Sparrowhawk attack!

I was out in the garden early this afternoon. A small group of starlings caught my attention. They were neatly grouped and offered a good opportunity for a photograph.

Heading to the south

I took several shots them as they flew across the sky, and still had the camera aimed at them when they turned and headed back across the garden. In somewhat of a hurry! I think I was as shocked as they were when the lens refocused:

The starlings escaped unscathed on this occasion, but it was a timely reminder on the RSPB's Big Garden BirdWatch day of just how tough a bird's life can be. Follow this link for the rest of the sparrowhawk hunting sequence.

Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens

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This Post Has 12 Comments

  1. SittingFox

    26 Jan 2008

    What a lucky catch! (Well, perhaps not for the starlings…) Great shot. I rarely get the lens focussed in time when a raptor goes overhead; having it all already set up must be marvellous!

  2. Vulpes vulpes

    26 Jan 2008

    Right place, right time, right lens…etc., etc.! Nice one!

  3. gdare

    26 Jan 2008

    Wow!!!

  4. CedarFox

    26 Jan 2008

    That’s an amazing shot! I feel sort of sad for the little starlings though.

  5. Words

    26 Jan 2008

    Adele, for once I was set up. I occasionally follow groups of birds across the sky if nothing else is worth photographing. I don't often keep any of the shots though. It was a heck of a surprise when I saw it appear in the viewfinder!

  6. Words

    26 Jan 2008

    Vulpes, yes for once I was ready. It sort of cancels out all those 'missed opportunities' with wrong lens, wrong speed, wrong everything.

  7. Words

    26 Jan 2008

    Eric, the starlings got away this time. I have seen one zoom at low level across the garden, with a sparrowhawk in hot pursuit about 8 or 10 feet above the ground. They were gone in a flash, but I suspect the end was very 'nigh'.

  8. Words

    26 Jan 2008

    Darko, thanks!

  9. anonymous

    27 Jan 2008

    The Black Rabbit writes:

    What a wonderful sequence!
    First class. Again!

  10. Flying Red Fox Blog

    27 Jan 2008

    Perfect:yes: a bit like my encounter while in Manchester, didnt have the right camera though, so these shots are better:D

  11. Words

    28 Jan 2008

    Mark, that's what I enjoy so much about it. Much of the time one element is missing, but just occasionally everything falls into place.

  12. Words

    28 Jan 2008

    Thanks Black Rabbit!

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