Garden Visitor

[Olybirder]

I was in the kitchen today when I noticed a largish bird fly across the garden just above the ground and up onto the fence, partially obscured by our washing. I moved to get a better view and, as I hoped, I was treated to the sight of a lovely male Sparrow Hawk. My partner was upstairs so I yelled to her to look out of the window and then 'sprinted' up the stairs to join her, collecting my camera on the way. I opened the window a tiny amount and found the bird in my viewfinder but just as I was about to take a shot my partner, trying to be helpful, moved the curtain slightly which prompted it to fly away onto our neighbour's shed roof. I managed to get a few shots but unfortunately they were not as close as they could have been. The hazards of domestic photography, I suppose!



Ron

[Wildwood]

Had one in my garden last week. She had just killed a Magpie. Had I opened the kitchen window she would have flown away so I took a few shots through the glass. which didn't turn out great.

[MJ224]

Lovely shots Ron. They are very possesive of any kills they make...

[MK1]

Stunning shot beautiful bird but deadly hunter - those eyes are looking good

[David Mallott]

In my experience, when one has made a kill it is very reluctant to fly away and leave it. I had one in my garden once which had just killed a pigeon. It was literally just the other side of a glass door. so it was well aware of me on the inside less than a metre away taking snaps of it. It was somewhat wary of me but it carried on plucking the pigeon (making a hell of a mess) and feeding on it. I was still finding feathers in the garden for more than a year afterwards! Not that I really minded. It was the first one I'd ever seen one and in my tiny city garden...!

David