Sparrow Hawk

[KUSKUS]

Just had the Sparrow Hawk visit the bird feeder
I suppose he has to eat, although not successful this time.
Does anyone know a way of deterring them.
Couldn't get the link to work , sorry.
Thanks

 

[XxAnthxX]

The image either isn’t available or you have sharing turned off......

 

[chaser]

I get an Amazon advert

 

[DBK]

It must be an Amazonian hawk.

 

[pappajohn]

Takes me to my account

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[chaser]

Takes me to my account

Oh yeah mine does if I click on it.

 

[XxAnthxX]

The words sparrow hawk were a hyperlink when I originally clicked it....no advert In post.

If that’s a sparrow hawk he’s let out of that box......It’s very small.

 

[CazPaul]

I would never deter a Sparrowhawk from your garden, to me it's a bit like saying how do I deter a Blackbird from eating a worm.
Nature at its best, we get all sorts of killings going off in our garden, Owls killing rodents, Kestrels killing Mice/Voles, Stoats killing Rabbits, Hedgehogs killing Slugs, Adders killing frogs etc etc and so on.

It's all part of the cycle. Think yourself lucky you have a lovely Sparrowhawk in the area which in turn means a healthy population of small birds. One inevitably leads to the other.

 

[WillH]

A Sparrowhawk went through our garden yesterday, only managed a quick snack.

 

[KUSKUS]

Valid point, didn't think of it like that.
Thanks

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ridgeway]

Sparrowhawks are hedgerow ambush hunters (i used to fly and hunt with them many years ago) If your bird feeder/table is placed close to a fence/hedge line then it suits their attack style, think of them as an F18 on full throttle coming in low and then jinxing up/around what ever was hiding them from sight. Ideally place your feeder/table in an open space which gives them less chance of a surprise attack although that'll probably just mean they adopt another garden as a hunting ground, they will actually often garden hop just to see what's not paying attention.....

Well done for spotting it.

 

[SMB]

A sparrow hawk bounced off my head a few days ago! I was outside the van bending over the laundry when I heard a squawking noise and as I stood up a small bird flew into the large bush next to the van followed by another bird clipping my hat. There was a commotion in the bush then the sparrow hawk exited and flew off. Seen it about a couple of times since then though it hasn't assaulted me again .

 

[XxAnthxX]

This thread made me look for this picture I took a year or so ago, It was just sat on the fence in the garden, it also wasn’t as shocked or startled as I was when I noticed it.

Is it a sparrow hawk or kestrel?

 

[Speve]

Quite a good idea to site feeders so that there is not clear line of site to them that way Sparrowhawk will not be able to fly in quickly and ambush birds.
We have Sparrow hawks cruising around most days but they usually have to perch somewhere to asses their chances so not many fatalities on our feeders.

 

[Speve]

This thread made me look for this picture I took a year or so ago, It was sat on the fence in the garden, it also wasn’t as shocked or startled as I was when I noticed it.

Is it a sparrow hawk or kestrel?

View attachment 402700

Sparrowhawk nice photo

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ridgeway]

Female Spar

 

[The Wino]

I think of it like when I bash a trout on the head . He took my fly or spinner thinking it was a little fish so it's fair enough if I eat him!. Let the sparrowhawk be.

 

[Mikeclaire]

Have a look at this, fantastic film on a garden sparrow hawk.
Oh by the way, their is bugger all you can do to stop them.

 

[PaulyP]

A sparrow hawk bounced off my head a few days ago! I was outside the van bending over the laundry when I heard a squawking noise and as I stood up a small bird flew into the large bush next to the van followed by another bird clipping my hat. There was a commotion in the bush then the sparrow hawk exited and flew off. Seen it about a couple of times since then though it hasn't assaulted me again .

Same thing happened to me years ago, just stopped for a break and sat in a chair on the patio, as I stood up sparrow hawk skimmed my head and shot into the bushes in front of me, problem was there was a brick wall right behind the bushes, sparrow hawk appeared, groggily, shook it’s head and flew off.

 

[Speve]

Actually had one fly inside our conservatory a few years ago the doors were wide open, I had to catch him and released outside I felt very privileged that it let me pick him up and do that he was quite calm and flew off on his way

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ridgeway]

Have a look at this, fantastic film on a garden sparrow hawk.
Oh by the way, their is bugger all you can do to stop them.☹

Brings back memories. That's a Musket in the video (male Spar) an Exocet of the forest and way beyond my skills, i only ever flew females, still untrainable nutters in their own right.

Nice video and captures really well what they are all about.

 

[CWH]

Hm, our seed & nut stash became a sparrowhawk feeding station this morning - didn't see what he took but there have been a lot of greenfinches & chaffinches about lately. Then this afternoon, a kestrel hovering just a few yards away. We've had 2 hen harriers around for a few months and on Monday, no fewer than 3 sea eagles together just above the house.
I think our current over-population of shrews, voles, toads, sparrows and rabbits may take a bit of a battering...

 

[AnnB]

Do you want to swap houses?

 

[steve 6644]

Have a look at this, fantastic film on a garden sparrow hawk.
Oh by the way, their is bugger all you can do to stop them.☹

What a fantastic film of a fabulous bird

 

[The Lord Squid]

Taken in my garden whilst working from home during lockdown.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ridgeway]

Hm, our seed & nut stash became a sparrowhawk feeding station this morning - didn't see what he took but there have been a lot of greenfinches & chaffinches about lately. Then this afternoon, a kestrel hovering just a few yards away. We've had 2 hen harriers around for a few months and on Monday, no fewer than 3 sea eagles together just above the house.
I think our current over-population of shrews, voles, toads, sparrows and rabbits may take a bit of a battering...

Where do you live Mull ?

 

[robnchris]

We have a Sparrow Hawk as a regular visitor most days, usually just before 10am and then again around
5 pm.
An amazing sight to watch nature close up.

 

[Ridgeway]

We have a Sparrow Hawk as a regular visitor most days, usually just before 10am and then again around
5 pm.
An amazing sight to watch nature close up.

View attachment 423681 View attachment 423682

That is a "he", lovely looking little fella and cracking pictures

He must have been there for quite a few minutes as his crop is full of that starling, yum yum...

 

[CWH]

Where do you live Mull ?

Skye

 

[Ridgeway]

Skye

Even better, lucky b........

Most people are happy with a few sparrows or an odd blue tit, this fella gets White Tailed Sea Eagles, Hen Harriers and Sparrowhawks

Can only imagine how impressive it is to watch the WTSE's gliding around, but 3 ! that's just being greedy

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}