[christineredgate]

Yesterday I saw what I thought was quite an unusual sight.A flock of golfinches(greeting of goldfinches ,is I think the correct expression!!),were flying across the sea defences and a SparrowHawk/Kestrel,could'nt see which,it was all happening too quickly,cut straight through the middle of the flock scattering these little birds far and wide.Obviously the bird of prey was hoping for a quick snack en route as it were.Previously I have only ever seen these birds circle and pounce.
So was it a "one off",or is this a regular occurrence ,and it is the first time i have actually seen it happen in front of me.
Christine.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

I have heard it as a charm of goldfinches - a rather attractive description. Sadly, they don't visit my garden very often - and then ignore the teasles I grew especially for them, and the niger seed.

[Geoff Brown]

Christineredgat,

Sounds like a sparrowhawk!. I have been fortunate or lucky to be viewing out of my window and seen the sparrowhawk behave exactly as you describe. if he (or she) is accurate in the swoop all that is left of the poor smaller bird, which in my case is usually a garden bluetit, is a flurry of small feathers fluttering down and a sparrowhawk then plucking the dead bird nearby and gulping chunks out of it. Mother Nature in the raw with tooth and claw!

[christineredgate]

Elizabeth,I stand corrected,yes it is a "Charm".sorry,i am one of these people who only ever gets half the story and then gets it wrong!!.Actually we could make that into a weekend list game.All the names for groups of anything ,really,a gaggle of geese,a swarm of bees,a school of porpoises,some one may just carry this on!!.
Geoff,yes i have often seen the sparrow hawk,swoop on his prey as it were,but never fly straight at or into the quarry.
Christine.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Christine - I searched the web some while ago, for my granddaughter, and found this site: http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...ouns_for_birds

and also this:
http://elmtree.members.beeb.net/html...ctivenouns.htm


I am still constantly amazed at the wealth of information that is available on the web! I am also amazed at the amount of time I spend searching for such things. It's just as well that we are lucky enough to have broadband - but it is because of this amenity that I spend (waste?) so much time here.

[christineredgate]

Elizabeth,I will have a nosey on those sights later,they look interesting.No we do not have broadband up here,and we do miss the facility.we had it before we re-located from Nottingham.Some people in this village do not even have piped gas(they have large Calor cylinders at the bottom of the garden),and some people do not have proper water/sewage units.They have septic tanks,and are very restricted as to what they can use for toilet cleaning,bleach etc.We are not exactly out in the sticks,we do have 5 pubs and one main shop!!!,but this village is at least 10yrs behind the times.
Elizabeth,were you the member who is into spiders?.Someone ,somewhere last week,was talking re spiders and I have a pic of a spider with fly,taken from the front of my neighbours house this afternoon.I am going to put it on the gallery anyway.It is different.
Cheers,Christine.

[jayhunter]

My local sparrow hawk seems to wait for all the starlings to roost in the top of the bushes in my neighbours garden. Then he comes in from out of the sun between the house roof tops and takes if he is lucky one poor individual.

[christineredgate]

Thanks Bob,yes it is sad when one sees the little ones being caught and eaten,but I'd rather the Sparrow hawk takes,than a cat from next doors garden.But I don't think that is an area into which to venture!!.There was a very excitable thread re that subject several weeks ago.
Christine.

[Chuck A. Walla]

Christine, I was observing an assortment of water birds and grackle the other day when suddenly a large white raptor with dark-speckles (possible Northern Goshawk) hammered through their midst. I didn't see it take anything but it sure grabbed our attention, the birds and mine. First time for me but I figured I was lucky.

I live in south central Nevada in a town of about 2,000. No radio, street lights or traffic lights and few paved roads. I also have a septic tank. We have two gas stations, two churches, a bar and a small casino; but the nearest grocery store is thirty miles away. It's worth it for me though to see the Milky Way most nights, and to hear the coyotes howl. And the birds are great.

bob

[postcardcv]

Sparrowhawks are certainly always happy to get a meal when they can - the adaptive behaviour can be amazing.
I once watched one sitting in a tree on the end of a small island, there was a very strong wind coming from the right of the island. House martins were flying up the left of the island and then turning at the end, they hit hte head wind and stalled, at which point out hopped the sparrowhawk. He missed a good number of them but we did see him take two house martins, it was incredible to watch.

[christineredgate]

Chuck and Postcard thankyou for your reply.Chuck ,your habitat sounds ideal.We are not quite as isolated as you are,but it is does seem to be in the winter when there are no tourists.
Christine.

[Larry Lade]

Hi Christine,

I observed a similar episode a year or so ago when a Merlin flew directly into a flock of swallows and came out carrying "his reluctant meal". The swallows seemed to disperse somewhat but then continued going about their business of catching insects. The Merlin must have zeroed in on one particular bird and just ignored the rest. It was quite an interesting sighting!

Larry

[christineredgate]

Why is it Larry,that one can never have the camera to hand.It took me all my time to stop the bike,and position the binoculars!
Christine.

[Steve Round]

Christine

You should go to Leighton Moss in the winter to see the Starlings come in to roost - a flock of 15,000+ then watch the panic as several sparrowhawks and and a peregrine enter the flock at the same time, its an amazing sight

Steve

[christineredgate]

Thanks Steve,15,000 starling must produce a very dark sky indeed.I have been to Leighton Moss a couple of times.Saw the Avocets there this year.
Christine.

[Bill Came]

I dont know whether the " charm " applies to all finches, I've only ever heard in front of chaffinch, I think is was penned by some poet or other...........
regards
Bill...

[christineredgate]

Bill I did read that charm applied to goldfinches,I remember reading it in I think a copy of Birdwatching,although Elizabeth did have to refresh my memory,as I originally thought it was greeting,but i definitely do remember that only goldfinches were actually mentioned at the time,so whether ir not it does apply to all finches,I really do not know,but there may be someone who does.I have never known an un-answered question on this forum,!!!,so let's wait and see.
Certainly could be an interesting one Bill.
Christine.