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Image-of-the-Day by Subject
Birds - Sparrowhawk Page 1
Image of day on 25 Dec 2008
A little Christmas day special.
This year has been exceptional for Dragonflies and Raptors,
so here is a little montage of birds:-
| Osprey | Skylark | Red Kite |
| | Tawny Owls | |
| Short-eared Owl | Little Owl | Sparrowhawk |
.jpg)
Ref: 20081225_bird montage from top left - osprey+skylark+red kite+sparrowhawk+little owl+short-eared owl+tawny owls(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 07 Dec 2017
at 11:41 Image of day on 11 Jan 2018
Here is the same event from an upstairs vantage point with faster frame
rate & 'bigger' lens.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20180111_df1_20171207_1141_024+026 grey squirrel chasing off perched sparrowhawk 2+4 of 4 (accurate montage @ 7fps)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 07 Dec 2017
at 11:43 Image of day on 11 Jan 2018
Then an irate Grey Squirrel, who had been relaxing on top of a nest-box on the
same tree, chased off the Sparrowhawk, only to have it land further down the
same tree well obscured from us by intervening branches and on too thin a twig
for the Squirrel to reach it again.
Here is our interpretation of the 'get lost' from a camera downstairs.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20180111_d5c_20171207_1143_011+014 grey squirrel chasing off perched sparrowhawk 2+4 of 4 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image of day on 21 Oct 2010
We have often wondered what happens when the Kestrel and
Sparrowhawk happen along together. Well it turns out to be an
extended fight - here are 8 time ordered pairs in a chaotic
montage, moving from dark blue sky overhead to pale haze lower
down but further away. All these are at the same scale.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20101021_df1_20100903_1235-1237_070+106+183+188+220+252+254+255 kestrel & sparrowhawk fighting in flight 8 selected from 68 (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 04 Sep 2019
at 18:44 Image of day on 29 Oct 2019
The (probably) juvenile Kestrel looking for places to hunt has made a
number of visits to us, here including the meadow Post.
On this occasion a single image of the Kestrel was replaced (while the
camera was re-cycling) by this gorgeous male Sparrowhawk.
 displaced by sparrowhawk harassed by kestrel 19 of 26 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20191029_d01_20190904_1844_054+1849_096_fb6 kestrel juvenile (q) displaced by sparrowhawk harassed by kestrel 19 of 26 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 16 May 2017
at 16:18 Image of day on 08 Jul 2017
One tends to think of Hawks & Owls as 'big' birds (an illusion generated by TV
and film-makers always showing the most impressively large varieties), but here,
compared to a Magpie at the same scale, you get a true size comparison.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20170708_d36_20170516_1618_068+20170517_2041_093_fb4 magpie and sparrowhawk juvenile in rain size comparison (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 04 May 2016
at 18:02 Image of day on 12 Jun 2016
The Sparrowhawk (bottom) looks up at the squawking Rook above and
decides to make a trajectory change - away from the threat!
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20160612_df3_20160504_1802_213-218 rook harassing sparrowhawk in flight 1-6 of 6 (montage impression)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 19 Jan 2016
at 12:26 Image of day on 20 Feb 2016
Along our access track this feather was caught on a thorn on the
outside of a hedge. It is about 4cm (1.5 inches) long. We guess
it is from a Sparrowhawk who will attack birds perched in hedges.
) caught in hedge near locked gate (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20160220_df3_20160119_1226_032 small feather (sparrowhawk (q)) caught in hedge near locked gate (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 08 Sep 2020
at 18:34 Image of day on 21 Oct 2020
Flashing by as Sparrowhawks always seem to do, this female catches
herself on camera. We usually 'see' a Sparrowhawk perhaps a score
of times a year
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20201021_e60_20200908_1834_013_fb3 sparrowhawk (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 10 Jan 2012
at 13:58 Image of day on 04 Feb 2012
We haven't seen a kestrel for some weeks, but a Sparrowhawk is
seen a few times a week. Here it is landing at the peanut feeder
(not for the peanuts of course) - we presume it missed whatever
it was trying to grab.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20120204_d3b_20120110_1358_034_fb3 sparrowhawk (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Apr 2009
at 18:54 Image of day on 28 Apr 2009
Our new kitchen window camera has bagged its first 'special' - a
sparrowhawk visited at dusk.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090428_d50_20090403_1854_011 fb3 sparrowhawk (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image of day on 26 Jan 2007
Another sparrowhawk image, this time from Jan 2002.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20070126_d32_03434 sparrowhawk (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 20 Sep 2021
at 10:03 Image of day on 29 Oct 2021
A Sparrowhawk (we think a juvenile male) touches down on the kitchen bird table.
The strange appearance of the eye is because the semi-transparent nictitating membrane (sort of eyelid)
is partially over the eye. Many birds cover their eyes when performing possibly
risky maneuvers - such as landing.
We have been seeing new Sparrowhawk behaviour in the last couple of weeks - a
Sparrowhawk flies (so fast it's impossible to distinguish individuals) east to west
across the conservatory window and past the peanut feeder. Eyes onto CCTV feed
of the kitchen side of the house sees the bird 2 or 3 seconds later speeds west to east
past the Kitchen feeder and bird table. We have seen this at least 4 times over the
last couple of weeks, so must happen much more often.
We assume that this is a new individual doing an economy style circle of the house.
) landing on kitchen bird table nictitating membrane half closed(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20211029_e60_20210920_1003_004_fb3 sparrowhawk (male juvenile (q)) landing on kitchen bird table nictitating membrane half closed(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 15 Nov 2018
at 06:54 Image of day on 31 Dec 2018
Next day another landing, for us emphasising the slender legs for
a bird that catches and kills with the talons.
These lightweight legs undoubtedly help the bird's fantastic speed and
manoeuvrability, but limit the bird to small prey.
 1 of 3 (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20181231_d01_20181115_0654_030_fb6 sparrowhawk 3 minute visit to meadow post (disturbed by us in conservatory) 1 of 3 (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Dec 2018
at 16:33 Image of day on 15 Jan 2019
The Sparrowhawk pays another pair of visits, first at dusk ...
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20190115_d01_20181203_1633_017-1630_013_fb6 sparrowhawk 5 minute visit to meadow post 3+2+1 of 3 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 04 Dec 2018
at 07:05 Image of day on 15 Jan 2019
... and the Sparrowhawk returned at dawn.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20190115_d01_20181204_0705_025-0702_021_fb6 sparrowhawk 5 minute visit to meadow post 3+2+1 of 3 (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Jul 2014
at 09:08 Image of day on 06 Oct 2014
A Sparrowhawk made this (assumed) landing on the perch - the Talons
don't look like they are preparing to grab something.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20141006_e60_20140725_0908_071_fb3 sparrowhawk about to land on perch (crop 1)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 26 Sep 2006
at 16:23 Image of day on 10 Oct 2006
Sparrowhawks and Kestrels and the Corvids really don't tolerate each
others presence. This female sparrowhawk and a crow spent some minutes
chasing each other about before the rest of the corvids arrived
and decided the issue.
.jpg)
Ref: 20061010_d10_20060926_1623_093 female sparrowhawk and rook in dogfight(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 14 Oct 2006
at 16:29 Image of day on 23 Oct 2006
What do you do with a dead pigeon Pt 2:- This 2nd image was taken
10m after 'yesterdays'. A minute after that the pigeon was gone.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20061023_d35_20061014_1629_058 fb2 sparrowhawk at pigeon remains 2 of 2 (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 09 Dec 2020
at 14:34 Image of day on 13 Jan 2021
This mess of a photo is a Sparrowhawk attacking a bird inside the peanut feeder.
A look at the CCTV recording shows that the Sparrowhawk flew into attack from the left, spent
a few seconds trying to grab some sort of small bird from the feeder but failing, and the
small bird flew off. The Hawk circled and landed on the perch above, obviously sans prey,
and 30 seconds later flew away.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20210113_e60_20201209_1434_023_fb3 sparrowhawk attacking bird inside caged peanut feeder (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
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