Red in Tooth and Claw

I managed to get a few shots of a Sparrowhawk taking a Collared Dove as a prey item earlier today. Taken through the kitchen window on my wife's compact camera which was handily next to the sink! This is the third Collared Dove to be taken in as many days, we suspect, as there were feathers of one gone bird in the garden yesterday and a moribund bird in the garden earlier on this morning before this bird made the ultimate mistake by wandering about on the lawn.
This is a juvenile bird and can be identified by the dark brown upperparts, rufous edges to the forewing (which is just visible in the last three pictures) and the barring on the underparts which is quite strong and could indicate a male. The Spar was busily plucking away before being spooked by a Magpie which was clearly uncomfortable about the presence of the hawk.

Juvenile Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus killing a Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Juvenile Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus killing a Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Juvenile Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus killing a Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Juvenile Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus killing a Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

 The Sparrowhawk landed with its kill in another part of the garden after moving away from the Magpie but it was not to enjoy its meal as a neighbour's bloody chicken went to investigate and the Sparrowhawk thought it prudent to clear off leaving most of the dove un-eaten. There are now good sized bits of three Collared Doves scattered about the garden!

Juvenile Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus killing a Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Juvenile Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus killing a Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Garden Bird Photography

Not a particularly exciting blog today but it's been so long since I added a new post and I have been taking photographs of birds feeding in the garden. I was out for nearly six hours waiting to take shots of Magpies and not a one ventured anywhere near the house or showed any interest in the bait on the lawn. Normally these birds are aggressive and quick to take any advantage of bits of food left lying about...but not today. So I was left taking pictures of those birds that did have the nounce to come and get easy food. Now I don't normally give Wood Pigeons a second glance but over the past year or so I've seen many pigeon species from the continents of both South America and Africa and some of them have been fabulous - such as Bruce's Green Pigeon but I reckon that seen close the humble Wood Pigeon can give most a run for their money.

Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus

Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus

 This Collared Dove is also quite striking in a pigeony/dovey kind of way even though these can be quite aggresive towards each other and most other species in the garden. There were two of these today and they were constantly giving each other grief.

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Just over twenty species came into the garden to feed, most of which were to be expected. A male Blackcap has been feeding here for five or six weeks and over the past two weeks he has been in full song. This is the only sign of spring I've had this year as it seems to be constantly damp, grey and miserable. The Blackthorn hedges hereabouts show no signs of ever wanting to bud. And as I write this there is a warning of severe snow in parts of Britain!
The biggest surprise was this none-breeding-plumaged female Reed Bunting (possibly 1st Winter)taking seeds from below one of the feeders. The bird was sporting a brown rump which is indicative of females, the rump of a first-winter male would be grey, although it can't be seen on these photos.

1st W Female Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

1st W Female Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

 

1st W Female Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

This is the first time that I have been able to photograph this species in the garden. It's not a rare bird, although numbers are falling, but it's nice to add a 'first for the garden photo' type photo.