Was It Sparrow Hawks?

[Roland]

Yesterday whilst walking around a lake at Thrapston, Joyce and I, saw what I am adamant were Sparrow Hawks’ skipping and turning over the Lake.

I believe they were after small Ducks / Coots / morehens or such and the like. There was 6 or 7 in all.

Joyce thought not. But were like large ‘Hobby Hawks’ in the way that the Hobby searches out the ground killing pee – wits and such.Seaulls tried to bomb them etc. to no avail, they simple ignore and even out manuaved them. At end of the walk, we both agreed when we saw a Sparrow Hawk hovering, the little circle to sweep away over the lake. I was then surer than ever the others were sparrow hawks over the lake. The lake is 21/2 miles long and over ½ mile wide. Again some came real close. Can’t / couldn’t think of any Water B.O.P. that fits the bill. Yes there are Osprey 20 miles or so up the road between Uppingham and Oakham, but these in no way could be confused with them. It’s just that I’ve never seen this over the lake before. Mind wasn’t many around in my younger day to say the least.

[OLDYELLOW]

be sparrow hawks it quite common for them to hunt on wetlands and moors if theres a good food source they'll eat it

[TrickyHannah]

sparrow hawks can't kill over water and don't hunt in 6 or 7s

[OLDYELLOW]

sparrow hawks can't kill over water and don't hunt in 6 or 7s

hev didnt say thery were hunting in 6's or 7s justthe he'd counted 6/7 on the lake hunting , when chicks big enough the hen and male will hunt in pairs even worse when ybs are been trained up

[Roland]

TrickyHannah you obviously don't know as much as you think you do, or would have us believe you do. Like Old yellow said, I never said 6 - 7 were hunting together. And as for the numbers, well that is a big lake, mile wide in parts etc. So yes they will / would be there in numbers if it is a good day for hunting. Thought obvious that to most. Just hadn't seen it. Now upon search, yes my first thoughts were right, and both yours wrong.

[OLDYELLOW]

big lake with plenty of food source be ok for a few years then be nowt left then they'll be problems , then they'll probably attack each other or move on

[Roland]

TrickyHannah even Peregrines will take ducks OUT of the water! Fact! Yes of course as all B.O.P. they are mindful, and careful regards getting wet. Or dragged / pulled in. Yes they will pull them selves out and can still fly of course. Of they can, but isn't too clever for them to do so. But dacks are a regular feed sauce for Percy.

Like the RSPB that put Hobby Hawks over that consevationist site of 80 acres, built for the public to enjoy. After the Hobby had cleaned out all the Pee - Wits etc. they put Percy there which cleaned out the ducks! Another fact!

[TrickyHannah]

av been a game keeper for 10 years and see hawks every day and the only way a sparrow hawk can kill is to hit its pray off the ground then land on it. cant land on water you sure it was'nt swifts you saw over the water.

[pigeonpete]

av been a game keeper for 10 years and see hawks every day and the only way a sparrow hawk can kill is to hit its pray off the ground then land on it. cant land on water you sure it was'nt swifts you saw over the water.

 

 

mmmm, im on the fence with this 1, not disputing what you have seen roly, did you see any attack or taken? as cant imagine a sparrowhawk taking a coot, let alone in the water, sparrowhawks stun there prey 90% of the time, cant see it having much of a success rate, And would not fancy getting wet!! erm, interesting though, must be easier prey for them in the locality?

[Roland]

TrickyHannah you are silly. Swifts don't frequent lakes much at all, if ever... Sure you don't mean Sand Martins? Why? Well only one answer to why and that's because! Now because Sand Martins do. I can see how you would - not me or others of course - get confused. By the way they nest often aside lake - sometime just in sandy place too, for they hollow tunnels of a metre to a metre and half long or so to nest in .... Snakes! Now they are their' worst night mare of course.

Yes of course Quarry is eaten on the ground or on a stump, the hawk standing with both feet on its victim, drooping wings to form a tent and spreading its tail as if to give support. However, like the bird it catches in flight it doesn't eat them in the air does it

Psst, they land with it and eat it as as above.

As a so - called game keeper I shouldn't have to educate you. Now really should I!

[Roland]

Pete, the lake as an abundance of fledglings. Many youngsters about of Moorhens' Coots, Ducks etc. etc. These are helpless, and the parents have no defensive stragity to offsett any attacks. The nests of reeds etc. are also a perfect platform for a sparrow hawk to pluck them off.

[pigeonpete]

TrickyHannah you are silly. Swifts don't frequent lakes much at all, if ever... Sure you don't mean Sand Martins? Why? Well only one answer to why and that's because! Now because Sand Martins do. I can see how you would - not me or others of course - get confused. By the way they nest often aside lake - sometime just in sandy place too, for they hollow tunnels of a metre to a metre and half long or so to nest in .... Snakes! Now they are their' worst night mare of course.

Yes of course Quarry is eaten on the ground or on a stump, the hawk standing with both feet on its victim, drooping wings to form a tent and spreading its tail as if to give support. However, like the bird it catches in flight it doesn't eat them in the air does it

Psst, they land with it and eat it as as above.

As a so - called game keeper I shouldn't have to educate you. Now really should I!

 

 

You on the beer already roly mate

[Roland]

Pete lol

mind a few other facts are that several sparrow hawks may hunt over the same ground, although often at different times of day. Woodland roost-sites are liable to change every night, the hawks arriving and departing in near darkness. Now thearea, instad of terrain etc. meansa lake is vast and needs to be hunted when the best oppertunity is prevalent of course.

Several sparrow hawks may hunt over the same ground, although often at different times of day. Woodland roost-sites are liable to change every night, the hawks arriving and departing in near darkness.

No doubt the element of surprise plays a large part in their capture of prey, but sparrow hawks are capable of performing remarkable pursuits and captures of such fast-flying birds as the redshank. If the intended victim rises steeply, the hawk may turn upside down and seize it from below. If it takes to ground cover, pursuit may continue on foot. Research also reveals that males hunt more in woodlands; females more in fields and open areas. of us know, in full pursuit the sparrow hawk can be extremely persistent, often getting into difficulties. It will blindly chase after its terrified quarry into a room, crash to death against a window, strike wires or become fatally wounded after crashing into a thick hedge or bush.

The sparrow hawk's prey extends to well over 120 bird species. In addition small mammals are taken. Among the victims recorded in recent issues of the Norfolk Bird Report are collared dove, stock dove, great spotted woodpecker (taken from a bird table), snipe, sanderling, wood sandpiper, starling, snow bunting, ring ouzel and crossbill.

Now the Snipe certainly takes some catching. One of the hardest, and most sort after bird for the gun enthusiast.

Gosh I had two sparrow Hawks nest each side of me within a 100 yard of me. Ok the ferels on the old cinema over the road still attracts some... But them that nest hereby are seeminly gone, thankfully.

[boxer]

WASNT THERE A CAPTION OF A SPARROW HAWK AND A MAGPIE IN WATER NOT SO LONG BACK ON YOUTUBE

[Roland]

Was indeed a caption where a Magpie was drowned. Indeed held it under till it died! I can't recall to be perfectly honest as I didn't take in too much for I found it a bit off putting to watch. Youtube Hawk / Falcon will bring that up of course.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=hawk+drowning+magpie&aq=0

Percy will pluck a duck out of the water. Likewise a Sparrow could easierly pluck any nestling out with their ability, no sweat! Just hadn't seen it before. But having trawl Google, yes lakes and marsh land etc. is a Sparrow Hawks haunt etc. Indeed any where where there is a meal basically.

[DOVEScot]

Was indeed a caption where a Magpie was drowned. Indeed held it under till it died! I can't recall to be perfectly honest as I didn't take in too much for I found it a bit off putting to watch. Youtube Hawk / Falcon will bring that up of course.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=hawk+drowning+magpie&aq=0

Percy will pluck a duck out of the water. Likewise a Sparrow could easierly pluck any nestling out with their ability, no sweat! Just hadn't seen it before. But having trawl Google, yes lakes and marsh land etc. is a Sparrow Hawks haunt etc. Indeed any where where there is a meal basically.

 

Interesting video, it looks like a young male who started the attack on the ground then dragged it into a small pond. I wish they had kept it running to see if he had the power to lift it ot the pond after he purposely drowned it or dragged it by mistake into the pond. One thing for sure predators such as hawks do not like their prey to make to much noise as it attracts other predators and I have seen young hawks get their talons in so deep they cannot let go.

 

At end of the walk, we both agreed when we saw a Sparrow Hawk hovering, the little circle to sweep away over the lake.

Sparrow hawks are not built to hover which would make me doubt it was them

JMO

[Roland]

Dovescot., Hover doesn't mean like a Kestral does. Balances on the wind for moments, then either swoops or little circles.

[DOVEScot]

Dovescot., Hover doesn't mean like a Kestral does. Balances on the wind for moments, then either swoops or little circles.

 

Point taken, I have flown a few types of hawks in the past and know that some do break the mould but 99.9% of they time they behave the same way especially in the wild, captive birds are trained as near as possible to the way they hunt in the wild either by the glove or by the lure.

Get yer video out the next time and share it with all us sceptics

[Roland]

I wish I could afford one lol. But may get some photo's if they are there again next time I go. Then have to learn how to set that up for uploading them. I know, sednd for Bakes lol.

[DOVEScot]

I wish I could afford one lol. But may get some photo's if they are there again next time I go. Then have to learn how to set that up for uploading them. I know, sednd for Bakes lol.

 

Get the tin box opened and spend a few notes before they are out of date

[Roland]

Lol. Mind have to cancell holidays, a pint and any nights out etc. as these Tory's won't leave much change and that's for sure.

Instead of a video Camera I s'd suppose I'll be better off taking out an health insurance, in case i need a dentist, or eye test.... heavon forbid an op of any kind.

 

Infact am going to bed and try to sleep.... can't stand this new awaking nightmare lol

[Guest Freebird]

Had the birds out the other day and seen all their heads cocked to the sky where a couple of hawks were soaring very high in circles. Were these sparrow hawks or perci? They were definately not buzzards as they are here all the time. The thing is they did not come down for the birds. Were they just suveying? There are hundreds of crows here too so maybe the hawks did'nt fancy coming down. Strange.

[Roland]

They will make short thrift of Crows / seagulls if and as when they want to. Indeed they are mostly a winter feed.

Haven't seen them ever massively high personally, but they may well do of course.

Very few birds can hover like the Kestral / Humming birds etc.(Flies backwards) But even pigeons, as all birds I guess, can stay in same spot for a very short while ... often having to adjust.

But like Joyce they can't hover really like, but she is often hovering aside me with a beedy eye lol.

So I wouldn't know. My pigeons often fly up and above a sparrow hawk. Again obviously allowed too.

Like a fox will enter a rabbit waren, burrow, even play with ravbbits and they get along just fine. Yet rabbits know when he is after a feed eh!

[DOVEScot]

I was at the golden eagle hide at the Lake District and witnessed a pair of peregrines mobbing the eagles, probably because they entered their territory, it was certainly not to feed on them

[DOVEScot]

Lol. Mind have to cancell holidays, a pint and any nights out etc. as these Tory's won't leave much change and that's for sure.

Instead of a video Camera I s'd suppose I'll be better off taking out an health insurance, in case i need a dentist, or eye test.... heavon forbid an op of any kind.

 

Infact am going to bed and try to sleep.... can't stand this new awaking nightmare lol

 

Aye the nightmares have begun