Sparrow Hawk

not nice for the small birds Amy but what a beauty and lucky you spotting it, well done on great shot to :o))

Brilliant shot Amy. My neighbour has one and sees it every day, but I have never seen it in my garden. Can't understand why??

N3 you dont want them really as they do eat the small birds, one flew down into my garden last year as i was watching the birds, so quick, swooped and took a sparrow, i cried like the softy i am lol

Fabulous photo, Amy ... handsome birds despite their habits! . . . . .

No it's not nice you're right San / N3 they swoop on the garden birds in a flash and then we come across piles of feathers that have been left behind it's sad , I know they need to eat but NIMBY .. Thanks Shirley it was luck another second I would have missed it , the dish it's sitting next to is filled with grain every morning it was literally waiting for them !

it's a great photo Amy, but i do fear for the smaller birds.. we don't get them around here,,,

Thanks Surreylad , it is a worry , I love to keep the little birds well fed but it's exactly that which is attracting the Hawks i'm afraid .:o(

How thrilling to see so close. magnificent birds, but hope the little birds were all hiding away!

yes that's the trouble isn't it, still that's nature really..

It is Surrylad ! I don't know where they go to Carole but they all disappear the instant the Hawks come swooping round .......

That's a brilliant photo Amy - !!!

Thanks Paul , beautiful but deadly to other birds .....

:))))))))))))))

Wow Amy...what a fantastic photo! A real beautiful predator and you caught it so well!

A smashing shot Amy....It's true as everyone has pointed out, a predator....We do have an abundance of Hunting Birds here, gorgeous they are, but deadly....

Thank you Janey / Sue , I wouldn't mind if they only picked out the Pigeons we have to many of them stealing the bird food , but they aren't fussy with what they choose !

Good shot - he looks evil!

Beautiful!

great picture..I have one here and see it most days..actually saw it catch a starling last september in mid air as i drove down the lane to the farm..ive never seen the one here not flying so I guess you got lucky..thanks for sharing such a lovely picture

We often watch the buzzards hunting, in the fields, and they swoop on their prey, and miss woo hoo, another little mamal lives another day...

Lovely capture Amy :)

He does look a little wicked Sheila , thanks Michaella , I've never seen one grounded like that before Skips thank goodness my camera was near the sink or I would have missed it ! we haven't any Buzzards near us Sue that must be a spectacular sight .....Thanks Tracy :o)

I have a Sparrowhawk as a regular visitor, although a right nasty pasty he is a lovely looking bird, he has a habit of sitting in next door's tree eating his catch.If he is spotted he get's chased but he is not bothered and just come's back.I do feel sorry for the bird's he catche's but he has to eat. You did get a lovely photo of him.

Oh mavis I wouldn't want to watch them eat their catch it's bad enough to see the piles of feathers in the garden , but you are right they have to eat the same as any creature, they are not greedy like some humans they only take what they need .......

Such a thrill to see one as close as this.....

Amy I can see the tree where he sit's from my kitchen window it usually is a rear view of him but his brown tail feathers give him away, once he is eating there is hardly any point in chasing him away.The bird's seem to know when he is around as one of them usually seem,s to warn the others and off they go.There are a couple of tall dense leylandi's for them to hide in till he goes.

It is amazing Angela .. do you have problems with yours all the year round Mavis or does it come and go ?

He is a daily visitor Amy even though I live in a built up area close to a main road,but I have the moor close by.On day's like today (it is very windy) he tend's to ride with the wind again lovely to see.

I'm sure it is Mavis , it's been very windy here as well today .......

great pic Amy....

Great photo, Amy, what a beautiful bird although I know we all root for the underdog (or bird!). I am still playing catch up :)

Happy New year Amy and everyone x x

Thanks Holly / me to Gill ! the last guests will be leaving today. Phew ! . A happy and healthy new year to you Sue and all GOY friends and members xx

i dont feal sorry for the little birds in so much as they are what keep the prey birds very fit and healthy bye taking out the slow,week,young or old . its only us humans unbalancing nature . its natures way and that magnificent bird needs to survive to . if he doesnt catch he doesnt live and he or she will only take what they need . i wonder how many of you eat meat,wear leather shoes etc . take it for what it is and thats very lucky and stunning . lucky you .its not these birds killing of the small birds as theyve been around much longer than humans . im not trying to be rude honest but its ironic that gardeners that are so close to nature say things like that while going indoors and having a bacon sandwich lol . obviosly i hope the predetor puts the little bird out of there missery quickly . i hate cruelty but i did used to work slaughtering pigs but without demand there would be know supply . also most birds thow they do eat grain,fat etc which is also from a dead animal quit happely chomp into worms,flies , earwigs etc . its just the same thing . have you ever stopped to actualy see the amazing beauty in a snail or a flies amazing colours or there fantastic compound eye .all creatures have a place just as we have . anyway now ive said my ten pence worth . what a lovley bird . i remember a friend putting a net over his pond because a pare of bright blue birds were eating some of his baby fish . when i went to look it was a pare of the most delectable stunning kingfishers and they were bouncing of the fine green netting still trying to get the fish for a while till they got fed up . id of took the net of for a while as they were so stunning . i hope you feel better amy and hopefully ill see you soon lots of love leigh xxx .

What a interesting 10 pence worth NP...and so factual...x

We know you are right Leigh , we are softies who don't like to see it happen !! , you were lucky to get the opportunity to see the Kingfishers I haven't seen one yet it's on my wish list ..... I am better thanks Leigh just waiting for some nice warm weather and sunshine I'm sure you are as well so that you can get out on your mean machine ,did you ever get your mushrooms back ?? you take care xx

im glad your better amy and know im afraid i didnt get my mushrooms back but must move on . its not like they can put them in there garden as someone will see them lol .ive been lucky enough to see to pares but never thaught id see a pare in a garden on an estate thatsrealy rare . there stunning . the biggest kingfisher is the kookaburra from australia . there big enough to eat lizerds,snakes fish ofcourse rodents and birds .i know ya softies i am in a lot of ways im just a realist and respect animals . i just cant stand crualty . i wont be on the beast for a while as i have to young pups to train up and in the mean time im saving up to get either that bike totaly restored or trade it in and get something faster lol and thank you crissue xx .

Thats another interesting topic Leigh you are full of information :o)) you don't want to go faster , we can't see you for dust when you zoom off up the drive as it is LOL.... xx

as you know amy i cant resist your soup so its not the dissapearing that matters its the turning up lol . see you soon xxx .

Majestic bird!

They are beautiful BG I don't like to see them catch the little birds even though it's perfectly natural for them to do so , this week there was one on the shrub outside the window a regular place for them to catch birds as it serves as a feeding station the poor little bird in the shrub was terrified I had to go out to chase the Hawk off even then the little bird wouldn't come out of the shrub for ages :o(

Wow, it must be difficult to see the little guys getting gobbled up. Thankfully these hawks have a skillful technique that is quick, painless and instantaneous. I have a similar issue with the "Red Tail Hawk"

I haven't seen a Red Tailed Hawk BG I'll have to look for a picture , I have a photo of my husband holding a Hawk it had flown into a garden shed and couldn't find it's way out it was flapping against the window pane and was getting tired he was able to take hold of it and then carried it to the house to show me , to see their eyes close up is incredible ......

What an awesome experience