Sparrowhawk!

Something of a first today. I'd just poked my head out of the back door when there was an almighty flurry of bird calls from the very rear of the garden. I looked up and in the far corner (about 80 feet away) a small flock of starlings were heading helter skelter for the skies. A moment later a much larger bird popped up on to the fence and paused for a couple of moments. Just enough time to grab three quick shots, at too great a distance and with far too slow a shutter speed. Focusing through the honeysuckle didn't help too much either! So the quality is not quite up to my usual posts, but a sparrowhawk in the garden is one of those days when it's 'what you see' not 'what you get' that counts.

Camera note: all shots taken with the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS at ISO 800 with a shutter speed of around 1/100s.

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This Post Has 14 Comments

  1. SittingFox

    23 Mar 2008

    Wow! :eyes: Fine male hawk, must have given both you and your garden birds a bit of a shock!

    I rarely see them that low down. A large sparrowhawk (a female, I presume) flap-glides over the front garden here sometimes; I saw her today from my computer window, but she's high up and moving very fast! I hope she does land at some point. Apart from that random visit back in February, it's flying visits only!

  2. Ukwildlife

    23 Mar 2008

    When you've only got an Fz7 most days are one of those when it's 'what you see' not 'what you get' that counts! lol 😀

    Still a sparrowhawk is always a nice surprise. Ive had them wizz over and near my house a couple of times

  3. Words

    23 Mar 2008

    Oh I have soooo many missed opportunities! A stoat probably caps the lot though as I've never even seen one again (the camera was in the bag).

  4. Ukwildlife

    23 Mar 2008

    I still havent decided whats worse: not being quick enough or something sitting just out of range looking at you, especially when someone with there DSLR + 400m lens + 2x convertor walks up and get anice photo 😥 😀 Oh well one day I'll be the man with the DSLR who is just too slow! lol

    As for the sparrowhawk, I once missed agreat grass snake shot basking in the open because I thought it was a bit of rope. I even dismissed the postibility of it being a snake!!! Oh well in both cases THERES ALWAYS NEXT TIME 😀

  5. Words

    23 Mar 2008

    Adele, a great surprise indeed. I saw one swoop the garden a day or so ago, so we're obviously on its patch. Usually they are way overhead, but just once in a while they come in low. Even more rarely do they stop.

  6. Words

    23 Mar 2008

    Neil, oh I agree that a lot of all the camera thing is about documenting what you see. That's how it started and it's still an absolutely key part of it. This is the first time I've been sufficiently alert to capture the sparrowhawk perched. One did settle briefly a year or so back, about 6 feet from me, but was gone before I could turn the camera round.

  7. Ukwildlife

    23 Mar 2008

    Ive had a stoat running around in front of me – too far way
    A weasel in a tiger enclosure – too far away
    And a few years back I had a mother and youngster stoats running about 3/4m ahead of me on a a path with which Id get a great shot with my current camera – of course back then a i had a cheap 2mp 2x optical zoom camera!
    I have only got a half decent one of the captive one at wildwood too! lol

  8. Mickeyjoe-Irl

    24 Mar 2008

    I was helping my cousin roof his garage when we watched a raptor of some description swoop down and I swear it flew between the rails of a fence.

    In a second it was gone. Even if I'd had a camera I doubt I would have caught it.

  9. Dudley

    24 Mar 2008

    Nice sighting!

  10. Words

    24 Mar 2008

    Mickeyjoe, impossible to catch mid-swoop. I've seen them do this a couple of times here but no way would I be able to capture the moment. It takes them a fraction of a second to cross the garden.

  11. Words

    24 Mar 2008

    Neil, 2MP is better than nothing and the best camera for the job is always the one you've got with you 😉

  12. Words

    24 Mar 2008

    Cheers Andy!

  13. UrbanExtension

    24 Mar 2008

    A great documenting shot. I know that people hate the sparrowhawks eating their little birds, but I love them. With their beady eyes and amazing flying stunts they can visit my garden any time! (and unfortunately for the small birds they do!)

    I've only got a point and shoot digital camera and a £100 video camera, but I must admit I still have fun with them. I love taking any wildlife picture good or bad. Every picture is a memory.

  14. cakkleberrylane

    25 Mar 2008

    They are beautiful birds. He looks a lot like the ones we have here, but I think they are called something different here.

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