Just used this to identify the bird I saw in my back garden in south London half hour ago. Exactly the same. It came down to the bird feeding station where seconds before around 20 tree sparrows were feeding. They all disappeared into the hedges and this Sparrowhawk just appeared. Never seen one as close. Great video.
I have approached a few sparrowhawks close when feeding. The best time was an adult male eating a blackbird. I got to about 2 feet and he was still fine, but i put my hand out and he was off like a rocket. But he came back a few minutes later and took the blackbird away. Another time, a female was eating a young wood pigeon. She was not as tame but allowed my approach to about 2 meters before flight. She also returned for the carcass. Then afterwards , flew up to a fire tree and went to sleep for a couple of hours. She was not bothered at all by me being under the tree. They are not tame as such, but can be bold when feeding. I think they get used to people too. They often fly very close when hunting. One went nearly under my feet once as it bombed around a wall at top speed. Also i got one to fly at me by waving a hanky like a flapping bird. He got to about 3 meters before seeing me and jinking away. Usually when perched and hunting, i find they are fairly wary and wont be approached. Lovely little raptors.
As far as we know this bird regularly hunts in our garden so I think maybe he is just used to us. We often go out and shoo him away from the birds at our birdfeeder. Unless it is a different Sparrowhawk of course.
I myself prefer to observe just that bit further away and respect the creatures space. No need to keep pushing `til you find the limit. I agree with others that it`s not 100% fit
Common for hawks to be fearless when rodents are active during harvest.
Just used this to identify the bird I saw in my back garden in south London half hour ago. Exactly the same. It came down to the bird feeding station where seconds before around 20 tree sparrows were feeding. They all disappeared into the hedges and this Sparrowhawk just appeared. Never seen one as close. Great video.
That's incredible! Thanks for sharing.
A smashing video sir. I felt that you were respecting him/her, and I hope you are right that it was the one you helped :)
I have approached a few sparrowhawks close when feeding. The best time was an adult male eating a blackbird. I got to about 2 feet and he was still fine, but i put my hand out and he was off like a rocket. But he came back a few minutes later and took the blackbird away. Another time, a female was eating a young wood pigeon. She was not as tame but allowed my approach to about 2 meters before flight. She also returned for the carcass. Then afterwards , flew up to a fire tree and went to sleep for a couple of hours. She was not bothered at all by me being under the tree. They are not tame as such, but can be bold when feeding. I think they get used to people too. They often fly very close when hunting. One went nearly under my feet once as it bombed around a wall at top speed. Also i got one to fly at me by waving a hanky like a flapping bird. He got to about 3 meters before seeing me and jinking away. Usually when perched and hunting, i find they are fairly wary and wont be approached. Lovely little raptors.
This bird is beautiful but unfortunately it is very sick this can be seen around the beak and from its behavior which is not… .normal!
Awesome
The area around the beak does not look good. It looks heavily deformed. My guess is that this bird is very ill.
As far as we know this bird regularly hunts in our garden so I think maybe he is just used to us. We often go out and shoo him away from the birds at our birdfeeder. Unless it is a different Sparrowhawk of course.
jajakakalolo well said
The birds wings are drooping the bird is not well at all
Is this a Accipiter brevipes?
sounds like you know more about birds than I do so if you think it is you could well be correct.
Half correct it's accipiter nisus Eurasian sparrow hawk ( male ) . You don't get a view of a sparrow hawk like that very often lucky fella
I myself prefer to observe just that bit further away and respect the creatures space. No need to keep pushing `til you find the limit. I agree with others that it`s not 100% fit