There was a thud on a window downstairs. We all looked at each other – the dogs and I – and then we thought we ought to investigate.
I was lucky because, for once, the dogs didn’t bark to repel borders. The one time ever.
I was amazed to see a sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) (pretty sure that is what it is) eating its prey – a starling, I think. I have never seen one before let alone so close to the house.
I was fascinated and the dogs followed me while I crept round the house trying to find my big camera, put in a memory card and find a place to take photos where the raptor (right lingo!) wouldn’t see or hear me.
I stayed indoors and luckily took some close-up photos, though that window needs a good clean.
If it isn’t a sparrowhawk, please let me know.
You may be interested to know that the Shetland dialect word for sparrowhawk is actually sparrowhawk. I have this on the best authority. Ditto for starling.
I am going to clean that window tomorrow. I bet I never see another exciting bird out of it again.
Addendum: Female sparrowhawk and male blackbird, I have been told by those that know!
Wow!
In America, “sparrow hawk” is the colloquial name for the tiny American kestrel (Falco sparverius), and it is smaller and more colorful than your raptor. We see a lot of our sparrow hawks around here! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_kestrel)
Amazing! One less starling for a murmuration. “It turns out that the beauty of a murmuration’s movements often arises purely out of defense, as the starlings strive to put distance between themselves and the predator.” (i.e., a falcon)
We once saw a peregrin falcon swoop down and catch a small bird at our bird feeder (hanging by the kitchen window) and fly off with it. It happened so fast, we could barely believe our eyes — all the other birds scattered immediately and stayed away for several hours. Peregrin falcons can reach speeds of 200+ mph.
Your photos of the sparrowhawk might be very valuable to a Shetland wildlife or ornithology organization. Well done. (…and “good dogs!”)
That is a blackbird it has caught!