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Hi
Just looked into the garden around 17.00 to see a hawk or similar drop from our hedge onto an unsupecting blackbird
We live in a semi in a suburban rather than rural setting, not where I would expect to see a hawk; and certainly not on a 4 ft high hedge at the top of our garden
After a couple of minutes it lifted off and carried a limp blackbird over the opposite hedge and down a few gardens to consume its dinner
I would say the bird was only slightly bigger than a blackbird, though the spread of its feathers gave it a bit more presence
Interesting to watch (if a little sad - I don't like to see things die) but the hawk has to eat
Sorry - am I being a bit............er boring?
Just something I'd never seen before - certainly not round our neck of the woods (if there were any woods)
The following members of MHF thanked Otto-de-froste for this posting
Don't get me started on bloody sparrowhawks - I keep some expensive pigeons and many are taken by the blasted creatures, as are a great many songbirds (which I appreciate will be of far more concern to most people!). There's a specific website devoted to explaining that the sparrowhawk is an absolute menace, when it comes to much of the wildlife we hold dear to us. They are also prolific throughout Europe and in no danger whatsoever. To date, the Government refuses to have them controlled. Of course, there are those who advocate sparrowhawks as a necessary balance to our wildlife system, but I've read enough and seen enough to be convinced that there are far too many of them. They get ever bolder and are no longer afraid to attack where there are humans about.
Anyway, with that off my chest, if the bird you saw was not much bigger than the bird it took, it would probably be either a kestrel or the male sparrowhawk. The female sparrowhawk is about twice the size and a real brute of a bird - it can easily take a woodpigeon. Apart from size, the kestrel can be distinguished by the fact that it hovers in the air, often quite high up, before striking its prey. The sparrowhawk, on the other hand, hunts in a variety of ways, often lifting up out of trees, or skirting along hedgerows. When it successfully attacks, it will take its prey to ground to finish off. Many's the time I've had to separate sparrowhawk from pigeon with a clap of my hands, whilst they wrestle in front of me.
When very hungry, the sparrowhawk will chase its prey with great agility through trees, and has been know to smash into walls in its efforts to catch its prey. That I would dearly like to see.
The kestrel has a sweeter face than the sparrowhawk, and tends to take voles from the sides of busy roads, where they congregate. Small birds and mice are another form of prey for the kestrel.
If you value your songbirds, be very aware of providing bird feeding tables, etc, in the garden. They are the local MacDonalds for the sparrowhawk.
Shaun
The following members of MHF thanked Shark for this posting
Don't get me started on bloody sparrowhawks - I keep some expensive pigeons and many are taken by the blasted creatures, as are a great many songbirds (which I appreciate will be of far more concern to most people!). There's a specific website devoted to explaining that the sparrowhawk is an absolute menace, when it comes to much of the wildlife we hold dear to us. They are also prolific throughout Europe and in no danger whatsoever. To date, the Government refuses to have them controlled. Of course, there are those who advocate sparrowhawks as a necessary balance to our wildlife system, but I've read enough and seen enough to be convinced that there are far too many of them. They get ever bolder and are no longer afraid to attack where there are humans about.
Anyway, with that off my chest, if the bird you saw was not much bigger than the bird it took, it would probably be either a kestrel or the male sparrowhawk. The female sparrowhawk is about twice the size and a real brute of a bird - it can easily take a woodpigeon. Apart from size, the kestrel can be distinguished by the fact that it hovers in the air, often quite high up, before striking its prey. The sparrowhawk, on the other hand, hunts in a variety of ways, often lifting up out of trees, or skirting along hedgerows. When it successfully attacks, it will take its prey to ground to finish off. Many's the time I've had to separate sparrowhawk from pigeon with a clap of my hands, whilst they wrestle in front of me.
When very hungry, the sparrowhawk will chase its prey with great agility through trees, and has been know to smash into walls in its efforts to catch its prey. That I would dearly like to see.
The kestrel has a sweeter face than the sparrowhawk, and tends to take voles from the sides of busy roads, where they congregate. Small birds and mice are another form of prey for the kestrel.
If you value your songbirds, be very aware of providing bird feeding tables, etc, in the garden. They are the local MacDonalds for the sparrowhawk.
Shaun
Firstly.sparrowhawks dont know that your pigeons are expensive so will take them anyway.I dont feel sorry for you.
secondly.Yes they are becoming more popular again as I have witnessed localy to me.i have also noticed that some everyday birds such as the tits are also doing very well compared to a few years ago.This should be telling you something by now.The sparrowhawk will only multiply if the prey food is avaiable,and lately there seems to be plenty of the latter so the hawks will be well fed and the numbers up.simple logic.why do we always want to cull things when they are doing well?
steve
______________________________________________________________ Arry The Argos
The following members of MHF thanked Chigman for this posting
Here's a piccy of our local sparrowhawk who frequently devours his prey in our garden. The only parts he doesn't eat are the beak and the feathers. Sorry but I enjoy watching him take the pidgeons down but they are 10 a penny around here. Also it's not the best photo but I felt lucky to get such a close up view.
sorry I'm not good with computers. I'll have to go and find Zebedee's instructions.
YAY...it worked. Thankyou Zebedee and SandJ
Last edited by patnles on Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:34 pm; edited 2 times in total
The following members of MHF thanked patnles for this posting
We get them too as visitors to the bird table - or rather the birds visiting the bird table. Rule One: Don't disturb them mid-meal. If you do they fly off, leaving you with the mess of feathers and dismembered bird all over the place.
I'm waiting to see our local bird-eating cat meet up with one.....!
G
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so will take them anyway.I dont feel sorry for you.
sorry I'm not good with computers. I'll have to go and find Zebedee's instructions.
