Bird of Prey

[joealessi]

Heard the blackbirds causing a proper commotion in the back garden, when i went out to investigate, i saw through the trees a bird of prey eating some little bird. Anyone any ideas what the the bird is? (not the one being eaten) Please see attached photos (excuse the quality, it's not the best lens) I can't believe it.. A back garden in busy South London! ps tried to upload the original shots but they were too large apparently, so i've had to reduce the quality even further to get them on.. I hope they're OK.

[????]

Sparrowhawk I think

[david_carnell]

Yeah - possibly a female as the males are grey rather than the brown in the photos

[The Minkey]

Definitely a Sparrowhawk - I get them in my garden too.

[WhyNot?]

Yep - they dive into the tree in front of our house. They're quick too... I barely see them fly in but you know they're about because of the commotion they cause. Yuck but part of the system, I guess.

[joealessi]

Thanks everyone.. According to my facebook friends, they're all saying it's a kestrel! I think i'm inclined to trust you folks.

I'm including more pictures that i couldn't get on to the original message.

[kford]

Female sparrowhawk.

[joealessi]

I've seen Red Kites floating above the M40 just outside London and before the M25 and all the way up to Oxford, but i've never seen a bird of prey in central London.. I did hear however that Westminster Council introduced Kestrals (or Sparrowhawks, can't remember which..) in Trafalger Square and other parts of central London to deter the pigeons..

Anyway, needless to say, it absolutely made my day!

[Brendan]

I've seen an owl in East Dulwich before.

[Jah Lush]

I've seen a heron or two.

[HonaloochieB]

I once saw off twelve Kestrels in an evening.

The staff at King's A&E still talk about it.

[jalapeno]

No birds of prey in my neck of the woods but I did spot a Pea cock near Dulwich Woodhouse.

[Moos]

I'm so relieved that turned out to be a photograph of a bird.

[jalapeno]

oh hang on Moos, I'm about to upload a picture of a couple of Great Tits.

[bonniebird]

joealessi Wrote:

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> I've seen Red Kites floating above the M40 just

> outside London and before the M25 and all the way

> up to Oxford, but i've never seen a bird of prey

> in central London.. I did hear however that

> Westminster Council introduced Kestrals (or

> Sparrowhawks, can't remember which..) in Trafalger

> Square and other parts of central London to deter

> the pigeons..

> Anyway, needless to say, it absolutely made my

> day!

I went to the Cotswolds recently and was amazed at the birds of prey above the M40, there was loads of them and they looked fabulous, thanks for letting me know what they were:)

[Brendan]

jalapeno Wrote:

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> oh hang on Moos, I'm about to upload a picture of

> a couple of Great Tits.

Class. No thread about twitching would be complete without that gag.

[louisiana]

jalapeno Wrote:

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> No birds of prey in my neck of the woods but I did

> spot a Pea cock near Dulwich Woodhouse.

The peacocks are refugees from Beltwood House.

[louisiana]

More about Beltwood House, its animals and its owner.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1149662/Mansion-owner-run-getting-Asbo-letting-pack-60-dogs-terrorise-neighbours.html