My first BoP!

[jaelen]

I was sitting at the computer this morning, and glanced out the window to see if there was any activity on the bird feeders.... and very nearly fell out of my chair.

There, in the tree right outside the window sat a peregrine (edited to add... I've been instructed it is actually a sparrowhawk- oops!) quite calmly looking around at the deserted feeders as though wondering where everyone had gone to. (At first my befuddled brain couldn't register what it was seeing- I just thought, "What sort of starling is THAT?" ) You just don't get these in your average London garden every day.

I gathered my wits enough to grab the camera, and crawled on hands and knees to the window... and managed to get about a dozen decent photos during the time it sat there, despite the fact that I was actually shaking!

What a beautiful, amazing bird- I feel quite honoured by its visit... I've been walking around grinning all morning.

[Ferret]

Nice shots but your Peragrin is a Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

Ferret

[Elizabeth B]

Pergrine????? Looks like a sparrowhawk to me.

[jaelen]

Oh, dear! Well, it is my first BoP, so I'm not all that familiar with the breeds... I did a search before posting, and thought maybe it was a young one.
Never mind, I'd better go back and edit my photo titles... thanks for that, Ferret.

[Za]

Nice shots Jaelen, you seem to be getting a good variety of birds to your feeders, it must be like a supermarket to your new found sparrowhawk!

[FUDGEY]

You probably wont know its a Male. My new fave birds. Well done on getting a snap Keep your eyes peeled he will visit at least once a day from now Id guess.

[rossy]

yes male sparrowhawk, nice photos. hes probably visited before, but they are that quick you wouldnt have noticed, keep your eyes peeled as he will return.as fudgey has already posted rossy.

[galanthophile]

Fantastic. I have one visiting regularly but haven't managed any photos yet so well done!

[jaelen]

Originally Posted by Za

Nice shots Jaelen, you seem to be getting a good variety of birds to your feeders, it must be like a supermarket to your new found sparrowhawk!

Is there any hope that he might carry off one of the cats? The garden was VERY quiet for about an hour after he was here- at least there's someone about who can teach our boisterous flock of starlings some manners!

Thanks for the gender ID, Fudgey- I was wondering if it was male or female... and if he is becoming a regular visitor like you and Rossy have said, I'll certainly have to try and see if I can spot him again.

Thanks for the nice comments on the photos, everyone!

[Billabong Karen]

What a wonderful surprise! I love the photos - he really does look like he is saying 'Where's my lunch gone?', doesnt he??