Garden Wildlife UK

Butterfly wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 11:09 am I was about to get out to put the food in the feeders, had it in my hand and was opening the door when I heard this bird screaming! I saw a sparrowhawk landing on the garden fence with a starling in its claws, who was screaming, at the same time as I opened the door . I went "shoo" , the starling wriggled out and flew into a hiding place in my rose while the sparrowhawk flew off! I almost had a heart attack
I clearly startled it and probably saved little starling fledgling's life.
The young starling stayed there, in its hiding place for a while, about 20 minutes, without moving at all. I could hardly see it it was hidden well.
It flew off after that, seemingly fine, probably just traumatised . What a lucky escape!
Needless to say, feeders are very quiet at the moment

Jacksparrow wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 7:55 pm

Butterfly wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 11:09 am I was about to get out to put the food in the feeders, had it in my hand and was opening the door when I heard this bird screaming! I saw a sparrowhawk landing on the garden fence with a starling in its claws, who was screaming, at the same time as I opened the door . I went "shoo" , the starling wriggled out and flew into a hiding place in my rose while the sparrowhawk flew off! I almost had a heart attack
I clearly startled it and probably saved little starling fledgling's life.
The young starling stayed there, in its hiding place for a while, about 20 minutes, without moving at all. I could hardly see it it was hidden well.
It flew off after that, seemingly fine, probably just traumatised . What a lucky escape!
Needless to say, feeders are very quiet at the moment

I have disturbed a Sprawk on several occasions only to see it depart with it's victim in it's talons
Your Sturklet was very very lucky.

Butterfly wrote: Sat Aug 10, 2019 12:40 pm There was another similar SH attack today . Everything was normal, when all of a sudden I heard this loud thump which made me jump , and saw that it was a wood pigeon that flew into the glass door, clearly in panic. At the same time I heard a starling crying and SH holding it on the ground . I run outside (barefoot, no time for putting garden shoes on) shooing and waving my hands like a mad person . The SH tried to lift off and fly away with the poor starling in its talons but because I was getting closer and making so much noise it let it go. Starling flew away in one direction and SH in the opposite. I went to inspect the place where it all happened and saw few drops of blood on the grass . Poor thing was obviously injured, and even though it flew away I'm not sure how badly the injury is and if it will survive . That SH really needs to get a message that my garden is not a good place to hunt . I must admit, its a stunning looking bird

Jacksparrow wrote: Sat Aug 10, 2019 8:32 pm

Butterfly wrote: Sat Aug 10, 2019 12:40 pm There was another similar SH attack today . Everything was normal, when all of a sudden I heard this loud thump which made me jump , and saw that it was a wood pigeon that flew into the glass door, clearly in panic. At the same time I heard a starling crying and SH holding it on the ground . I run outside (barefoot, no time for putting garden shoes on) shooing and waving my hands like a mad person . The SH tried to lift off and fly away with the poor starling in its talons but because I was getting closer and making so much noise it let it go. Starling flew away in one direction and SH in the opposite. I went to inspect the place where it all happened and saw few drops of blood on the grass . Poor thing was obviously injured, and even though it flew away I'm not sure how badly the injury is and if it will survive . That SH really needs to get a message that my garden is not a good place to hunt . I must admit, its a stunning looking bird

Sprawks are persistent and once they have identified a likely place for an easy meal they will return. With the best will in the world you cannot police your garden 24/7 so there will be times when it has a successful attack and kill.