Male Sparrowhawk

shirl · #1 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 05:17 PM

Saw this in the garden this afternoon, first noticed alot of feathers in the air and a bird (wood pigeon I think) was pushed to the ground and that was that. Grabbed the nearest camera of course but all the shots were through double glazed (and not very clean) windows. It spent an hour eating and moving the wood pigeon around until some magpies started to pinch bits, when 4 magpies arrived it gave up leaving lots of carnage for me to clear away! I thought sparrowhawk because of the colour and eyes, but the RSPB site states males don't take anything bigger than a mistle thrush. Am I right it's a male sparrowhawk?

Shirl

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 05:21 PM

Its a Adult Male Sparrowhawk, but looks more like a collared dove that its got.

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 05:22 PM

Looks like a male to me + the prey looks more like a Collared Dove.

Snap with Dogghound!

shirl · #4 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 05:43 PM

Thanks, you are both spot on with the prey, just uploaded some more photos taken with the first camera I grabbed before the sparrowhawk had moved it's prey

Shirl

tigertom · #5 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 05:56 PM

Great pics well done, Is that a maggpie I can in the second pic in OP displaying its back end with its wings spred out?

MIKE

Dogghound · #6 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigertom

Great pics well done, Is that a maggpie I can in the second pic in OP displaying its back end with its wings spred out?

MIKE

Yep, a magpie

shirl · #7 (**permalink**) 27-09-2011, 05:02 PM

Here are a couple more of the magpies and sparrowhawk, not brill through the kitchen window but it tells a story

tigertom · #8 (**permalink**) 27-09-2011, 05:17 PM

I think they good shots esp through a window, were the magpies mobbing sparrow hawk just because it was BOP or were they after a meal as well I reckon a bit of both

MIKE

shirl · #9 (**permalink**) 27-09-2011, 05:21 PM

2 magpies came first and the sparrowhawk flapped around and off they went, a couple of minutes later there were 4 magpies and it seemed they were working together to get the food off the sparrowhawk. They did get it after a few tense moments, it really was very interesting to watch although clearing up the mess afterwards was no fun at all. At least when the BOPs have finished a meal apart from a few downy feathers there isn't much else left.

Shirl