Pretty sure I've just seen a hawk in the back yard! Probably about 9-12 inches high, mainly brown in colour but the neck was an orangy colour. When it flew off it had something in it's claws, checked where it had been and loads of fathers so seems it had hold of a small bird.
RE: That looks like it You get a lot of sparrows in urban areas so I suppose the sparrowhawks follow Saw one catch a sparrow in my Mother's back garden a couple of years ago. Amazing looking birds.
I get one in my garden occasionally saw it chase a collared dove recently - it missed out cos the dove flew into a wiindow and fell like a stone. One hungry sparrowhawk, one rather stunned but lucky dove amazing to see it chase it down, flew past me within a couple of yards
RE: The pic on here is exactly how it was stood I live near the town centre aswell. Might put some bread out for the sparrows in the hope of luring one into my yard.
We had one once spend an hour eating a pigeon on the lawn surrounded by 7 magpies who all wanted a bit but were too scared to get close. Bizarrely fascinating. You won't get any little birds round for a while now I bet.
RE: you want to be careful not to leave r tiverton in the garden alone! You're right there the speed those damn things flash past. One tried to swoop on us to get us out of the garden once and I am not joking.
If it had... 3 dark bands in its tail it was a Kestrel. Given the size and basic colour it was probably a kes anyway. Sparrowhawks are grey Goshawks are bigger Peregrines are bigger and grey and distinctive Merlins stay away from tarn cos they're clever Eagles are even more clever Buzzards are too big Red Kites are everywhere darn here but don't like Yorkshire Owls are daft.
RE: That looks like it Sparrowhawks tend to take Great Tits. Seen one try it on with a woodpigeon and lost.
