WHAT I SAW TODAY.....

[Butterfly]

I heard lots of magpies distressed alert calls yesterday afternoon just across the road, and I knew that a predator is near by. So I looked outside and saw a sparowhawk on the ground. I thought it caught a pray, as they do that when they catch something, pin them on the ground. As it just happened, I decided to go and see what it is. However, as I moved closer, it didn't move. Only when I got really close I saw that its dead . There was no sign of any injury or trauma. It was very odd and I have no idea how/why it died. It looked really beautiful

[Jacksparrow]

I heard lots of magpies distressed alert calls yesterday afternoon just across the road, and I knew that a predator is near by. So I looked outside and saw a sparowhawk on the ground. I thought it caught a pray, as they do that when they catch something, pin them on the ground. As it just happened, I decided to go and see what it is. However, as I moved closer, it didn't move. Only when I got really close I saw that its dead . There was no sign of any injury or trauma. It was very odd and I have no idea how/why it died. It looked really beautiful

Could it have been struck by a vehicle? They fly very fast and low sometimes leaving themselves vulnerable to unseen threats.

[Butterfly]

I heard lots of magpies distressed alert calls yesterday afternoon just across the road, and I knew that a predator is near by. So I looked outside and saw a sparowhawk on the ground. I thought it caught a pray, as they do that when they catch something, pin them on the ground. As it just happened, I decided to go and see what it is. However, as I moved closer, it didn't move. Only when I got really close I saw that its dead . There was no sign of any injury or trauma. It was very odd and I have no idea how/why it died. It looked really beautiful

Could it have been struck by a vehicle? They fly very fast and low sometimes leaving themselves vulnerable to unseen threats.

That's what I thought too, but it didn't look like it was struck by a vehicle, I and another neighbour who came to see if the bird needs help inspected it and we couldn't see any sign of any trauma, no missing/roughed up feathers, no broken bones/wings , no blood anywhere, absolutely nothing. Very odd

[Willpar]

Out with the bird food in the garden this morning and a goose flew over.

[Jacksparrow]

We get geese occasionally usually flying in formation honking loudly. Always Canada Geese.

[Willpar]

Nice sunny morning and part of the afternoon. High of 18c.

[Jacksparrow]

I have not seen a blackbird in my garden for about a month. Today there were two.

[Willpar]

Good news JS, not seen any in the garden for around two weeks now.

[Jacksparrow]

I had a GSW in the rowan tree this morning. The tree has some dead branches and he was knocking the bark off looking for insects.
In the front garden I had 3 Jackdaws and 2 Magpies all at the same time. Strangely they were all doing the same thing which was looking for spiders and insects on my neighbours trellis fence.

[Willpar]

Nice bird to have in the garden JS. Never had one here, although only a stones throw from the woods.