Bird of Prey in ED

[d803cn]

Hello

I just saw this bird of prey in my garden in East Dulwich eating another bird.

I think its a sparrowhawk, but im no ornithologist...

Anyone out there who knows more about birds?

[annaj]

I don't know much about birds, but that does look like a sparrow hawk.

What a great picture, thanks for posting it.

[bonniebird]

WOW! Aren't you lucky, fab picure:))

[reetpetite]

Its a sparrowhawk alright , beautiful picture.

[louisiana]

Yep, correctly ID'd. Lovely shot.

Could you post it to the ED Nature watch thread? - helps keep all our beasties together.

[SteveT]

Judging by the colour of the discarded feathers it looks as if a pigeon was being the lunchtime fayre.

When the hawk has finished the remains have the shape and look of a red indians war bonnet lying on the ground.

[Burbage]

Sparrowhawk it is, and a female by the look of it (though it might be a young male at a pinch). I think some of them live in the Dulwich Woods (you often see two of them sitting on the sight-screens at the cricket ground), but I've not yet seen an adult male. They kill pigeons in the woods, and you'll sometimes find crows finishing them off (suspiciously often, and I'd not be surprised if the crows weren't jumping the claim).

The other birds of prey we're supposed to have are owls, but I haven't heard one for ages. We get buzzards from time to time, too, though as they're about a mile upwards, and don't stop, I'm not sure they count.

[SteveT]

Buzzards generally live in rabbit infested areas, not surprising as it's their most popular dish.

[iaineasy]

This is a kestrel sure as god made little apples!! nice pick!

[reetpetite]

iaineasy Wrote:

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> This is a kestrel sure as god made little apples!!

> nice pick!

Nah its a sparrowhawk ian.

[iaineasy]

yep your right!! nice to see there's some in londoin.

[ianr]

louisiana Wrote:

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> Could you post it to the ED Nature watch thread? - helps keep all our beasties together.

I'll put a link in that thread.

Here are some pics I took of the Gang of Four sparrowhawks that I saw hanging around the East Dulwich Hospital site in July last year. Not up to the same quality, but most of them were taken through binoculars.

Most of the time they just spent their afternoons perched on one or other window ledge or chimney, occasionally spreading their wings to move 20 yards to another one. Lazy buggers. I only noticed them after hearing lots of animated mewing from one of them after a strike on the neighbouring garden.

[kford]

Female sparrowhawk

[jb1000]

sparrowhawk, seen one in my garden a couple of times, chasing sparrows through the bushes. Great pic.

[Sue]

One got a starling in my garden last year.