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Hi All,
the beginning of the week I bought you the story of my somewhat very regular female Sparrowhawk who caught a mouse. Something that is not unheard of but not exactly common.
Well today I spent two hours in the utility room giving my Westie Bobby a haircut, I get a good view of the garden from in there and had noticed a Collared Dove eating from the ground feeder. Next thing the dove had taken off there was this beautiful male Sparrowhawk! He landed on the bird bath then pounced on the ground after a mouse, he wasn't as successful as the female was the other day and after a moment or two left empty handed.
No photos today as I hadn't got the camera with me (too many loose hairs!) and couldn't risk getting it incase Bobby leapt off the worktop! We haven't had a male Sparrowhawk in the garden since February last year and I'd forgotten how much smaller than the female they can be - and this one was a lot smaller than our regular female! if he was bigger than a Collared Dove I'd be surprised.
I had a good 5 minutes of watching him and he was very nice to look at. Just wanted to share the story with you all and the fact I just can't believe the fact I've had two Sparrowhawks in a week after mice in my garden!
Hi Paul, that has to be one of the nicest ways of keeping the mice down, maybe it's not such a bad thing having mice if its going to keep the sparrowhawks fed and their going to leave your birds alone, I still feel sorry for the mice though.
There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.
Hi Paul,
Brilliant story, and so glad your lady sparrowhawk has a mate. I believe males are about the same size as pigeons. It sounds incredible they are so small. I'm also pleased your dove got away, but shame the sparrowhawk left empty handed. I hope he found a meal elsewhere.
Did Bobby notice him?
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Rather have the Sparrowhawk than the mice, but not if they eat my birdies. Well done you for cutting your own dogs hair too. I get mine done elsewhere as she hates me doing it.
Sarah
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/
Its funny because we've had mice at the top of the garden for a good 3 years now, I don't know where they live as they disappear behind the greenhouse. But never before have I seen them paid so much attention by Sparrowhawks!
Bishy - yes I too feel bad for the mice. But I tell myself they probably breed heck of a lot quicker than the likes of the Sparrows do!
Sparrow - I presume he's the mate of 'my' female - I doubt he'd get into her territory safely if he wasn't! I've heard the females can be particularly nasty towards the males at times too!
Bobby did notice him but he wasn't too bothered, his ears went up and he watched his every move :o)
Hi Sarah, I've been doing his hair for about 6 years now. He tolerates it but we both get fed up quickly!
The mice have never really been any bother and we've never been overrun with them, so we leave them too it.
Just can't believe it happened today..again!
Hi Paul
Great news about your Spawk. They are just the best birds to entertain you around your garden. Even better when you manage to get a good picture of a Sparrowhawk doing what it does best and that is hunt.
It is sad when one animal has to thrive, and live to keep another animal alive and well. Sadly, that is how mother nature really works - she tries to keep everything in balance. It is easy to get sentimental, but it is the way the eco system works - it is very straight to the point with no short cuts and room for change.
Mice are abundant so that is well and good, and I know in my own mind, I hate to see any birds be grabbed. It is although it is my feathered 'friends' are being taken away from me. Kestrels thrive on mice and that is part of their diet as with Owls. Mice are all BoP's all day menu, and supper dish
I have had Sparrowhawks twice in my garden (last one and present one) Both times. I have never seen them kill in front of my eyes. The first time one was chasing a Sparrow past my kitchen window. The second time I noticed the Spawk had already killed and was eating the bird it cuaght in front of my eye (sure it was a Dunnock according to the small brownish feathers it left behind in a heap)
Of course there the third time was the flyover Spawk, and that was being harassed by two Gulls.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Do you think Mrs. sparrowhawk told Mr. S. where to find lunch ? It will be interesting though, if they have a nest near to you, how often they come to your garden. Only for the mice of course.
Unknown said: Do you think Mrs. sparrowhawk told Mr. S. where to find lunch ? It will be interesting though, if they have a nest near to you, how often they come to your garden. Only for the mice of course.
Hi Brenda, I did wonder if they could "tell" eachother good places for food. Especially since she had success the beginning of the week - and we haven't seen a male for over a year.
The Sparrowhawks must be nesting/roosting close by, we have a walkway and fields with trees etc behind the house, so there's plenty of space for them
The walkway runs the length of our estate, not to mention the fields at the top and bottom. Plenty of birds and sure this works in the Sparrowhawks' favour.
Paul, I have just refreshed my memory on the Sparrowhawk. - 5/6 pairs will nest within a square mile. They nest in May. Incubate 4/5 eggs for 35 days. The 1st two weeks only the male hunts for food, after which both birds hunt for the recently fledged Tit and Chaffinch family.They need to catch 10 young birds per day to feed their young. ( they don't mention mice).
You possibly know all this already but I was surprised by the 10 young birds per day. No wonder that blue tits have such large numbers in their nests.
Where you live appears to be good hunting ground, especially if there are plenty of young tits around.
Also Paul, I am not sure I would leave that map on the forum, showing exactly where you live. You may say at some time that you are going away/ holiday at some time. We don't know who reads these open forums. I would delete the map.
Its not actually right where I live, I forgot to mention that. Its just as close as I would like it to be. But rather than have the hassle, I'll just delete it :o)
I had a brief idea about the breeding habits of Sparrowhawks. Although I wasn't sure what sort of area they occupy and how many you're likely to find within a set distance.
After reading the details its quite the thought that if 5 pairs raised 5 chicks nearby - that's a lot of Sparrowhawks!
I've certainly noticed Sparrowhawks to be for frequent around here - both at home and on the walkway as when I'm out with Bobby I noticed them flying over, anyone talking to me wonders why I'm not paying attention!
There seem to be a healthy number of Tits and Finches on the walkway and around here, not huge flocks but good numbers as they are always heard.