In this cold, windy weather, with so many small birds congregating around our feeding stations, it was almost inevitable that this visitor should pop in for a bite of lunch - which he did, yesterday. He missed his intended target so hung around close to one of the most popular sunflower feeders....
....lying in wait for one of the small birds to arrive which wasn't already aware of his presence.
The bright orange-brown striped underparts indicate that this is a male sparrowhawk. Earlier in the week both Mrs MW and I had seen what we're almost certain was a female. There's plenty of prey here for both.
After a few minutes of patient but unproductive waiting the sparrowhawk moved so he was better hidden....
....but after a few minutes moved again, so he had a better view of the garden, moving around all the time as if he was aware that we were watching and was anxious to show off his finery.
Then the small bird he had been waiting for arrived, landing on the fence close behind him - and a moment after this picture was taken he was in hot pursuit as the bird flew high above us but, as far as we could see, he once again failed to make a kill.
Understandably, after he had flown off it took the birds several minutes to start to return to the feeders.
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