How often do Sparrowhawks take swifts? Rotten luck all around (unless you are the hawk i suppose).

how many of us have to thank the Sparrowhawk for saving us a year's subs to the Silent Meals Club??

I don't see you could do much but watch in horror and desperation though Andy, incredible record regardless of the actual species involved.

Just returned from Etherow Country Park where at 3.15, unbelievably, a swift started to hawk over the water of Compstall mill lodges. I watched it for the next 15 minutes when it was almost continually in sight at ranges down to about 30 meters. I was waiting for it to drop low enough to be able to pick out any features, but if only did this as a large bird flew in to harrass it. I could then see it was light brown (something similar to sand martin). Unfortunately and tragically, the bird harrassing it was actually chasing it for a reason. It turned out to be a sparrowhawk which after ten seconds plucked it from the air and made off into the woods with it. To say the word 'b@*#ard'' passed my lips is putting it bluntly. What a wasted opportunity for everyone, I'm so sorry. Anyone interested in organising a search party in order to recover feathers for possible DNA analysis would be most welcomed.



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 21st of March 2009 04:43:45 PM