Hi folks,
A couple of days ago I posted about a young Sparrowhawk feeding in the garden, today it's about the adult male.
First I have to ask you to look at the photo of our garden, so that you'll understand the rest. You'll see the big Holly on the extreme right and just to the left of that is an Apple tree, hidden by the arch. You'll also note that there are 2 sections of grass (not 'lawns' in our garden, just grass). This was taken in April so the growth is different now, the main thing being that the arch is now covered by a Clematis, but it shows the layout. The final thing to know is that twice a day I throw peanuts and maize onto the further grass, and maize onto the nearer.
I went to the window this morning, about 09.00 and, as usual, a small flock of Doves went up off the nearer grass, so I was completely astonished to then see the back view of a Male Spawk sitting in the Apple Tree; I couldn't see any other birds in the garden, but that wasn't surprising. The light was much too bad (it was dull and raining) to 'get' the Spawk but here is a shot from earlier in the year which shows more or less what I could see (not the moult plumage now)
Suddenly the Spawk launched itself going left and down and up from behind the little shrub to the right of the bird-table came a Jay, with the Spawk close behind, the Jay swearing at the top of it's voice (nothing swears better than a startled Jay). They weaved around the arch and went right round the Holly and disappeared. A few seconds later the Spawk came back and landed on the top of the bird-table. So far...... but then who comes back but the Jay! Lands on the grass and starts looking for peanuts; Spawk watches (in astonishment?), then dives at it and off they go again, repeat performance! This time the Jay was first back, lands and mooches around until the Spawk re-appears past the Holly, off they go again! You guessed didn't you, here comes the Spawk again, this time onto the arch, mostly hidden by the Clematis; stands and waits and right on cue here come Charlie (a right Charlie), lands, walks, takes off as the Spawk dives at it (4th time),swears and dodges and off they go around the Holly yet again. End of story. Not quite. I get the kettle on and find the teapot and 3 minutes later here comes the Jay again! No Spawk this time and a few minutes later off it went with a beakful of peanuts. The photo was taken on another day
Now we don't usually get Jays much in the garden but in the last couple of weeks they've discovered the peanuts and one of them has been getting much less shy than usual; but this was riciculous! Granted that a Jay is at the top end of a Male Spawks prey range, but this one has taken C Doves in the past (granted usually moribund ones) and we do also have a female visiting and if it tries the same thing there it's in for a nasty shock.
Apologies for the length of this but I've never seen behaviour anything like this before and I thought (hoped) it might interest others.
Cheers, Bill.
A couple of days ago I posted about a young Sparrowhawk feeding in the garden, today it's about the adult male.
First I have to ask you to look at the photo of our garden, so that you'll understand the rest. You'll see the big Holly on the extreme right and just to the left of that is an Apple tree, hidden by the arch. You'll also note that there are 2 sections of grass (not 'lawns' in our garden, just grass). This was taken in April so the growth is different now, the main thing being that the arch is now covered by a Clematis, but it shows the layout. The final thing to know is that twice a day I throw peanuts and maize onto the further grass, and maize onto the nearer.
I went to the window this morning, about 09.00 and, as usual, a small flock of Doves went up off the nearer grass, so I was completely astonished to then see the back view of a Male Spawk sitting in the Apple Tree; I couldn't see any other birds in the garden, but that wasn't surprising. The light was much too bad (it was dull and raining) to 'get' the Spawk but here is a shot from earlier in the year which shows more or less what I could see (not the moult plumage now)
Suddenly the Spawk launched itself going left and down and up from behind the little shrub to the right of the bird-table came a Jay, with the Spawk close behind, the Jay swearing at the top of it's voice (nothing swears better than a startled Jay). They weaved around the arch and went right round the Holly and disappeared. A few seconds later the Spawk came back and landed on the top of the bird-table. So far...... but then who comes back but the Jay! Lands on the grass and starts looking for peanuts; Spawk watches (in astonishment?), then dives at it and off they go again, repeat performance! This time the Jay was first back, lands and mooches around until the Spawk re-appears past the Holly, off they go again! You guessed didn't you, here comes the Spawk again, this time onto the arch, mostly hidden by the Clematis; stands and waits and right on cue here come Charlie (a right Charlie), lands, walks, takes off as the Spawk dives at it (4th time),swears and dodges and off they go around the Holly yet again. End of story. Not quite. I get the kettle on and find the teapot and 3 minutes later here comes the Jay again! No Spawk this time and a few minutes later off it went with a beakful of peanuts. The photo was taken on another day
Now we don't usually get Jays much in the garden but in the last couple of weeks they've discovered the peanuts and one of them has been getting much less shy than usual; but this was riciculous! Granted that a Jay is at the top end of a Male Spawks prey range, but this one has taken C Doves in the past (granted usually moribund ones) and we do also have a female visiting and if it tries the same thing there it's in for a nasty shock.
Apologies for the length of this but I've never seen behaviour anything like this before and I thought (hoped) it might interest others.
Cheers, Bill.
Cheers,
