Ninety Minutes Sparrowhawk

Usually when a Sparrowhawk appears in the garden it is a quick fly-through that scatters all the feeding birds. The young male in this week’s photo did just that but then stood around in several places for more than ninety minutes. He was, of course, waiting for birds to return to the garden feeders but none appeared as they could all see him. Our bedroom window was slowly opened to accommodate my big lens and then I was given plenty of time to choose my shots. Those in the gallery clearly show the brown juvenile feathers that contrast to the blue adult plumage. The orange feathers around his breast are also beginning to show.Click here
During the week the first Woodcock have arrived on Hopwood and my local Snipe record has now increased to an incredible ninety one. Unfortunately high water levels everywhere have resulted in some Jack Snipe moving on so my hopes for better flight shots have had a setback!