Sparrowhawk Hunting

The garden was devoid of birds when we came down for breakfast this morning, with one exception: sitting on the cage which supports the netting protecting our struggling pea and broad bean plants was....

....a sparrowhawk.

We saw him in the garden only yesterday and have also noticed how, at times, all the small birds disappear - probably because they've spotted him. With his rich pale russet breast, he's very different to the sparrowhawk we saw in the garden back in August - see post here.

He sat for some time surveying his surroundings, for so long that....

 .....a couple of blue tits just couldn't resist coming back onto the peanut feeders. The hawk watched them for a good minute then, suddenly, he exploded into action. As he moved, one of the tits flew desperately upwards and the two seemed for a fraction of a second to merge.

The sparrowhawk didn't get his breakfast so we still have in our garden one very stupid but very lucky blue tit.