steve_b_wales Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 Twice now in the past 6 days, a Sparrow Hawk has caught a feral pigeon in our garden, and twice, my wife let our dog out to 'shoo them away'! Both pigeons escaped with a few less feathers. I have now told my wife that if this happens again, she is to let the Sparrow Hawk have it's meal. We've got at least 100 feral pigeons around our streets/houses due to an old derelict chapel not too far from my home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rim Fire Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 Nature at its best Steve 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 Sparrowhawks are in decline right now. The data are complicated as it appears more people are seeing them, but that's because they're becoming a more urban species and traditional areas with perfect habitat are empty of them. No one's going to miss a feral pigeon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 4 minutes ago, chrisjpainter said: Sparrowhawks are in decline right now. Because,,,, people keep letting their dogs out to interrupt their meals !!! 🙈 Brilliant birds,,,, had a few close encounters with them while out shooting rabbits and pigeons 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted February 20, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 15 minutes ago, Rim Fire said: Nature at its best Steve 👍 Very true. The maddening fact is that my wife doesn't mind nature taking it's course and hates the feral pigeons because of the mess they are making. She's said that in future, she'll leave well alone. I was in work during the both times the Sparrow Hawk struck, and I hope if it strikes again (it should do because my neighbour two doors away feeds them!) I can witness it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 My neighbour up the road said that a hen sparrow hawk was sitting a'top he bird feeder...one of those multi hangin frames. Just hunched up absolutely motionless. She did not realise it was a hen bird until I explaoned how small the cock bird was in comparison. She loves her birds but was not concerned and accepted that was nature in the raw. The birds on my feeders by the house are very nervous so I am sure the hawk has swung by a couple of times recently. I know we have one maybe two pairs locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobbyathome Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 i witnessed a sparrowhawk take a blue tit off of one of my feeders in the garden i saw it about 3 gardens away what a fantastic sight it was the hawk was flying low and fast just skimming the fences and when it hit the blue tit just a puff of feathers and it was gone something i will never forget Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 We are lucky enough to have a pair locally especially attracted to our bird feeders where the sparrows hang out. The other day the hen was perched a foot away from our lounge window looking in. Both use our garden fences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rim Fire Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 This landed on my hedge in garden a few yrs ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NatureBoy Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 Is that a Gos Rim Fire? . . . . , Chris, what is the thinking behind sparrow hawks decline rurally? In Suffolk they think it's buzzards. NB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rim Fire Posted February 21, 2023 Report Share Posted February 21, 2023 11 hours ago, NatureBoy said: Is that a Gos Rim Fire? . . . . , Chris, what is the thinking behind sparrow hawks decline rurally? In Suffolk they think it's buzzards. NB its a female sparrow hawk that pic was taken with my phone that's how close she was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yates Posted February 21, 2023 Report Share Posted February 21, 2023 15 hours ago, Walker570 said: My neighbour up the road said that a hen sparrow hawk was sitting a'top he bird feeder...one of those multi hangin frames. Just hunched up absolutely motionless. She did not realise it was a hen bird until I explaoned how small the cock bird was in comparison. She loves her birds but was not concerned and accepted that was nature in the raw. The birds on my feeders by the house are very nervous so I am sure the hawk has swung by a couple of times recently. I know we have one maybe two pairs locally. 15 hours ago, nobbyathome said: i witnessed a sparrowhawk take a blue tit off of one of my feeders in the garden i saw it about 3 gardens away what a fantastic sight it was the hawk was flying low and fast just skimming the fences and when it hit the blue tit just a puff of feathers and it was gone something i will never forget We have similar experiences of sparrowhawks taking birds from our feeders. Spectacular sight to see when in hunting mode Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUNKS Posted February 21, 2023 Report Share Posted February 21, 2023 Yep beautiful birds but not nice when we watched one kill and eat our almost tame blackbird that had owned our garden for a number of years. He had even taught himself to fly at and bash the hanging bird feeder to release a few seeds. RIP Blacky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted February 21, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2023 2 hours ago, DUNKS said: Yep beautiful birds but not nice when we watched one kill and eat our almost tame blackbird that had owned our garden for a number of years. He had even taught himself to fly at and bash the hanging bird feeder to release a few seeds. RIP Blacky. That's the only sad part about it. I'm only glad that the Sparrow Hawk caught two feral pigeons and not the two Wood Pigeons who are nesting nearby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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