Sparrowhawk

Not long back in the UK and am given the luxury of a sparrowhawk visiting the garden! At least I think it's a sparrowhawk and I think it's a juvenile (or female?), comments welcome. No doubt attracted by the bird feeders and lots of small birds. Had to shoot fast through two panes of glass. Very exciting for me, it was very windy hence the soft tail. Love the intense eye contact. We have a river in the background hence the white band.

Nikon D300, 300/f4 lens, ISO 400, f4, 1/400secs, handheld.

Sparrowhawk in you garden you are one lucky man, I have not seen a sparrowhawk for years. This one is excellent, even the gate does not detract for me.

Cracking image Bill, those eyes, legs and talons look very good and I agree with Neil re the gate, no problem at all.

Andy...

Certainly a sparrowhawk, and the pale edges to feathers on the back of the body make it a juvenile. We get these in the garden regularly, but I would be delighted to get a shot like this.

David

Superb pose and look!
well done!

greetings,

Jeroen Stel

That is a Sparrowhawk female and a corker at that.

Dale

As someone who also reguarly gets sprarowkawks in my garden in my garden, I can only say how good it would be to get a shot like this. Lovely urban setting with the gate and different coloured bg, but also very well diffused.
Also like the long claw on the left leg (as we look at it) it adds real interest.
very well done.
Cheers Nigel


Nigel Spencer
www.nigelspencer.co.uk

I agree, a rare and excellent capture
Well done.

Geoff.

Hi Bill,

superb shot

I get these a lot to and this is a fab shot

A cracker Bill - love the eye contact.

David

How impressive claws they have ...
I love the background on this shot
finest photographic quality here Bill
thanks for sharing

Bertl

Fantastic shot Bill - I think the gate adds to the shot - it shows it in its garden setting

Oscar

A great shot of a bird that I have only ever seen perched once (no camera ) but see regularly flying up our lane. Would love to get an image like this.

Lovely shot, agree about the gate, really puts it in context of where we mostly see them. (if only fleetingly!!)

Scott

Lucky you, these birds are so beautifull.
The background is different but it looks great.

Marcel van Duinhoven

You've taken advantage of a really brilliant encounter and captured a super image from it.. Very nicely done and the comp work well with the gate..

lovely Sprawk shot Bill :) very lucky to get them in the garden :)