Was It Sparrow Hawks?

[Roland]

Well has been confirmed via the locals etc. They are Sparrow Hawks. They hoover up any youngster that is of size. Apparently it has become a regular occurrence. Especially this time of year, and starts even earlier.

[Guest bluemorning]

any chance these could have been hobbys which will eat large dragonflys and are harmless to most birds.

[Roland]

Hobby cleared up 800 acres of conservationlist land of Lap wings etc. etc. in Lincolnshire. Said to be like hovers up the small life as the swept continously low ove the land. MaNy other species of birds to of corse. Then the RSPB set up a couple of pairs of Peregrines that cleared up the ducks. I read his whilst at the dentist in a Countryside mag.

[fox terrier]

Good morning

An intersting topic indeed, I doubt that what you saw hunting over the water was a

Sparrow hawk. It is more likely to be a Hobby which is a falcon!(Falco subbuteo)

and not a hawk they have different wing shapes. The staple diet of Hobbies is small birds which they usually catch on the wing as well as Dragon flies. They also take Swallows as

they are one of the few fast and manouverable enough to catch them. I spent some time studying Hobbies as part of my degree last year. The word Falco comes from the latin for cicle shape or pointed wings hawks have rounded wings.

 

Fox terrier

[Roland]

Good points agreed. Will ask and look closer this week. Seems on reflection that may well be the case. They certainly clean up Lap Wings' chicks etc. Have 'Sand Martins' galore nesting there too ....

[Guest bluemorning]

did you see the eye colour falcons have almost black eyes hawks have yellow or orange colour, me thinks its hobbys which hunt large dragon flys and also small birds a harmless little falcon really but one which can catch swallows and swifts,saying that thats some flying skils he has there at his dissposal

[blaz]

hobby,s are alot smaller than sparrowhawks. hobby,s will hunt flying insects over any ground including water they are not as aggressive to each other .unlike sparrowhawks they will attack other sparrowhawks if on or near their territory

[Roland]

Am inclined to think that they are Hobbie' as there are so many in the sames lake. Will be there later today with Binoculars. No good taking photo's as I ain't learnt how to put them up ... also haven't, believe it or not, a Digital camera since it was nicked 3 4 years ago when house got broke into.