Nature can be cruel and predators need to feed. At this time of the year Sparrowhawks are very active and hunt around gardens for easy pickings as they build up necessary reserves for the imminent breeding season.
I am sorry to tell you that one from the pair of Collared Doves has unfortunately been predated by the hawk. I did not witness the kill but under the apple tree there is evidence with a dozen or so tail feathers as well as downy breast feathers blowing in the strong wind. Due to the strength of today’s wind it is quite clear that this is a recent event because the feathers would have been blown well away by now. This is quite sad but life goes on and I suppose it is a particularly exposed perch that was used, the tree is bare and a hawk could be up and over a near roof in a split second. Today’s photo was taken last summer when I was very lucky to have this Sparrowhawk in the garden for over an hour. You can see what formidable talons they are armed with.
The Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, harriers.It is a widespread species throughout the temperate and subtropical parts of the Old World. It is mainly resident, but birds from colder regions of north Europe and Asia migrate south for the winter, as far as North Africa and India.
This species nests in trees, building a new nest each year. It hunts birds in woodland or cultivated areas, relying on surprise as it flies from a perch or hedge-hops to catch its prey unaware.
This bird is a small raptor with short broad wings and a long tail, both adaptations to manoeuvring through trees. The male is 29-34 cm long with a 59-64 cm wingspan, and is slate-grey above and barred reddish below. The male was formerly called a musket, and the gun called a musket was named after the bird.
The female is much larger at 35-41 cm length and a 67-80 cm wingspan. She is barred grey below, and can be confused with the similarly sized male Goshawk, but lacks the bulk of that species. The juvenile is brown above and barred brown below. The flight is a characteristic “flap – flap – glide”.
Latest up-date on the Collared Doves. The male has been seen and photographed so I assume it was the female taken. he was perched a lot lower in the garden than previously, probably spooked by the experience of the kill. I took a photo of him in an adjoining garden. In the pouring rain it is a nice effect. Have a look at the photo here.

I paid a visit to the RSPB reserve. With all these strong winds who knows what would be blown in. It was more flooded than usual and the dirt roads are almost flooded as well. This has kept visitor numbers down to a minimum and the birds are much closer to the roads than normal. I managed to get an improved photo of a Shoveler Drake, it is worth a look.