A female sparrowhawk was over the swing bridge at lunch time, heading towards the houses on Maritime Way. I have seen her occasionally take blue tits from the garden, not too happy to see it but she's a beautiful bird and needs to feed herself and her family.
She didn't get the chance today, however, as she was mercilessly harried by a couple of swooping swallows. She gave up and fled in the direction of Ashton Park.
The garden is still regularly visited by goldfinch, greenfinch, chaffinch, sparrow, dunnock, great tit, coal tit, blue tit and greater spotted woodpecker. All seem to have good breeding success this year, our sparrow family have raised 3 broods.
Showing posts with label sparrowhawk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sparrowhawk. Show all posts
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Saturday 19 September 2009
14:00 Grey cloud 16 o C. Wind SW 6mph. Humidity 77%. Pressure 1016mB. Visibility moderate. High tide today 12:21, 9.67m.
Lock gates open.
A few yachts, a narrow boat and a couple of motor boats passing through the lock into the marina today.
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x20
Coot x 1
There were upwards of 10 goldfinches jostling for position on the garden feeders today. It looks like all this year's young have fledged, the sparrowhawk notwithstanding.
There's something peaceful about taking time out to watch wildlife, it's good for the soul to lose yourself in nature. A twitcher might take a look in the dock basin and say 'nothing there', a birder will happily watch the gulls' behaviour for a while.
Lock gates open.
A few yachts, a narrow boat and a couple of motor boats passing through the lock into the marina today.
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x20
Coot x 1
There were upwards of 10 goldfinches jostling for position on the garden feeders today. It looks like all this year's young have fledged, the sparrowhawk notwithstanding.
There's something peaceful about taking time out to watch wildlife, it's good for the soul to lose yourself in nature. A twitcher might take a look in the dock basin and say 'nothing there', a birder will happily watch the gulls' behaviour for a while.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Tuesday 25 August 2009
15:00 Sunny intervals, 18 o C. Wind WSW 8mph. Humidity 66%. Pressure 1007mB. Visibility good. High tide today 15:21, 8.84m.
Lock gates open.
Another day of sunshine and showers, watching clouds chasing each other across the river. A lot more birdlife in and around the lock today, the tide quite noticeably lower.
I got a very close sighting of the local sparrowhawk, flying over the lock towards the woodland on the north side. The sparrowhawk is female and hunts around the local gardens. I have somewhat mixed feelings about this, she is indeed a very beautiful bird. It's sad to find the occasional pathetic little heap of feathers from a bluetit or sparrow, but she is doing what comes naturally and probably feeding a young family too.
In and around the dock basin today
Swallow x 3
Sparrowhawk x 1
Coot x 3
Cormorant x 1
Black-headed gull x 10
Mallard x 6
Lock gates open.
Another day of sunshine and showers, watching clouds chasing each other across the river. A lot more birdlife in and around the lock today, the tide quite noticeably lower.
I got a very close sighting of the local sparrowhawk, flying over the lock towards the woodland on the north side. The sparrowhawk is female and hunts around the local gardens. I have somewhat mixed feelings about this, she is indeed a very beautiful bird. It's sad to find the occasional pathetic little heap of feathers from a bluetit or sparrow, but she is doing what comes naturally and probably feeding a young family too.
In and around the dock basin todaySwallow x 3
Sparrowhawk x 1
Coot x 3
Cormorant x 1
Black-headed gull x 10
Mallard x 6
