early morning visit by a 'killer''

[andy b]

on wednesday morning i was getting ready for work. i heard such a commotion in the garden. blackbirds were franticly shouting their alarm calls and a wren could clearly be heard 'giving it what for'. i looked out of my kitchen window to see a female sparrowhawk glaring back at me. pinned to the floor was a blackbird. it could have been an adult blackbird, but was more likely to have been a young bird. (a pair had just reared young in next doors garden.) i quickly went for my camera into the other room, praying that it would'nt fly off. as i returned, i tried to get my camera behind the conservatory blinds to get a shot. this blurred image was all i was to get as the sparrowhawk disappeared with breakfast.. all this happened at 5-35 a.m.
an exciting start to the day for me... but not so good for the poor blackbird.

[Chocky]

Aww poor black bird. But. The hawk has to eat as well

[rolf]

Looks like a She by the colouring and size Beryl.

[Chocky]

It's meant to read The

I will edit it and spell it properly

There all better

[Merlin]

Looks very pale (white even) on its underparts Andy. I looked through a magnifying glass to assist in this respect, but I'm not prepared to question your Sparrowhawk ID.

How would you describe the upper-parts Andy, Slate Grey/Brown(ish)?

Pete.

[Chocky]

I thought it looked a bit too white. Could it be a peregrine ? They have a whitish breast

The Sparrowhawk male is orange - ish and the female is brown - ish

Mind you I don't know too much about these birds

[rolf]

No, I just think the breast is slightly overexposed, looks right for a female Sprawk to me.

[Chocky]

Oh right . As I said I don't know too much and yes You are most probably right Rolf. Andrew said he had to rush for his camera

[andy b]

definetly a female sparrowhawk. they are regulars around me and nest on the edge of ingol golf course. the colours in this pic aren't probably too good!!