Garden Wildlife UK

Sparrow hawk got lucky.
Wondered why the sparrows were not in my hedge, so pulled back the net curtains and the sparrow hawk flew off with it prey. Looks like it got a sparrow.

So sorry, Willpar . Always a heart-stopping sight.

Nature in the raw placi. Was bound to get lucky sometime.

I came to terms with the fact that the Sprawk will be lucky sometimes a good while ago. I am happier when it has taken a more common species rather than something which is struggling to keep a foothold.

I am quite amazed at how it managed it. Not a big garden with a hedge on 3 sides and the house on the 4th. Must have done some pretty fancy flying.

Willpar wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2020 11:28 pm I am quite amazed at how it managed it. Not a big garden with a hedge on 3 sides and the house on the 4th. Must have done some pretty fancy flying.

They are fantastic flyers. I have watched mine fence-hopping in an effort to make his arrival a surprise. They then have to select a target and go for it on the wing while flying quite fast. The eye to claw reaction must be amazing.

One thing would like to know jacksparrow, when it does make a kill say in my garden, will that encourage it to make more frequent visits?

Willpar wrote: Wed Feb 19, 2020 9:24 am One thing would like to know jacksparrow, when it does make a kill say in my garden, will that encourage it to make more frequent visits?

I'm afraid so willpar. I think they have learnt that feeding stations are likely spots for potential victims. For them the biggest problem is finding the locations in the first place.

That's what happened in my garden (previous garden that is) Willpar, the sparrowhawk kept coming back and picking starlings , even though I tried to discourage it. I read somewhere advice to stop feeding for a while, so all the birds disperse and make SH believe that there is no more food for them. I don't know if that would work, because when you put the feeders back SH might come back too

All the feeders on the plot where the hawk got lucky are up against the hedge, so birds can dive in. But I suspect some sparrows on the floor picking up seed from there. Have got a covered feeder also but that is very near the house. Is the first time the hawk got lucky that I know of. But I will just have to live with it.