Sparrowhawk with prey (Wednesday) (1 Viewer)

[ChrisKten]

I thought I'd post a few more pics of one of the regular Sparrowhawks; this one is an adult female (95% sure ), and the prey is a young Starling.

As some will know; I get to see regular attacks by Sparrowhawks in my garden, and I'm able to observe and take a few pictures. I've blurred out a few bits of the Starling that might upset those that are squeamish. I know it's only Nature, as many of you do, but others still struggle with seeing the raw side.

All pics taken through smeary (rained all day) double glazing, and in poor light.

I'll post more pics and more details of the attack if people are interested; here's a few for now:

Oh, the last picture is a sequence showing that Pigeons aren't scared of a Sparrowhawk that already has a meal; although they spook as soon as the Sparrowhawk spreads it's wings

 

[markhammonds]

Thanks for posting the pictures.

 

[FalconBirder]

Great shots (again!) ChrisKten,

Thanks for sharing them and please do post more - I for one am interested.

I agree with you that this is an adult female. Interesting that her new fresh plumage appears rather more greyish, perhaps pointing towards her being an older individual? Or perhaps just that her old feathers have faded after a year being exposed to UV light and other environmental factors?

Just an hour ago I had a superb Sparrowhawk sighting above a back garden in a village in Somerset. My wife alerted me to the hawk, an adult male, rising up quite close by just above the village. It soared and circled up and up for several minutes until it was directly overhead and beyond human visibility without binoculars, probably 400-500m or more. It ceased soaring, turned into the wind and drifted for about 20 seconds and then suddenly folded its wings and dropped vertically like an arrow-shaped stone, similar to the stoop of a Peregrine. Unfortunately, a house obstructed my view so I didn't manage to see the target prey or record the outcome of this amazing flight. A truly uplifting spectacle nonetheless!

 

[ChrisKten]

I'm pleased that you both find it interesting. I'm fortunate to see this behaviour often, but I'm aware that some here never seen such behaviour.

I'm leaning towards a younger 4cy? adult female due to how rubbish she was at restraining the juve Starling. I find that the older Sparrowhawks tend to learn how to subdue or kill their prey quite quickly (Talon/toe through head, neck, or eye). This Starling came back to life every 10 minutes, and forced the Sparrowhawk to start all over again with the squeezing etc. Although I did wonder if she was still feeding recently fledged young? as she flew off with the prey plucked and headless (more typical for a male earlier in the nesting season, taking food to the nest?)

I'll sort out a few more pics and post them later

Oh, and that must be great to see one "stoop" like that; I only see the attack itself, and often don't even see where they come from

 

[ChrisKten]

Here's a few more pics of the same bird, and the same attack. High ISO (for my camera) and still through the smeary glass. I wonder if we used to get clean rain years ago, because we certainly don't now

 

[markhammonds]

I'd be happy to get pictures like that with a high ISO through smeary glass.

 

[Clive A]

I'd be happy to get pictures like that with a high ISO through smeary glass.

Indeed, lovely shots.

 

[ChrisKten]

Updated with two birds from yesterday

I thought I'd add to this thread, as I usually say I will, but mostly I forget to do it

These are some pics of two different adult females; both took Starlings within a few hours of each other. A bit unusual, as I don't think I've seen multiple kills by same-sex adults on the same day before.

Some pics are with prey (I've blurred where necessary), some aren't. I won't say which bird is which; see if you can distinguish one female from the other for yourself (Checking the EXIF data is cheating )

All pics through double glazing and in poor light as usual.

 

[ChrisKten]

And a few more:

 

[Hobbes2]

Always enjoy your Sparrowhawks, Chris :t:
Hobbes

 

[ChrisKten]

Pleased to hear it, Hobbes; thanks.

I must admit it was a bit too much for me yesterday; watching two kills within a few hours of each other. It gets a bit depressing watching things suffer an agonising death. Still, I guess it's to be expected, this is Hell after all

I know it's Nature, and I want to observe and learn, but it's not fun to watch.

I'm pleased to report there have been no kills today

 

[Al Catraz]

Outstanding photographs