How many of you have had an experience of a sparrowhawk in the garden?
Did it make a kil?
Did it stay on a perch?
Did it tackle a bird but the bird escaped?
Or was it doing something else?

Just today I got my best view of a sparrowhawk, which made an attack on a starling in my garden. At first i heard a loud screeching but thought it was starlings having a scuffle and went to have a look, but to my amazement, it was a sparrowhawk, grappling with a starling. The sparrowhawk held on to it for about 30 seconds, but for some reason, let it go. The starling rocketed into a nearby hedge for cover, while the sparrowhawk landed on the shed for a further 10 -20 secs, and then he dissappeared. My brother had seen it before, in the garden, but was not sure about what it was. I have seen sparrowhawks before but only breifly and at a distance. It was amazing!

Oh you were lucky to be in the right place at the right time!

It is very difficult to see such a thing happen. I've never seen any of the smaller raptors in my garden, and only seen raptors make kills twice.

Kingfisher

My neighbours had a sparrowhawk sitting in their garden munching on a juicy blackbird, they didn't tell me about it until the next day - Grrrrr!

With the increase in popularity of putting out food for birds, resulting in large numbers of birds congregating in gardens, then sparrowhawk "events" are becoming more common. A good reason to always have: a) a pair of binoculars handy & b) a camera within easy reach!

I did have one not too many weeks ago as posted on another thread
http://www.wildlifeuk.net/exciting-spot-...t-284.html
I was thrilled but by the time I had my camera all I got was a blur. It had landed for no apparent reason on one of the rabbit runs. It can't get at the rabbits so I wasn't too worried. Exactly the same I heard a screech & looked up & could not believe my luck. Very exciting.

This post was last modified: 03-09-2007 08:09 AM by tibbar.

I returned from holiday last year to find the garden devoid of all the birds that usually flock there for food. Initially I thought that they had gone elsewhere once the food had run out. The next day I saw a sparrowhawk sitting at the end of the fence. I don't know whether it had taken any birds - there was no evidence on the ground - but it dissapeared as soon as it saw me and so far hasn't returned. A few days later all the small birds started visiting the garden again.

The attack hasn't discouraged the starlings or any of the other birds, so I am happy about that. I feel very lucky to have seen it!

Sadly, I've not seen one in my garden yet. It's full of shrubs, so the birds have plenty of places to hide, but we did have a tawny owl on the chimney several nights ago.

Well , have to say if we can get this then anyone can.We are full of goldies & LBJ's little brown jobs as Bill Oddie says. . Our feeding station is full of LBJ's greenfinches, Goldie's the like, Owls are quite frequently hooting at the front but no sight as yet.
Well done 'stoop' to find that.. we all lilve hope.............Hopefully onwards & upwards..........Keep us posted.

This post was last modified: 06-09-2007 06:23 PM by tibbar.

Unfortunately no I haven't seen one in the garden - not yet anyway. I'm hopefuly for the future though.

The Stoop, your encounter sounds quite a spectacle. The starling was very lucky to get away alive!

It was deinetley a spectacle. The srarling was very lucky, I thought it was dead meat but it just managed to break free. It was pure luck that I lucked out the window at that time. So it could happen to anyone. It was the best view I ever had of a sparrowhawk, the other times they were high up with rooks in hot pursuit!

A female Sparrowhawk landed on a pile of bricks in our garden for a few moments, right outside the kitchen window. I felt chuffed - not only was it a great view, but it's the first time I've seen one in the 'wild' as it were.

Its good to see sparrowhawks as they represent a healthy bird population. I don't think I would like to see one in mine though

Hi
My dad 5 mins away from me gets a sparrowhawk every now and then, last time he heard it hit the kitchen window, fall onto the kids slide, as he looked out it slipped down the slide onto the floor a bit dazed.
After awhile he was fine and flew off.
I've only had a quick glimpse......Although I do get a wild tawny in my garden flying around and screeching alot, goes quite crazy....He's attracted by my Tawnys...It's nice to listen to but can go on all night long....Very effective sound effects at halloween.
Kim

Yes, no doubt!

Kingfisher

Quiet often get Sparrowhawks in garden and have seen several kills. The last one was a female which took a Dunnock and spent around 20 mins eating its catch. All that I could find was a few feathers, 2 legs and a head.