Sparrowhawk The hawk must have killed moments before. Clinging to the feeder, balanced by its long tail, poise and white splotches on a grey-brown mantle said sparrrowhawk. That long first claw skewered a bloody collop to the top-stone. Impossible to say what the sparrowhawk had for breakfast. The raptor had quickly plucked its prey, ripped it open. No trace of feathers on the patio, but heavy rain might have washed them away. Small birds feel sheltered by trees and shrubs but the sparrowhawk is swift, an agile hunter is confined spaces.
I raced upstairs for a camera and became a curtain twitcher- if the sparrowhawk glimpsed a movement it would fly. (A curtain-twitcher is a birder indoors). Double glazing and a downward angle distorts, and my breakfast porridge was burning! So I flew downstairs, ducked below the windowsill to turn off the heat. Back toward me, head down and bill tearing at flesh gripped in its talons. Every few moments the sparrowhawk raised its head, on the alert.
Sparrowhawk have bred nearby in recent years but this is the first time one has killed on the bird- feeders. I wonder how often we miss the drama of the day, through lack of coincidence, by simply not looking. One late summer a family sat in the top of a conifer throughout heavy rain and I watched them daily through my telescope.
That white supercilium is distinctive, and the shortish wing secondaries. Sparrowhawk plumage-colouring changes as the bird matures. As does eye colour. Young birds have pale yellow irises, to brighter yellow, to orange with age. Poring over sparrowhawk images (airy snowflakes float by the window) that slash of white supercilium makes a connection. It gives the hawk a disdainful, sneery look. Supercilious. Latin can be fun - the supercilious raised eye-brow.
Was my bird a juvenile, a first year bird? I was puzzled by those white splotches on the sparrowhawk's mantle, so consulted friends in Bristol Ornithological Club whose expertise is trusted. Thanks to Jeff Holmes for the following:
Three characteristics which should guide the identity are
1, The upper feathers are edged with a rufous colour, a feature with many juvenile birds have until they moult or wear off.
2, Eye colour in a juvenile bird is a bright yellow, gradually turning to orange with adults.
3, Chest and under-barring again show much rufous colour.
The pale patches and spots have nothing to do with age. In fact, adult males can have extensive white patches which show well against the slate grey colour of their plumage. It is a variation in plumage.
Sparrowhawk have bred nearby in recent years but this is the first time one has killed on the bird- feeders. I wonder how often we miss the drama of the day, through lack of coincidence, by simply not looking. One late summer a family sat in the top of a conifer throughout heavy rain and I watched them daily through my telescope.
That white supercilium is distinctive, and the shortish wing secondaries. Sparrowhawk plumage-colouring changes as the bird matures. As does eye colour. Young birds have pale yellow irises, to brighter yellow, to orange with age. Poring over sparrowhawk images (airy snowflakes float by the window) that slash of white supercilium makes a connection. It gives the hawk a disdainful, sneery look. Supercilious. Latin can be fun - the supercilious raised eye-brow.
Was my bird a juvenile, a first year bird? I was puzzled by those white splotches on the sparrowhawk's mantle, so consulted friends in Bristol Ornithological Club whose expertise is trusted. Thanks to Jeff Holmes for the following:
Three characteristics which should guide the identity are
1, The upper feathers are edged with a rufous colour, a feature with many juvenile birds have until they moult or wear off.
2, Eye colour in a juvenile bird is a bright yellow, gradually turning to orange with adults.
3, Chest and under-barring again show much rufous colour.
The pale patches and spots have nothing to do with age. In fact, adult males can have extensive white patches which show well against the slate grey colour of their plumage. It is a variation in plumage.
Park End Moss is hidden by Burnbarrow Scar and just out of shot but you can see how quickly the Lyth Valley reverts to wetland, flooding after heavy rains.
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