are very pleased with both the sighting and your photos.
Richard | I must admit to being well pleased. I never thought I would ever capture this visitor but this is the beauty of DSLR as opposed to Digiscoping. The latter would take too long to set up and the bird would have flown. With the DSLR it's a case of picking it up, quickly adjusting a few things and hey presto, you have a chance of a photo.
John |
02-03- | |
