Tuesday 20 August 2019

Garden Sparrowhawk

Lade - warm, dry and sunny, w 4 - The day started in fine style with the appearance of a juvenile Sparrowhawk (judging from the size and close barring on the breast a female) that landed atop the back garden bird table scattering the Sparrows and Starlings. It then sat for all of five minutes enjoying the warm sunshine in the lee of the leylandiis, but always alert and nervous, gazing around with those piercing yellow eyes looking for trouble. The good news was that it allowed our guests to enjoy close views of this stunning raptor, and for me to fire off a few pics.



                                Sparrowhawk atop the back garden bird table

  Also in the garden this morning five Willow Warblers, a Tree Pipit over (our first of the season), but very few moths in the trap. During the afternoon loads of Painted Ladies and Migrant Hawkers were active around the buddleias and pond.
  Out back plenty of warblers continue to filter through the ponds, mostly Willow Warblers, Common Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps and at least two Lesser Whitethroats. A kettle of six Common Buzzards thermaled on high over towards the airport, while Kestrel, Marsh Harrier and Sparrowhawk all noted, plus a Grass Snake by the ponds.
 
                                Work got underway today on our leaky roof

 Called in the bird reserve around midday where more scrub bashing in front of Hanson hide has resulted in a clear view of the islands; well done to all concerned. Two each of Wood Sandpiper, Dunlin and Ruff soon flew back in along with Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, three Garganeys, two Little Gulls and a Hobby over. On Burrowes, two Black Terns, two Greenshanks, Wood and Common Sandpipers and Dunlins the highlights.

                                Probable Honey Buzzard from Sunday over Springfield Bridge

 On Sunday mid-morning at Springfield Bridge three Buzzards came through in quick succession and headed out over the Ranges, with another laggard that I saw late and briefly, but did think at the time that it looked more like a Honey on shape alone. Anyhow, I managed to get a few poor record shots off with the bridge camera and going through the pics today confirmed what I thought originally, a probable Honey Buzzard - note the relatively long, rounded tail, protruding head, wing width equal to the tail length and lack of carpal bend. 

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