Hunting by night (1 Viewer)

[Cheshire Birder]

The other morning I observed a strange piece of behaviour and I wondered whether others had noticed it. It was pitch black and just after 7am but where I work is in an industrial estate so we have a couple of floodlights in our yard and as do most of the nearby warehouses. I looked up to see a male Sparrowhawk clearly in an hunting flight as he zipped by. Has anyone else seen similar behaviour?

CB

 

[Jaff]

We know Peregrines can now hunt at night in city centres so I suppose it's not unreasonable to assume that other BOP's will learn to do this too. I know in Manchester Sparrowhawks target the Pied Wagtail roosts at night.

 

[dantheman]

Was slightly surprised to see the Eleonora's Falcons off Essaouira (Morocco) hunting moths under the streetlights when I pitched up there in the middle of the night the other year. But I guess it makes sense if you think the streetlights (in the 3 cases mentioned already?) are maybe just an extension to the dusk the birds would normally hunt in (with superior eyesight they can have an advantage over less-sighted prey?)

 

[Cheshire Birder]

We know Peregrines can now hunt at night in city centres so I suppose it's not unreasonable to assume that other BOP's will learn to do this too. I know in Manchester Sparrowhawks target the Pied Wagtail roosts at night.

Never heard about that before.

CB

 

[Cheshire Birder]

But I guess it makes sense if you think the streetlights (in the 3 cases mentioned already?) are maybe just an extension to the dusk the birds would normally hunt in (with superior eyesight they can have an advantage over less-sighted prey?)

I would agree but I am unaware of any suitable prey that may be roosting in the are which it may have been after.

CB

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Some info here...

http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/world-first-for-derbys-falcons.html

James

 

[Jaff]

Never heard about that before.

CB

Which part, the Peregrine or the Sprawk? If it's the Sprawk Mr Dancy has a photograph http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/231049/ppuser/25708

I think I'm right in that it's documented that Tawny Owls have targeted roosting birds too.

 

[Mary]

When I 'retired' a few years ago, I did a paper round for a few years. For a while I did see a Sprawk at about 07-07.30 fly into a particular tree on a few mornings when it was just about sunrise. I thought at the time that it was getting into a position where it knew birds would be arriving, so it could be there ready to ambush them. Maybe there were feeders in the garden.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Which part, the Peregrine or the Sprawk? If it's the Sprawk Mr Dancy has a photograph http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/231049/ppuser/25708

Both. Thanks for the picture link.

CB

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Had another flyby Sparrowhawk in the dark this morning.

CB

 

[Brian2]

While waiting for owls the other night I watched a Peregrine chasing a crow in what was almost darkness so it clearly hadn't gone to roost and was still happy to hunt into the night...did get Barn and SEO too.

 

[Jaff]

While waiting for owls the other night I watched a Peregrine chasing a crow in what was almost darkness so it clearly hadn't gone to roost and was still happy to hunt into the night...did get Barn and SEO too.

Are you suggesting it was hunting the Crow? I could see one possibly taking a Jackdaw but not anything bigger, does anyone know if they have ever been recorded taking Carrion Crows or Rooks?