A magnificent predator

Today has been another wet and windy day and other than the necessary outdoor chores I have spent the day indoors, much of time looking through the window watching the garden birds on the feeders.

Even for a wet day it was quiet with long spells of no birds coming to feed and then I saw the reason why.... a sparrow hawk. Sparrow hawks are magnificent birds and awesome hunters taking a bird whilst in flight. Unfortunately much of their prey are small birds, so a tree full of birds feeding on the nuts and seeds we provide must be like a live bird table for them.

I tried to take a few photos but as they were taken through a window the photos lack sharpness but here they are anyway.

The Sparrow Hawk

The sparrows sat his visit out in the safety of a nearby shrub

as did the Longtail tit and male Chaffinch

The Goldfinch and female Chaffinch however took their chance and risked a quick visit to the feeder