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Post by SueA on Aug 12, 2011 14:29:03 GMT
There was a sparrowhawk in our garden this morning, it looked like a young female, she made a couple of attempts at catching the sparrows hiding in the tangle of plants over the fence but didn't get anything as far as I could tell. They are beautiful birds, I just feel sorry that they have to live off our little sparrows!
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Post by Geranium on Aug 12, 2011 15:09:45 GMT
Do they go for bigger birds as well. Sue? I found a pile of feathers in the garden - they looked like a pigeon's. I haven't seen a sparrow hawk around - yet.  |
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Post by cowslip on Aug 12, 2011 15:27:23 GMT
They do take bigger birds, Geranium. I have seen them take pigeons and blackbirds here also starlings.
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Post by Cherry on Aug 12, 2011 16:33:57 GMT
They catch mainly pigeons here. The feral pigeons are coming in for the spilled wheat grain which was left after the combining. After the sparrowhawk tears the pigeon to bits, it leaves the wings and the crop spills out the grain.
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Post by peony on Aug 12, 2011 17:50:44 GMT
Same here, its either pigeons or ring necked doves they catch. We don't have any sparrows  |
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Post by Geranium on Aug 12, 2011 20:30:10 GMT
Eeeuuuugghh, Cherry!  All that was left was feathers - so maybe it wasn't a sparrow hawk. What else could it have been, though? |
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Post by SueA on Aug 13, 2011 16:02:15 GMT
I think they do take collared doves around here too but we have so many noisy sparrows in our garden now that it knows where to come for a snack! We've only had sparrows back in this area for a few years, they seemed to disappear for a while when everyone had a home improvement drive & all the old fascias, rooflines etc. were replaced & they had nowhere to nest. Ours all roost in the conifer outside the kitchen window & squabble so much they attract the sparrowhawk's attention.
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Post by wildlifefriendly on Aug 13, 2011 17:43:47 GMT
Do they go for bigger birds as well. Sue? I found a pile of feathers in the garden - they looked like a pigeon's. I haven't seen a sparrow hawk around - yet. The fox takes quite a few at this time of year, it is the fledglings which can't fly that well that get it. The fox will leave a small pile of feathers. |
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Post by peony on Aug 13, 2011 19:03:21 GMT
Do they go for bigger birds as well. Sue? I found a pile of feathers in the garden - they looked like a pigeon's. I haven't seen a sparrow hawk around - yet. The fox takes quite a few at this time of year, it is the fledglings which can't fly that well that get it. The fox will leave a small pile of feathers. If its a Sparrowhawk kill, you can usually tell because they pluck the feathers out and you can see the whole feather complete with quill |
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Post by Lou78W on Aug 13, 2011 19:07:57 GMT
Pigeons are easy meat for the Sparrowhawk......they don't leave much behind |
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Post by peony on Aug 13, 2011 19:26:07 GMT
Pigeons are easy meat for the Sparrowhawk......they don't leave much behind There are far too many pigeons around here so I have to admit to being quite pleased when the Sparrowhawk turns up, the pigeons usually disappear for a few days  ;D |
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All that was left was feathers - so maybe it wasn't a sparrow hawk. What else could it have been, though?
;D
