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Sparrowhawk rescue <- Great pics
**Read ALL of this before looking at the pics.
Ok so I was giving my folks a hand fixing a window on our second floor when we were alerted to some form of commotion at the bottom of the garden. It involved a lot of squawking and carrying on.
So we went to investigate, and when we got to the bottom of the garden we saw a hawk flying off. We have a number of hawks taking up residence near our house - we're surrounded by a nice pile of open fields perfect for hunting. Coupled to that, we have at least 25 sparrows, 3 chaffinchs, 5 bluetits, 4 goldcrests and 8 blackbirds living in the garden. As well as a flock of 90 greenfinches (I counted 90 in a pic I took) living in the field behind us. So, hawks are beginning to learn that our house is an ample source of food.
So anyway. We thought a hawk had run off scared and that there was a half dead bird lying in the field. So guess who had to climb over the fence into the field to see what was happening. I put my killing shoes on and had a look. But I didnt find what I expected.
In the hedge I saw a load of rustling. It was a large Sparrow Hawk. And he was trapped.
Not wanting to get my hands ripped to shreds, my dad got gloves and fished this thing out of the bush. It had bindweed all over it, and was tangled. He held it while I picked the bindweed off that had got totally knotted around his wings.
Since actually catching a sparrow hawk is bloody rare, we took it to the neighbours to show them. In the meantime, the camera came out, as this was an opportunity not to be missed.
He was pissed, and didnt like the camera (I didnt use the flash, obviously), so he kept his mouth open in threat the whole time.)
Here we are ->
And to prove we're not mean people - we checked to see if his wing was damaged, then we let him go.
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ID THESE TRACKS PLEASE
IDing tracks is like having sex, the more you get the happier you'll be!!
Want to download a Digweed set? TA ID HUNT!
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Reminded me of something...
