Posted by Jeff Harrison on March 22, 2010 at 10:50 AM
Sparrowhawks are regular visitors to our garden - I usually find a least a couple of piles/circles of feathers every week, though actual sightings are few and far between and are generally just fleeting glimpses as a bird darts through.
Yesterday, however, I witnessed (and was able to photograph ) some extraordinary behaviour!
As I sat in our garden room enjoying the late afternoon Spring sunshine (at last!), a Sprawk darted over the fence into the midst of a group of 12-15 feral pigeons/doves which had been feeding on the lawn but had just exploded into the air as the Sprawk appeared.
The sprawk struck one of the white doves in flight, grappled with it and after a couple of mid-air somersaults flew another 5 metres or so and landed in the middle of one of my garden ponds with the dove firmly clasped in its talons.
It then treaded water (by flapping its wings) and held the dove beneath the surface for a couple of minutes until the dove had drowned.
The Sprawk then dragged itself and the dove onto the lawn at the side of the pond and spent 40 minutes or so plucking and consuming its prey.
Whether or not the pond landing was deliberate or accidental I cannot say, but once in there the Sprawk certainly seemed to know what it was doing in terms of drowning the dove!
I filled a couple of CF cards whilst the bird was here but this first shot was taken rather hurriedly (I expected the Sprawk to fly off with its prey) and through double glazing, so clearly isn't of the best quality and I post it merely as a record of this extraordinary behaviour rather than for critique.
I'll post some more (and better, though rather gory ) shots over the next few days showing the Sprawk plucking and consuming the dove.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 100-400 L IS lens at 365mm, 1/400th sec, f/8, ISO400
PS. I've since read of other instances of Sparrowhawks drowning prey such as Magpies and Jays.
Interesting story and great to capture. I guess we need to see the prey for a single image to work. Look forward to the next.
Terry
Posted by Jeff Harrison on March 22, 2010 at 11:24 AM
"I guess we need to see the prey for a single image to work" - exactly so Terry, though ideally (and were it not for the UKNP posting limitations) I'd post a series. In the absence of that I thought I'd start the story with one of the first shots I took and showing the Sparrowhawk in the water, with just a few of the dove's feathers floating on the surface
Posted by Andy Shepherd on March 22, 2010 at 11:33 AM
Cracker of a shot Jeff, keep em coming.
Andy...
Posted by Liam Pauling on March 22, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Jeff you are very lucky in many respects, A to have them coming into the garden, B that they seem to be patient with you and not flying off. These birds are very skittish and do not normally tolerate any form of movement, even opening patio doors, windows etc. Sadly the one that fly's up here has decimated the small birds, but more importantly the Collar Doves & Blackbirds.
Unfortunately you can't sit & wait for these to turn up so you have done well. Keep your shutter speed high so perhaps drop to f/5.6 as f/8 doesn't really help you with a shot like this. Also be careful that, at full tilt this lens can be a tad soft!!!
Discussion
25 repliesYesterday, however, I witnessed (and was able to photograph
As I sat in our garden room enjoying the late afternoon Spring sunshine (at last!), a Sprawk darted over the fence into the midst of a group of 12-15 feral pigeons/doves which had been feeding on the lawn but had just exploded into the air as the Sprawk appeared.
The sprawk struck one of the white doves in flight, grappled with it and after a couple of mid-air somersaults flew another 5 metres or so and landed in the middle of one of my garden ponds with the dove firmly clasped in its talons.
It then treaded water (by flapping its wings) and held the dove beneath the surface for a couple of minutes until the dove had drowned.
The Sprawk then dragged itself and the dove onto the lawn at the side of the pond and spent 40 minutes or so plucking and consuming its prey.
Whether or not the pond landing was deliberate or accidental I cannot say, but once in there the Sprawk certainly seemed to know what it was doing in terms of drowning the dove!
I filled a couple of CF cards whilst the bird was here but this first shot was taken rather hurriedly (I expected the Sprawk to fly off with its prey) and through double glazing, so clearly isn't of the best quality and I post it merely as a record of this extraordinary behaviour rather than for critique.
I'll post some more (and better, though rather gory
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 100-400 L IS lens at 365mm, 1/400th sec, f/8, ISO400
PS. I've since read of other instances of Sparrowhawks drowning prey such as Magpies and Jays.
Terry
Cracker of a shot Jeff, keep em coming.
Andy...
liam
and well caught
Last year I saw and photographed a Jay taking a small chick and flying to a lake to drown it
Unfortunately you can't sit & wait for these to turn up so you have done well. Keep your shutter speed high so perhaps drop to f/5.6 as f/8 doesn't really help you with a shot like this. Also be careful that, at full tilt this lens can be a tad soft!!!
Regards,
Paul.
Bob.
Your shot here is a great taster for what's to come.
Well captured and now I'll join the queue.
Phil.
David
Tim
This is a great image, looking forward to seeing more from the series..... well done
Calum