Sparrowhawk.

 My usual view of a Sparrowhawk is usually a very short one as it dashes through the gap between my house and next door to try and catch one of the many House Sparrows that come to feed in my wildlife garden. Yesterday was different. 

 

  Female Sparrowhawk. Photo. John Elliott. Click to enlarge.

An unusually marked, somewhat bedraggled, female Sparrowhawk sat on the bird table from early morning until about 2 pm. The scraps and seed remained untouched, as did the other patches of seed in the garden. These usually disappear in ten minutes or so, scoffed by the half dozen Rooks, perhaps four or five Jackdaws, a couple of Collared Doves and Wood Pigeons, plus a lot of House Sparrows, (see below), but not one of these birds appeared, not even the Rooks which are usually very aggressive towards birds of prey. Its fluffy appearance and lack of fear when I went out to photograph it are indications that it wasn't at all well, as is the fact that it took a short break mid morning and flew into the hedge bottom for a while, which is where many birds go to die. It finally disappeared after lunch and at once all my usual feeding birds arrived.