Friday, August 12, 2011

Riot!

Early this morning before work the sun shone a mellow light, glinting off the rain soaked grass. A Golden Plover, my first of the autumn, flew north, low, over the garden calling its clear, hoarse note.

A Comma was on the buddleia on our drive next to the forsythia that held the Woodpigeons nest containing a single newly hatched chick and an egg.

At 7pm it all kicked off in the garden with a set of proper juvenile delinquents. An adult female Sparrowhawk was being battered by two squealing large young ones, almost flying into the window. They landed on the fence in a flapping screaming racket so I attempted a photo -


By the time I scratted around for the camera, mother and sibling were off leaving matey quite bemused at their absence. About half an hour later the noise started again as the trio returned causing all manner of consternation in the Starling roost in the conifers...

This is the first time I've seen this type of raptor behaviour in the garden....

2 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Sounds like a great day. The Sparrowhawk is a cool looking bird. Great photo.

Stewart said...

Hi Eileen, thanks for visiting. Sparrowhawks are one of the commonest birds of prey in the UK. The autumn(fall?)is a good time to look for them when young birds are seen almost daily. Swallows calling alert you to their presence...