Another tasty dinner in the garden (not for the squeamish) (1 Viewer)

H

helenol

Well-known member

• Nov 18, 2003

• #1

Heard a couple of magpies going absolutely mad this afternoon. Looked out of the window to see the following:

I have posted a few more images on the gallery.

Unfortunately conditions weren't too good. It was very overcast and dark, and I was taking the photos through a small crack in the window I managed to open without disturbing Mrs. S.Hawk too much. (It is a female sparrowhawk??)

Quite gruesome, but what an awesome sight to watch. She eventually flew off with the rest of the carcass.

 

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Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Nov 18, 2003

• #2

It indeed Mrs S.Hawk

 

Grousemore

Senior Member

• Nov 18, 2003

• #3

A great sequence of photographs,Helen,what was the unfortunate prey?

 

H

helenol

Well-known member

• Nov 18, 2003

• #4

A collared dove, that had been quite happily feeding on my lawn just minutes before!

She seems to take mostly collared doves around here.

 

pduxon

Quacked up Member

• Nov 18, 2003

• #5

helenol said:

A collared dove, that had been quite happily feeding on my lawn just minutes before!

She seems to take mostly collared doves around here.

Click to expand...

Lovely shots H. At least she's taking a bird that is expanding quckly, Jane's cat was nicking Song Thrushes. Wretched Cat

 

pauco

Старлин&

• Nov 18, 2003

• #6

Not enough blue tits around after thier devestating
breeding season, + it must be a more substancial
meal!!

 

Steve Jones

Well-known member

• Nov 18, 2003

• #7

In the last couple of years Sparrowhawks hunting my garden (both sexes) have taken 2 Collared Doves (always messy), at least 2 Blackbirds, 1 Blue Tit and a Starling (very neat, this one - only the beak was left!).
This is not to mention 2 that have flown into our back garden window - one trying to get a Canary on my windowsill (its now in a very roomy aviary with its friends - the Canary, that is).
My son also brought me a still warm male Sparhawk that had flown into a 'clear glass' bus shelter. A really nice bird up close.
I'm attaching a pic of one of the culprits (not as good as Helen's).
Steve.

 

steve_nova

Well-known member

• Nov 18, 2003

• #8

What type of conifer is that in the background?

 

steve_nova

Well-known member

• Nov 18, 2003

• #9

Only kidding!!! Great shots, though as you say a little grusome.

 

Steve Jones

Well-known member

• Nov 18, 2003

• #10

Whoops... it did'nt attach...

 

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steve_nova

Well-known member

• Nov 18, 2003

• #11

Not one of the better pictures in my gallery, and not as good as either Steve's or Helen's but here is a female SH feeding on a starling.

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3179&password=&sort=1&cat=500&page=3

 

alan_rymer

Well-known member

• Nov 18, 2003

• #12

Helen and Steve

Fantastic photo's. Hmm, Do Sparrowhawks take Grey Squirrels, if not, what birds do?.

 

H

helenol

Well-known member

• Nov 18, 2003

• #13

What type of conifer is that in the background?

Click to expand...

Steve, you were just about to get a "You cannot be serious" answer to your question!

 

H

helenol

Well-known member

• Nov 18, 2003

• #14

Just before she flew off, she took the carcass onto the lawn. Great for a photo, except for the chair that she was standing behind! Typical!

 

bristolbirder

Well-known member

• Nov 19, 2003

• #15

Fantastic shots Helen!

Do you mind if I use the first picture as my Desktop background?

I quite often get a male Sparrowhawk appear in my garden but haven't witnessed a kill yet.
:clap:

 

H

helenol

Well-known member

• Nov 19, 2003

• #16

Bristolbirder, go ahead it's ok. This is the second kill I have seen, the first one was a few months ago, but I disturbed her (unintentionally). With these pics, she was there for at least 20 minutes. I would guess a dove is quite a substantial feed for her.

 

leighjauncey

Well-known member

• Nov 19, 2003

• #17

Just to join in the 'Sparrowhawk in the garden' theme here's a link to my site of a female spar that took a feral pigeon from our neighbour's roof. It was a late October afternoon, at dusk really (being true to their crepuscular nature) and is a still from quite a nice, if slightly dark, sequence of video I took of the proceedings.
http://www.leighjauncey.ukonline.co.uk/bbirds/Species/eagles/pages/SparrowHawk2.htm

 

H

helenol

Well-known member

• Nov 19, 2003

• #18

Great stuff leigh, does your sparrowhawk have a pair of curtains in her nest...?

 

Nina P

Nina

• Nov 19, 2003

• #19

DO your sparrow hawks always leave such a mess? Helen, or is it that gossies leave very little?

 

H

helenol

Well-known member

• Nov 19, 2003

• #20

Yep, they certainly do. Couple of months ago, we had an escapee in our garden, a beautiful yellow canary. It lived quite happily for a week or so, until Mrs S Hawk went in for the kill. Even something as small as a canary - there was lots of mess around.