johnbaz Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 Hi I was filling the kettle at the sink a few weeks ago when something wizzed through my field of view like a meteor!! This was the result.. Sorry about the quality of the pics, i didn't have a larger lense to bring the subject closer but a friend resized them larger then cropped them for me Female Sparrowhawk and Woodpigeon... She took around an hour and three quarters until she flew away with what was left of the carcass, her crop was massive when she flew up into our oak tree at the bottom of the garden... I took hundreds of photos from our conservatory and she didn't seem to mind in the least though she could plainly see me!! I was full of cramp by the time she left and i had filled up the card several times and had to make more room!!! There are loads of cats that come through our garden and i felt bound to stay until she left in case one of the moggy's had a go at her!! Cheers, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liamp79 Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 Lucky to see this in your back garden mate. I LOVE these birds and a bit jealous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decoying mad Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 brill mate thanx for shareing mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
left & right Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 Stunning bird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason kaye Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 Nice pics mate,I have a soft spot for spars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southdowns_stalking Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 Spars are fantastic little speed demons, cracking birds, have always wanted one but the Gos does me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 We have had a sparrowhawk take pigeons in our garden in the past but recently we've seen it walking around the chicken enclosure looking for a way in! Beautiful birds and good pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonwolf444 Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 i saw one but it took the pigeon into the bushes, aparantly its so they dont loose their prey to other birds, i thought it odd for it to sit out in the open Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 What a priveledge to see one up so close for such a long period of time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentKill Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 Awesome stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbaz Posted November 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2010 i saw one but it took the pigeon into the bushes, aparantly its so they dont loose their prey to other birds, i thought it odd for it to sit out in the open Hi It was actually in between a hedge and a table on our back garden, the pigeon kept trying to fly away and ended up flapping into the hedge but the hawk dragged it back out... The pigeon was fighting back for a good twenty minutes until it finally stopped kicking... I though the missus would have been really upset as she loves the woodies and watches the progress of the young uns through the year but she accepted that this was how these magificent creatures survived (i was shocked!!!) We've lived in this house for twenty years now and have seen all manner of birds and animals from badgers to foxes and nuthatches to green woodpeckers, it's fantastic!! The house we lived at before, we were dead lucky to see a sparrow!!!!! Cheers, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbaz Posted November 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2010 Here's an uncropped picture so that you can get an idea of where it happened, this pic was as it was flying off with the remnants of the woodie.... Cheers, John.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbuster Posted November 24, 2010 Report Share Posted November 24, 2010 Here's an uncropped picture so that you can get an idea of where it happened, this pic was as it was flying off with the remnants of the woodie.... Cheers, John.. Wow, thats awesome! I'd have loved to witness that for myself. Thats another part of shooting/hunting that so much of us enjoy-actually seeing nature at work. Top class! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfletch Posted November 24, 2010 Report Share Posted November 24, 2010 Wow, thats awesome! I'd have loved to witness that for myself. Thats another part of shooting/hunting that so much of us enjoy-actually seeing nature at work. Top class! Ive witnessed it before on my garden and it is a sight to see no pics though but when the hawk swoops down it dont half hit the pigeon hard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoTshoT-16 Posted November 24, 2010 Report Share Posted November 24, 2010 quality clear shots of the sparrow hawk one less woody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deejay Posted November 24, 2010 Report Share Posted November 24, 2010 Hi mate its amazing to see that happen I get them often ,however I have only ever seen it the once with a woody and lucky for me my dad had come with his camcorder at the time too. He was standing at the kitchen window and was like hey you have a sparrow hawk eating a pigeon ha ha he toom a video of it and put it on disc .I will try to hunt it down .But there was also a time that I had one try to take the dead decoy of my floater ..has that ever happned to anyone too sadly it couldnt take it as the wings were held on with the croc clips . Darren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baldcoot Posted November 25, 2010 Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 We have a regular visit from a female sparrow hawk,seems to be very bold it actually flew down the middle of the road at head height with a blackbird in its talons last week.The sparrows are getting really twitchy now all the leaves are dropping off the bushes.Will try to get some pics posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted November 25, 2010 Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 Thankyou John for showing us these pics of one of my favourite birds-and what a stunner she is!Brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbaz Posted November 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 Thankyou John for showing us these pics of one of my favourite birds-and what a stunner she is!Brilliant! Anytime mate I was told that only the females are able to take pigeons, apparently the males are smaller and will take up tp blackbird size prey... Cheers, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted November 25, 2010 Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 Anytime mate I was told that only the females are able to take pigeons, apparently the males are smaller and will take up tp blackbird size prey... Cheers, John Yes you are spot on in what you are saying. Well done again John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted November 25, 2010 Report Share Posted November 25, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie Posted November 26, 2010 Report Share Posted November 26, 2010 I took a video of one on a collar dove outside my window some time ago. Got fed up after about 15 minutes filming it. It took no notice of me at all (bit like the missis) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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