 | Home > Off Topic > ot -what's this killer in my garden! |
 
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| seriesonenut Member Since: 19 Nov 2014 Location: Essex Posts: 1211  
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A huge crash into the lounge windows tonight and this appeared in the garden but what is it? Lived here 20 years and never seen one before - anyway it is tucking into something it caught
 Click image to enlargehawk by Richard Holmes, on Flickr 2010 XS USW 1957 Series One 88 diesel 1958 Series One 88 4x2 |
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22nd May 2020 7:34pm |
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| Badger110 Member Since: 06 Feb 2018 Location: South hams Posts: 1039 
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It's a sparrowhawk.
Either they or the bird they're chasing do have a habit of hitting windows! |
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22nd May 2020 7:39pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20430
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^^^^ Definitely is a Sparrowhawk. They are pretty formidable aerial predators.
Prey species are predominantly fellow birds. I thought I had seen a Red Kite today too, a different species though. Seems like they all came out today.  $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪 |
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22nd May 2020 7:47pm |
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| Slideywindows Member Since: 09 Sep 2016 Location: North Essex Posts: 1283 
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Kiss goodbye to your garden songbirds.
Bluetits seem to be one of the few species that survive the presence of sparrowhawks. I've got them nesting everywhere - but precious little else. |
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22nd May 2020 9:55pm |
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| Swine&Small Member Since: 20 Mar 2017 Location: Norfolk Posts: 1223
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The presence of Sparrowhawks is usually a sign of a healthy local bird population.
We have had a pair in our garden for a number of years with the bigger female usually target pigeons or collared dove and other smaller species being usually taken by the male.They were given legal protection in 1967 following years of persecution by some farmers and game keepers protecting commercial shoots or money. Their presence has not upset our resident Merlin much to our pleasure. 1983 Series 3 Pick up in Marine Blue
1967 Morris Traveller 1966 Morris Convertible 2012 VW T5 Camper Quod Abundat Non Obstat. |
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22nd May 2020 11:57pm |
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| Procta Member Since: 03 Dec 2016 Location: Sunderland Posts: 5183
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we could with birds like that around here, to keep the seagulls down! Defender TD5 90 ---/--- Peugeot 306 HDI hatch back
Success is 90% Inspiration and 4 minutes Preparation # you can make it! |
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23rd May 2020 12:16am |
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| Procta Member Since: 03 Dec 2016 Location: Sunderland Posts: 5183
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I tell you a story what happened about 12 years ago about pigeons in one of the local parks. This park was well known for been a pigeon heaven. Anyway, there was a massive decline in pigeons in the park, and around the area. People were like thinking its very odd, and could not explain why. Anyway it later came about that the local kids/ chavs were catching the pigeons and selling them to a couple of local Indian families for £2 quid each. 
I have often joked about doing a similar trick to seagulls around our works place. Catch them and sell them to the local takeaway and split the profits between us.  Not my local takeaway i may add  But who's to say that its not we have eaten in the past  once said meat is curried that's it. Defender TD5 90 ---/--- Peugeot 306 HDI hatch back
Success is 90% Inspiration and 4 minutes Preparation # you can make it! |
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23rd May 2020 12:27am |
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| AMBxx Member Since: 24 Jul 2016 Location: York Posts: 1032 
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We've had Red Kites here for the last 5 years or so. Our Guinea fowl make a racket whenever they're around, but the local Crow population has dropped nicely. Used to get 10 to 20 crows all over the chicken feed at this time of year. Now rare to see more than 1 or 2. The kites don't kill the crows, just harass them, and presumably pinch some eggs.
Never get bored of them, wonderful birds. |
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23rd May 2020 5:24am |
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| LR90XS2011 Member Since: 05 Apr 2011 Location: bickenhill Posts: 3643 
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have them in my garden quite a lot taking garden birds off the feeder, collard doves and pigeons off the lawn, they seem to like eating brains!! DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS,
I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy |
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23rd May 2020 6:15am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17432 
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I have family in the Chilterns, where the Red Kite has made a fantastic come-back and there is now a significant population. They are very impressive, but are predominantly carrion feeders (i.e., they eat dead things) since they have relatively weak legs. Small mammals and birds will get taken if carrion isn't available.
The Red Kite is slowly spreading and I have recently seen them within 3 miles of Blandford, Dorset, which I find encouraging. They are simply magnificent, and very distinctive with the forked tail and colouration. Unfortunately their predilection for carrion does make they vulnerable to illegal trapping and poisoning, which is what lead to the extirpation of the UK population last time round. |
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23rd May 2020 8:51am |
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| Barneyboy Member Since: 19 Nov 2014 Location: Exmoor Posts: 1626 
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We live at the foot of the hill that the red kites were released on ( Wormsley Estate ) and they soar over our garden every day they really are a beautiful bird, I have heard recently that there is a Sea Eagle cohabitating with the red kites apparently one of the ones that were released on the Isle of Wight I’ve not seen it myself however someone is believed to of seen it on a Deer carcass up Watlington Hill
cheers Paul |
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23rd May 2020 10:37am |
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| andydef90 Member Since: 09 Feb 2015 Location: yorkshire Posts: 617 
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I have noticed that there is a lot of wildlife about sparrow hawks kites and buzzards kestrels . we have a pair of foxes loads of hedgehogs . last week a deer first iv seen here and a badger set in the local glass works .
for now its keeping me going due to problems out of my control life is not good |
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24th May 2020 3:06pm |
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| Badger110 Member Since: 06 Feb 2018 Location: South hams Posts: 1039
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Wildlife is much bolder at these times of year due to needing to feed young ones
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24th May 2020 3:14pm |
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| CharlieDonuts Member Since: 16 Jun 2019 Location: Illiers Combray Posts: 133  
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I live in the cloister of Chartres cathedral and we have two peregrine falcons nesting on one of the spires. They are a joy to watch.
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24th May 2020 4:13pm |
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