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Message: <blockquote data-quote="thomasclark1985" data-source="post: 3800395" data-attributes="member: 143713">I had an interesting encounter with a Sparrowhawk this spring. I was out ringing (I’m a trainee ringer), on Dartmoor, on this particular day we were mainly catching Meadow Pipits. I noticed very far away, 2 birds interacting, (too far for my ID skills) I alerted my trainer who quickly got his bins on it, and it was a Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. I thought for a moment, one was attacking the other but after at least a minute of watching this interaction, with them getting closer and closer to us, eventually going their separate ways and disappearing. It seemed far more like they were “playing” or as my trainer put it “it’s simply the joy of flying” as he said he’d witnessed Sparrowhawks and Kestrels doing this multiple times.Now on to the more relevant part of the story.... 20 minutes later. Whilst processing the lastest net round of Meadow Pipits. All of a sudden, within a foot of my face, whoosh!!!!  whilst holding a Mipit, a Sparrowhawk, which then crashed into a bramble bush with no fear whatsoever! Next, the sound of a (i presume previously caught) Mipit in the talons of the Sparrowhawk. Which sat there for about 5 secs staring back at us and then flew off. I presume this was the bird from earlier and had, by chance, seen what we were up to and stalked us for a while before getting an easy(ish) meal! It was a very interesting and entertaining day!Tom</blockquote>

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