Early April Garden Birding, 2-4th April 2017

Over the past few days, after breaking up for the Easter Holidays, I have spent some time in the garden. Since there have been mostly clear, bright skies, sky-watching has been productive. 3 Buzzards (2 on the 2nd, 1 on the 3rd) have drifted over, one very pale. Also on the 1st, a Red Kite drifted over. 

 Common Buzzards

Common Buzzard

With news of a Goshawk coming over first from Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, then WWT and finally over Beddington Farmlands, I was ready with the camera. At around lunch or so, a bird came through at a fair pace very high up. It drifted around for about a minute, then carried on SW. Although (probably) my first Goshawk, it was not the most amazing view and an awful picture!

Goshawk

On the 2nd, a Wren was busy in the garden preparing a nest nearby and several other smaller birds were around. Butterflies included 5 Peacock, 3 Common Blue and a Small Copper.

Starling

Robin

Wren

Wren

Wren

Peacock

Blue Tit

Today, another first for the 'garden' flew over in the shape of a Peregrine.

Peregrine

In the next two weeks, I'm hoping to do a few nature reserve visits - hopefully I can angle a way for a visit to Rainham Marshes!

Blood on the Wall! 14-March-17

After dragging myself out of bed at 7:15 this morning, I freshened myself up in preparation for another long day at school. 
With my eyes drooping, I drew my curtains and a large bird flew down from the wall about 20m from the window onto a water tray at the back of the garden.
Not yet awake I thought,  "That's a big pigeon." 
I turned back immediately and watched as this huge bird flew back up onto the wall.
It stood and peered over the wall towards the road.
It was a female juvenile Sparrowhawk, a bird absent to my garden tick list.
Scrambling for the camera, which I realised was downstairs, I watched the bird before it swooped down suddenly on the other side of the wall and then landed on my dad's new car. Then gone.
After a minute, as I hurriedly retrieved the camera, hoping it's batteries were charged, my sister woke up, the Sparrowhawk returned to the garden clutching a Collared Dove.
I had, obliviously, seen it catch a Collared Dove. The pigeon was still alive, but after a few seconds it definitely wasn't. The Sparrowhawk disassembled the Collared dove, leaving feathers everywhere. 

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

For a good 10 minutes, it sat on the Collared Dove (which it was probably the same size as) at the back of the garden. Once I had hurriedly got changed, I crept downstairs and through the garden door. Knowing very well not much would disturb it from its meal, I approached cautiously from around 12m away and got some decent shots. 

      The bird itself appears to be a juvenile female, with a brownish back and visible, chevron-like chest markings. It looks like a 1st/2nd year, but not great at identifying age. I would be grateful for any ideas on its exact age.

      Eventually, after gathering enough satisfying shots at least, the remaining parts of the dove were gathered and she flew over the wall and out of sight in the neighbouring gardens. The smaller birds returned, and I thought she was gone. But when I got back at about 16.30, all the Starlings suddenly alarmed and she flew into an evergreen out of sight. 

      Although not a mightily rare bird, it was quite incredible watching it hunt in our relatively small garden! Who knows what might happen tomorrow morning...

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk