Buzzard or Hawk ?

Question

Hi All 
 Was cooking tea this evening and saw this land on our fence, thought it was one of our usual pigeons at first, then realised it was'nt. i'm not very good at identifying birds so can anyone tell me what it is please, is it at buzzard or a hawk ? It then landed in next door's garden, I ran outside with my camera and stood on a patio chair to see it again, but it flew off. 
 My husband thinks I'm great at multi tasking, pan in one hand ,camera in the other (he he ! ) 
 Thanks in advance everyone 
 Linda

merlin · Answer

S B said: 
 
 
 Hi All 
 Was cooking tea this evening and saw this land on our fence, thought it was one of our usual pigeons at first, then realised it was'nt. i'm not very good at identifying birds so can anyone tell me what it is please, is it at buzzard or a hawk ? It then landed in next door's garden, I ran outside with my camera and stood on a patio chair to see it again, but it flew off. 
 My husband thinks I'm great at multi tasking, pan in one hand ,camera in the other (he he ! ) 
 Thanks in advance everyone 
 Linda 
 Hi Linda I belive the bird in question to be a female Sparrowhawk

Birdseye · Answer

S B said: 
 
 
 Hi All 
 Was cooking tea this evening and saw this land on our fence, thought it was one of our usual pigeons at first, then realised it was'nt. i'm not very good at identifying birds so can anyone tell me what it is please, is it at buzzard or a hawk ? It then landed in next door's garden, I ran outside with my camera and stood on a patio chair to see it again, but it flew off. 
 My husband thinks I'm great at multi tasking, pan in one hand ,camera in the other (he he ! ) 
 Thanks in advance everyone 
 Linda

Birdseye · Answer

I am certain it is a female sparrow hawk

DD Rhydowen · Answer

S B said: 
 
 
 Hi All 
 Was cooking tea this evening and saw this land on our fence, thought it was one of our usual pigeons at first, then realised it was'nt. i'm not very good at identifying birds so can anyone tell me what it is please, is it at buzzard or a hawk ? It then landed in next door's garden, I ran outside with my camera and stood on a patio chair to see it again, but it flew off. 
 My husband thinks I'm great at multi tasking, pan in one hand ,camera in the other (he he ! ) 
 Thanks in advance everyone 
 Linda 
 
 Hi Linda 
 Great photograph! Hope your small birds keep a sharp watch out now. Seeing the Magpie in the background reminded me of the dramatic amateur video footage shown on Autumnwatch last year. Did you see it of the Sparrowhawk drowning the poor Magpie? Chilling to say the least , as it seemed that the Sparrowhawk had actually thought it out! Hitchcock would have loved it! 
 Photo here is of our Sparrowhawk - it's a bit fuzzy I'm afraid as it was taken through the conservatory window and at full zoom and then enlarged - but it gives you an idea! Apparently the Females and Juveniles are a different colour to the males ... so some appear brown and others grey, however, it's the ribbing on the front that's one of the key identification marks - along 
with the yellow eyes. Lastly - if you get a chance - have a look at the 
back of it's head. The feathers are amazing. It's looks like almost like another 
pair of eyes looking back at you!!! (See my second photo). Talk about having eyes in the back of your head ......... the Sparrowhawk has!!! ;-o) 
 As a footnote to this .... 
 Sadly, I found a dying one last Summer in the field at the back of us ... It was flapping around on the ground and it was obviously in distress. It tragically died whilst I was on the phone to the Vet asking for advice on what to do. Because it is a protected species, I had to send it off to the RSPB for a post mortum. It turned out it was a juvenile - who died as a result of malnutrition, poor thing. According to the RSPB - many juveniles do die before adulthood as they don't have a very successful strike rate. Sad. But that's nature for you. However, on the plus side we do still have a male and female sparrowhawk resident here. 
 Best wishes 
 DD 
 it's the